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453: COLLECTIVE DEALING WITH NON-TRADITIONAL SECURITY CHALLENGES

 

Non-traditional security issues are challenges to the survival and well-being of peoples and states that arise primarily out of non-military sources.

 

 Non-traditional security challenges:–

 

    • Terrorism and violent extremism.

 

    • Transnational organised crime.

 

    • Irregular migration and human trafficking.

 

    • Environmental degradation.

 

    • Climate change

 

    • Resource scarcity.

 

    • Epidemics and pandemics.

 

    • Natural disasters.

 

    •   Food shortages.

 

    •  Drug Trafficking.

 

These challenges can destabilise countries, destroy the social fabric and risk derailing peace processes or progress on peace and security especially in fragile countries.

 

These dangers are often transnational in scope, defying unilateral remedies and requiring comprehensive – political, economic, social – responses, as well as humanitarian use of military force.

 

Common Characteristics:-

 

    • The threats are transnational in nature with regards to their origins, conceptions and effects.

 

    • They do not stem from competition between states or shifts in the balance of power, but are often defined in political and socioeconomic terms.

 

    • Non-traditional security issues such as resource scarcity and irregular migration cause societal and political instability and hence become threats to security.

 

    • Other threats like climate change are often caused by human-induced disturbances to the fragile balance of nature with dire consequences to both states and societies which are often difficult to reverse or repair.

 

    • National solutions are often inadequate and would thus essentially require regional and multilateral cooperation.

 

    • The referent of security is no longer just the state (state sovereignty or territorial integrity), but also the people (survival, well-being, dignity) both at individual and societal levels.

 

Aspects: Collective Dealing

 

Over time, various aspects of these non-traditional security challenges have received varying levels of attention.

 

Multilateral peace operations are not necessarily being considered to deal with non-traditional challenges.

 

UN is mandated to take on various tasks linked to the consequences of these challenges.

 

Advantages. There are clear advantages in multilateral peace operations taking on tasks linked to non-traditional security challenges. One of the advantages is the availability of resources and established logistics. UN has agencies and specialised organisations for dealing with non-traditional security challenges. It also has a capacity for retaining institutional memory.

 

Disadvantages.  The disadvantage is that the multilateral peace operations are already overstretched. Multilateral peace operations are generally deployed for shorter periods, whereas, non-traditional security challenges, require long-term investment and commitment. Budget availability is another challenge.

 

Depending upon the challenges, their area of influence and effects, either global or regional organisations would be suited to deal with them.

 

Regardless of which organisation is mandated, it is important to collaborate, cooperate and coordinate with all the actors involved (all components of the organisation, national partners, host government, civil society, international/external actors and global/regional organisations).

 

The tasks and division of labour need to be spelt out clearly without any ambiguity.

 

 

Recommendations

 

    • Develop policies on dealing jointly with non-traditional security challenges.

 

    • Operationalise dealing structure and mechanism.

 

    • Set up multi-country and multi-organisational cooperation forums.

 

  •  
    • Strengthen coordination mechanisms.

 

    • Resort to joint analysis, planning, training, implementation and evaluation.

 

    • Increase awareness about these operations.

 

  •  
    • Allocate adequate budget and resources.

 

 

Coming up:- detailed article on the subject.

 

 

Suggestions and value additions are most welcome

 

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SIPRI

About Non-Traditional security

To all the online sites and channels.

 

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Information and data included in the blog are for educational & non-commercial purposes only and have been carefully adapted, excerpted, or edited from sources deemed reliable and accurate. All copyrighted material belongs to respective owners and is provided only for purposes of wider dissemination.

 

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452: COURAGE: ESSENTIAL TRAIT FOR LEADERSHIP

Pic Courtesy: Internet

 

“Courage is the virtue that is at the centre of the golden mean between foolhardiness (excessive courage) and cowardice (insufficient courage)”.

-Aristotle

 

Courage is essential for great leadership. Without courage, leaders can’t do the things they must do. Courage is the mental and moral strength which helps us venture forth, confront danger, face our fears and challenges, and persevere.

 

Courage is one quality that drives transformational leadership and personal and institutional success. It is the single most decisive trait in a leader. Without it, one cannot lead as leaders without courage are not inspiring and not worth following.

 

“leaders who lack courage aren’t leaders.”

-John McCain, former U.S. Senator and Navy veteran

 

We often think of physical courage, but there are different types of courage – emotional, intellectual, social, moral, and spiritual courage.

 

Widely popular beliefs are that “Courage is big heroic acts” and “it is an attribute that only a few extraordinary leaders possess because they are born with it”.

 

Most courageous acts are small, but they are never insignificant. Small courageous acts stacked upon each other add up. These even include doing the right thing when it’s not easy and trying again right after failing.

 

One of the definitions of Courage is – “ability to do something that frightens you.”

 

Being fearless is not the same as being courageous.

 

Courageous leaders create clarity, not confusion.

 

A lack of courage creates stagnation.

 

Courage is a skill that anyone can develop.

 

Courageous leadership entails many things, including:-

 

    • Stopping ourselves when we’re about to do something wrong.
    • Challenging others when they’re about to do something wrong.
    • Setting boundaries and saying no sometimes even when it may disappoint or anger others.
    • Challenging injustices.
    • Making decisions and moving forward despite limited information.
    • Stepping into challenging situations where there’s conflict, instead of avoiding such situations.
    • Being willing to be wrong sometimes.
    • Shaking things up to move forward instead of playing it safe and maintaining the status quo.
    • Taking risks and being willing to fail fast and learn.
    • Demanding action.
    • Following through to make sure things are done right.
    • Holding people accountable for core commitments.

 

Building up Courage:-

 

    • Quantify the Best Possible Outcome. Our brains constantly evaluate either the pain or gain in every situation. Highlighting the benefits and allowing the brain to visualise them is a decisive step in the process of being more courageous.

 

    • Acknowledge your Fears. Write Down the Worst Possible Outcome. The human brain processes fear and control the responses to it. It is wired to avoid things that can be harmful. Getting in the habit of writing down the worst possible outcome often provides insight that the worst scenario isn’t actually all that bad.

 

    • Deal with the Emotions. Emotions such as doubt or fear do exist and being open and honest about them is not a weakness but a strength.

 

“Emotions are data, not directives. We get to choose who we want to be; our emotions don’t.”

 

    • Trust your Instincts. Sometimes, the most courageous thing you can do is trust your gut. If something feels off, don’t be afraid to speak up and voice your concerns.

 

    • Stretch Yourself. Challenge yourself by taking the initiative to push yourself out of your comfort zone. This is where real growth begins.

 

    • Take Calculated Risks. Before making any decision, consider the potential risks and benefits, and weigh them carefully. If you believe the benefits outweigh the risks, then take the leap.

 

    • Fail to Succeed. There’s not a single success story on the planet that didn’t evolve out of some mistake or the other. When you fail, take the time to reflect on what went wrong and what you would do differently the next time.

 

A courageous leader sets his fears aside and leads his people, team, and organisation to a better place.

 

“Courage is not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.” 

-Nelson Mandela

 

 

 Quotations

 

“It’s easy to stand with the crowd. It takes courage to stand alone.”

-Mahatma Gandhi

 

“Without courage, all other virtues lose their meaning.”

-Winston Churchill

 

“You’ll never do anything in this world without courage. It’s the greatest quality of the mind next to honour.”

-Aristotle

 

“Courage faces fear and thereby masters it. Cowardice represses fear and is thereby mastered by it.”

-Martin Luther King

 

“God, grant me the courage not to give up what I think is right even though I think it is hopeless.”

 -Chester Nimitz, U.S. Navy Admiral

  

 “When we practice the behaviours of courage, we become courageous.”

-Gus Lee with Diane Elliott-Lee

 

 “One man with courage makes a majority.”

 -Andrew Jackson

 

 

“Courage was the X factor in change. Courage is the virtue that’s needed if we’re truly going to transform our lives. Courage is the virtue that’s needed if we’re going to enact anything that is significantly important to us. Courage is the virtue that’s needed if we’re going to change the status quo.”

-James Kouzes and Barry Posner, A Leader’s Legacy

 

 

“Courage is not the absence of fear, but the capacity to act despite our fears.”

-John McCain, war hero and former U.S. Senator

 

 

“You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you stop to look fear in the face. You must do the thing which you think you cannot do.” 

-Eleanor Roosevelt, former First Lady, diplomat, and activist

 

 

“Success is not final, failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue that counts.”

-Winston Churchill, former British Prime Minister

 

“Courage is contagious. When a brave man takes a stand, the spines of others are stiffened.”

-Billy Graham

 

 

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451: RITU’S COLUMN: Joint IAF & IN Operation at High Sea

Pic Courtesy: Internet

 

Ritu Sharma is a journalist, with a Master’s Degree in Conflict Studies and Management of Peace from the University of Erfurt, Germany. Her areas of interest include Asia-Pacific, the South China Sea, and Aviation history. She has been writing on subjects related to defence, foreign affairs, and nuclear technology for the last 15 years. She has written for PTI, IANS and The New Indian Express. Presently she is writing for the EurAsian Times.  

 

Her article on recent Joint IAF and IN operation at high sea  was published on 18 Jan 2024 on “The EurAsian Times”.

 

(Besides the quotes, the views of the author are her own)

 

No Propaganda-Laced Video! Filipino Expert Mocks China, Says Indian AF-Navy Ops Show ‘Who Is The Boss’

 

By Ritu Sharma -March 18, 2024

 

While the Chinese PLA Navy, despite its increasing size, is still working towards becoming a true blue-water navy capable of operating much beyond its shores, the Indian Navy and the Indian Air Force pooled their resources to paradrop marine commandos from Boeing C-17 Globemaster to rescue a hijacked merchant vessel 1400 nautical miles from the Indian shores.

 

The message was loud and clear that India is the ‘First Responder in the Indian Ocean Region.’

 

It was the first insertion of marine commandos through airdrop on high seas. A rescue right out of Hollywood flick Captain Phillips, the Indian forces executed the anti-piracy operation on the high seas that unfolded for over 40 hours.

 

Indian Navy’s stealth-guided missile destroyer INS Kolkata intercepted a merchant vessel, MV Ruen, which was hijacked by Somali pirates on December 13, 2023. The pirates had sailed in the ship to conduct more acts of piracy when they were stopped by the INS Kolkata.

 

The emboldened pirates opened fire at INS Kolkata and, in the reckless hostile act, shot down a drone launched from the destroyer. This set in motion a high-voltage anti-piracy mission that underscored that the Indian Navy is not to be trifled with.

 

INS Subhadra patrol vessel, maritime patrol aircraft P-8I, and a high-altitude long-endurance drone joined the mission, while an IAF’s C-17 took off from India with the elite marine commandos (Marcos) of the Indian Navy. It flew for 10 hours and carried out a precision airborne drop of two Combat Rubberised Raiding Craft boats along with the Indian Navy Marcos trained in paradrop.

 

The paradrop is difficult in the best of circumstances. However, it becomes extremely challenging on high seas because sea and air conditions impact accuracy. The hazard of parachuting into water is always present.

 

The Indian marine commandos undergo regular training for para jumps with the Air Force; however, this is the first time they have been para-dropped so far away from the Indian coast.

 

The Marine Commandos boarded the bulk carrier MV Ruen and successfully disarmed the 35 pirates on the ship to successfully rescue 17 crew members on board.

 

The operation, in addition to underscoring the Indian Navy’s capability to defend maritime laws in its area of dominance from the Gulf of Aden in the West to the Malacca Straits in the East, also highlighted the growing cohesiveness of the Indian Armed Forces to carry out joint operations with finesse.

 

“IAF works closely not only with surface forces (Army and Navy) but also other agencies like NDMA (National Disaster Management Agency) and NSG (National Security Guards) etc, for induction and insertion of troops and special forces. Depending on the type of load (men and material), distance from the launch base, and method of induction/insertion (landed, para drop, or slithering), the appropriate aircraft is decided. A detailed planning has to be done for such operations,” former IAF Vice Chief Air Marshal Anil Khosla (retired) elaborated to the EurAsian Times.

 

“Prevailing ground environment is a very important factor. The airspace around the drop zone or landing area needs to be sanitized to rule out any anti-aircraft threat. These types of joint operations have been done in the past and will be carried out in the future as and when needed,” Air Marshal Khosla added.

 

The Indian Navy’s anti-piracy operations have earned accolades from across the globe. Although it has yet to confront Houthi rebels, it has been one of the first responders to multiple merchant vessels that have been impacted.

 

The incident has been widely covered in regional countries. A maritime security expert from the Philippines, Collin Koh, said obliquely, referring to China: “A net security provider shows its mettle with air force-navy integration in a real-life security contingency. It beats somebody else who only loves to publish flashy, propaganda-laced videos.”

 

Comparison To The Green-Water PLA Navy

 

When the Indian Navy is compared to the PLA Navy, the number of warships in the Chinese Armada is discussed. However, the Indian Navy’s blue water capabilities are only reflected in the Chinese Navy’s blue water ambitions.

 

Despite having the world’s biggest naval fleet, over 340 warships, the PLA Navy has been regarded as a green-water navy, operating mostly near the country’s shores. However, by augmenting its ship-building capability, it is expected to bloom into a true-blue-water navy by 2050.

 

China’s “Defence White Paper 2019” mentioned that the PLA is speeding up its transition to “Far-Seas Protection” as its maritime interests are growing. Hence, securing strategic sea lines of communication is becoming imperative for Chinese interests.

 

This has also seen the PLA-Navy increasing its footprints westwards. China is aware of the Indian Navy’s prowess and the advantage that India’s geographical location provides it. This is why China has not provoked India at sea, as it lacks the capability.

 

However, China is increasing its reach by building an overseas base. Besides Djibouti and Ream naval base in Cambodia, it is actively scouting for potential locations for military outposts. China’s foothold in Maldives, in the Indian backyard, is therefore concerning for New Delhi.

 

India has sought to counter this loss by building a naval air base in the Lakshadweep Islands group. The Indian Isles, located in the Arabian Sea, is just 507 kilometers from the Maldives and is seen as an alternative to the Maldives. The ramping up of facilities on the island will mean that soon, the Indian frontline fighter jets will roar in the Western part of the Indian Ocean.

 

India has already set on the path of developing the military assets on the archipelago of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, which sits on the mouth of the Strait of Malacca, a gateway to the South China Sea and a significant choke point for the Chinese Navy.

 

The northernmost point of the 572 islands is only 22 nautical miles away from Myanmar, and its southernmost point is a mere 90 nautical miles from Indonesia. The islands control the Bay of Bengal, the Six Degree, and the Ten Degree channels, which over 60,000 commercial vessels use.

 

While mid-air refueling has increased the Indian forces’ reach, the need for more supporting bases cannot be negated. “Earlier ferries to faraway places used to take many days with lots of halts en route. Now, aircraft reach much faster with mid-air refueling. But for sustained operations away from the mainland, supporting bases would be required,” Air Marshal Khosla added.

 

In 2018, India also gained access to the strategically located port of Duqm on Oman’s southern coast. Sitting on the northwestern edge of the Indian Ocean, Duqm provides the Indian Navy easy access into the Red Sea through the Gulf of Aden, helping the Indian Navy sustain long-term operations in the Western Indian Ocean.

 

Link to the article:-

No Propaganda-Laced Video! Filipino Expert Mocks China, Says Indian AF-Navy Ops Show ‘Who Is The Boss’

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References and credits

The EurAsian Times: https://www.eurasiantimes.com/no-propaganda-video-pilipino-expert-mocks-china/

To all the online sites and channels.

 

Disclaimer:

Information and data included in the blog are for educational & non-commercial purposes only and have been carefully adapted, excerpted, or edited from sources deemed reliable and accurate. All copyrighted material belongs to respective owners and is provided only for purposes of wider dissemination.

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