Constantino XavierVerified account

@ConstantinoX

Research Fellow • India: Foreign Policy • South Asia: regional security, connectivity, democracy, history • EU-Asia • Non-Res Fellow

New Delhi, India
csep.org/team/constanti…
Joined April 2009
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  1. Pinned Tweet
    Dec 6

    Can India reap the benefits of promoting its democratic system for a free and open Indo-Pacific... without coming under growing scrutiny? I write on possible opportunities & concerns as Prime Minister Modi addresses the this week:

    3 replies 14 retweets 53 likes
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  2. Dec 15

    Video of our recent flagship seminar focused on the book:

    1 retweet 19 likes
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  3. Dec 15

    “The central argument is that these military operations were only one part, albeit crucially important part, of a multi-dimensional grand strategy that encompassed defence, foreign and economic policy as well as management of home affairs.”

    1 reply 3 retweets 26 likes
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  4. Dec 15

    On how he and all these and other figures implemented India’s grand strategy, despite all odds and obstacles — leading to the Dec 16 “total victory” in Dhaka — do read the excellent book by Amb. Chandrashekhar Dasgupta:

    1 reply 5 retweets 41 likes
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  5. Dec 15

    Indira Gandhi Sam Manekshaw R N Kao P N Dhar P N Haksar T N Kaul… All key figures behind India’s formidable role in liberating Bangladesh, 50 years ago. Yet I am biased toward the underrated Sardar Swaran Singh. One of India’s finest foreign ministers.

    19 replies 50 retweets 424 likes
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  6. Retweeted
    Dec 15

    Happy 50th to Bangladesh and India! Proud to have the Hon’ble President of India in Dhaka to join in celebrating the birth of a remarkable Nation this day in 1971

    12 replies 35 retweets 219 likes
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  7. Retweeted
    Dec 14

    Don't forget to join us tomorrow to discuss the book by Ajay Chhibber and —Unshackling India: Hard Truths and Clear Choices for Economic Revival. Register to tune in:

    , and
    5 retweets 7 likes
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  8. Retweeted
    Dec 9

    Author of India and Bangladesh Liberation War, Chandrashekhar Dasgupta on 's latest webinar!

    6 retweets 9 likes
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  9. Dec 13

    I must have read/heard over one hundred Indian explanations of vote at the UN — this one on the vote against the UNSC resolution on climate & security is amongst the best:

    50 replies 1,736 retweets 5,366 likes
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  10. Dec 12

    Call for applications: internship

    2 replies 17 retweets 36 likes
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  11. Dec 10

    Not sure if China is “freaking out” or so upset as suggested here. More likely: it saw Washington’s summit fail as a golden opportunity to 1) weaponise ideology 2) expand its own influence 3) slow down democratic cooperation. Let’s see to what effect.

    3 retweets 11 likes
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  12. Dec 10

    “move sure to worry India” 🙄 Action is the best antidote. Focus on India’s own railway links with Nepal. Worry should be about connecting Kathmandu & Kerung by broad gauge *before* China. That must be India’s level of geoeconomic confidence & capacity.

    8 replies 13 retweets 60 likes
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  13. Dec 10

    Curious: 1. What assistance did Sri Lanka *not* get from India? (debt freeze?) 2. What did India ask for or get in exchange? (Trinco project?) 3. How fast will all this, including the currency swap “offer” go ahead?

    3 retweets 19 likes
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  14. Dec 10

    Good to see BIMSTEC being discussed in Bangkok, where it was founded. Thailand expected to take on the rotating chair in 2022 but Sri Lanka summit has still not taken place, repeated postponements… BIMSTEC back to the old normal?

    Joined fellow ambassadors for a useful conversation over a delicious Thai lunch hosted by DPS & DPS Chulamanee of yesterday.
    1 retweet 7 likes
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  15. Dec 10

    General Bipin Rawat “became the first Indian COAS to attend the Nepali Army Day function donning the Nepali Army uniform. … Nepal lost one of its staunchest friends in India” Fascinating background details by Chiran Jung Thapa:

    3 replies 67 retweets 334 likes
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  16. Dec 10

    For those surprised by Indian PM Modi’s remarks at featuring the Licchavi, Shakya and other Indian concepts from 2500 years ago — this gives a little context:

    "Our democracy is not a western institution ... India's history is filled with examples of democratic institutions. We find mention of 81 democracies in ancient India.” PM Modi. But he’s not the first to claim democracy as an Indian system. Quick 🧵👇🏽
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    2 replies 5 retweets 23 likes
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  17. Dec 10

    🇮🇳

    “Democracy, human dignity and human rights are objectives which deserve to be pursued for their own sake. At the same time, they are the preconditions for peace, prosperity and development.” Narasimha Rao, India's External Affairs Minister, August 1990 in Kathmandu.
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  18. Dec 9

    This is about PM Modi’s reported remarks at leaders’ meeting yesterday. Main address later today:

    Summit of democracy: Prime Minister Narendra Modi's intervention at 5 pm IST
    1 reply 4 likes
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  19. Dec 9

    And here’s the guesswork piece I had done previewing how Modi/India would approach summit. Missing so far: references to how Indian foreign policy supports democratic capacity abroad. New element: the diaspora. Looking fwd to see the full address.

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  20. Dec 9

    4/4 “highlighted India’s civilisational ethos as one of the original sources of democracy.” - interesting change from India as the “mother of democracy” (at UNGA in Sept) to now “*one of* the original sources of democracy.” Small but important distinction — esp for Greece :)

    1 reply 1 retweet 10 likes
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  21. Dec 9

    3/4 “Democratic spirit, including respect for rule of law and pluralistic ethos, is ingrained in Indians” - Claiming denocracy as a cultural Indian system that is natural, thus somehow inevitable and irreversible for India. Aka “We are like this only”

    1 reply 6 likes
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