Focus on Digital Security and Iran’s Entry

the New Delhi Declaration.

By Prerana P

What happened?

On 4 July, India hosted the Shanghai Cooperation (SCO) Summit online. The summit focused on "Towards a Secure SCO." India's AI-based language platform "Bashini" was used during the summit to bridge the language barriers. The leaders adopted two thematic joint statements, one focused on cooperation in countering radicalization, which leads to extremism and terrorism and the other focused on collaboration in digital transformation.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his opening remarks, stated: "The main focus of SCO should be on the benefits and aspirations of Central Asian nations…SCO members should understand each other's needs and sensitivities." A significant outcome of the SCO summit was

Other News

China: US Treasury Secretary

Janet Yellen arrives in Beijing

On 6 July, US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen arrived in Beijing to mend US-China relations. She complained of the “punitive actions against US companies and new exports controls on citerical mineral” that China was imposing and that it was an “unfair economic practice.” Chinese finance minister Li Kun said they hope that the United States will take concrete actions to provide for a conducive environment to flourish their relationship, further, he said: “No winners emerge from a trade war or from decoupling and ‘breaking chains.” Afghanistan: SCO countries urged to help

Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed his gratitude towards the member states for their support and declared his support toward the New Delhi Declaration. He further added that he firmly stands against the Western sanctions and "provocation."

Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif underlined,theimortance of condemning terrorism and any manifestations, and said: "Similarly, religious minorities should never be demonized in the pursuit of domestic, political agendas." The Chinese President called for "regional peace", and emphasized: "We must be highly vigilant against external attempts to foment a new Cold War or camp-based confrontation in our region." Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev highlighted the need to enhance energy cooperation. Belarusian President Lukashenko pointed out: "Such challenges and threats as destructive cyberattacks, data theft, and targeted dissemination of fake news in the information space are becoming increasingly

On 04 July, Indian PM Modi stated that the SCO countries must help Afghanistan in food, fuel and fertiliser shortages. Pakistani PM Sharif stated that the SCO needs to prevent the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan. UNWFP has additionally announced that 10,000 metric tonnes of wheat have been delivered from India to Herat, Afghanistan.

Iran: Claims over seizing oil tankers

On 06 July, Reuters reported that Iran issued a statement regarding the attempt to seize two oil tankers in gulf waters. The Iranian authorities claimed that it had received a court order to seize the vessels. The US Navy stated that it had dispatched the destroyer USS McFaul to respond to the distress calls of the vessels.

Iran said the Richmond Voyager's collision with an Iranian ship carrying seven crew members had injured five people and caused flooding on board, and that the tanker had not stopped after the incident.

Nigeria: Chinese Navy fleet visit Lagos

On 04 July, Africanews reported that three Chinese navy vessels made a five-day stopover at Lagos, Nigeria. The Nigerian Navy spokesman Admiral Ayo- relevant among the member states."

What does it mean?

First, the impact of the New Delhi Declaration. The New Delhi Declaration strengthens the commitment of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) member states to combat terrorism, separatism, and extremism. It promotes enhanced cooperation through joint efforts to disrupt terror financing, eliminate safe havens, and counter-radicalization.

Second, the declaration also emphasizes cooperation in digital transformation to leverage its potential for inclusive growth. It addresses challenges such as cybercrime, drug trafficking, and nuclear disarmament, promoting joint actions and collaboration. Overall, the declaration fosters greater cooperation, coordination, and a shared commitment among SCO members to address security challenges, advance digitalization, and tackle shared concerns for a more secure and prosperous region.

Vaughan stated that the visit to the Gulf of Guinea aimed at improving diplomacy between the two countries. The Chinese ambassador to Nigeria, Cui Jiachun stated: "Peace is not free, peace should be defended. So, I think that we need military security collaboration, so AfricaChina, Nigeria-China can do things to not only safeguard the peace, but to protect the vessels in the Gulf of Aden and also here in the Gulf of Guinea.”

Netherlands: Government collapses over a difference in regulating asylum policy

Union, and the D66 opposed the move leading to the collapse of the government coalition. Since 2022, the number of asylum applications had increased by one-third (47,000), and as per government reports, 70,000 are expected to apply in 2023.

Russia: Moscow calls supplying cluster bombs to Ukraine an admission of Kiev's failure

On 07 July, the Russian ambassador to Washington stated that the US decision to include cluster munitions, and military aid to Ukraine is an administrative failure of Kyiv’s administration and called it as a "desperate attempt to stave off defeat”. On 7 July, the White House and the Pentagon confirmed that the US would be sending dualpurpose improved conventional munitions (DPICM) to Ukraine, citing that the West was running short of conventional 155mm artillery ammunition. In his statement, Antonov said the move by the US is ignoring the concerns of Washington's alliesmany of whom have ratified the Convention on Cluster Munitions. The US Undersecretary of Defense for Policy told reporters at the Pentagon that the decision was driven by “the urgency of the moment” and the desire to keep the Ukrainians fighting.

Space: ESA launches Euclid space telescope

Donald Trump’s election funding campaign benefitted from legal troubles like his indictment. Trump’s election campaign gathered around USD 35 million from April to June. Trump leads the popularity index with his nearest competitor Ron DeSantis, who has a 20 per cent lesser approval rate and had gathered USD 20 million for his election campaign.

The US: Biden on 'Israel-style" security guarantees for Ukraine

On 07 July, Netherlands' Prime Minister Mark Rutte announced his resignation after the unsuccessful rounds of negotiation over asylum policy. His conservative VVD party has been attempting to reduce the inflow of asylum seekers to 200 per month since the issue over overcrowding of migration centres sparked in 2022. Whereas his coalition parties, Christian

On 1 July, European Space Agency launched Euclid space telescope to be put a Langrage point, 1.6 million kms away. The project included 2000 scientists from 13 EU nations along with Japan, US and Canada. The objective of the mission is to study dark matter and dark energy to discover fabrics and mechanics of universe. The wide angle will supplement narrow angle James Webb telescope which zeroes in on particular objects.

The US: Federal Court restricts federal agencies from frequent contact with social media

On 4 July, during the hearing of a lawsuit brought by Republican attorneys general in Louisiana and Missouri against federal agencies and some officials on their over-the-top efforts in moderating content by social media firms. The ruling cited the Free Speech Clause of the First Amendment to the United States Constitution and barred agencies like the Department of Health and Human Services and the FBI from influencing behaviour during health crises and misinformation.

The US: Trump fundraising doubles after indictment

On 07 July, in an interview with CNN's Fareed Zakaria, President Joe Biden stated that the US is willing to offer Ukraine a sort of security arrangement currently offered to Israel instead of membership in NATO, reiterating that Kyiv is not ready for NATO membership yet. He said: “I don’t think there is unanimity in NATO about whether or not to bring Ukraine into the NATO family now, at this moment, in the middle of a war”, referring to the fact that membership in NATO would mean a commitment to defend all of its territory. This is in the context of the upcoming NATO summit in Vilnius, where Ukraine has demanded an invitation from NATO or, at the least an announcement when it might be ready to bring Kiev on board. The idea of the Israel model was first mentioned by the New York Times in June, which called it a time-limited commitment to maintain the flow of Western weapons to Kyiv. About the Authors

Harini Madhusudan, Rashmi Ramesh, Akriti Sharma and Ankit Singh are PhD scholars in the School of Conflict and Security Studies at the National Institute of Advanced Studies. PadmashreeAnandhan, Anu Maria Joseph, Femy Francis and Rishika Yadav are Research Associates at NIAS. Sneha Sunrendaran, Prerena P and Ryan Marcus Manuel are Research Interns at NIAS.

The report has been modified by India News for space considerations