International Relations & Global Events

📘 AFCAT GK Section · CFA03

International Relations for AFCAT tests India’s foreign policy, bilateral defence deals, and summit outcomes. AFCAT specifically links international events to their defence implications — which exercise with which country, which aircraft was sold/purchased, which agreement affects IAF operations. Keep this lens active while reading.

📌 AFCAT Pattern — International Relations:
• Bilateral deals: what was signed + defence angle | • Summits: host + key outcome
• India’s UN voting stances | • International org heads | • Geopolitical events India participated in

1. Key Bilateral Relations (Defence Focus)

🇺🇸 India – USA & 🇫🇷 India – France

4 Foundational Defence Pacts (all signed): GSOMIA (2002, intel sharing); LEMOA (2016, logistics); COMCASA (2018, encrypted comms); BECA (2020, geospatial data).
GE-F414 Engine Co-Production (2023): USA agreed to co-produce GE-F414 jet engines in India for Tejas Mk2. First US defence technology transfer of jet engine to any nation. HAL to manufacture in India under ToT.
MQ-9B Predator Drones (31 approved): 16 for Navy, 8 Army, 7 IAF. High-altitude long-endurance surveillance/strike. Rs 35,000 crore.
iCET (2023): Initiative on Critical & Emerging Technology. AI, semiconductors, quantum, aerospace. NSA-level India-USA framework.
QUAD: India, USA, Japan, Australia. IPMDA (maritime awareness), Cancer Moonshot, tech cooperation. Malabar = QUAD naval exercise.
India – France: Rafale-IAF (36 jets delivered). Rafale-M (26 Navy ordered). GARUDA air exercise. Scorpene submarines (6 built). Strategic partner since 1998. P-75I submarine (France shortlisted).

🇷🇺 India – Russia & 🇨🇳 India – China

S-400 Triumf: 3 of 5 squadrons delivered (2024). Russia faced CAATSA threat but USA waived for India. Tracks 80 targets; range 400 km. Critical layer of India’s air defence.
AK-203 Rifles: 6+ lakh for Army at Amethi, UP. Indo-Russian joint venture. Make in India.
Kudankulam: Nuclear plant; Units 3&4 under construction. Russian VVER reactors.
Russian Oil: India’s Russian crude ~40% of imports (post-Ukraine war); discounted rates; paid in non-dollar currencies. Strategic autonomy in energy.
LAC Disengagement (Oct 2024): India-China agreed to resume patrolling at Depsang Plains and Demchok — last two remaining friction points. Relations cautiously improving.
BRI: India refuses. CPEC (through PoK) = sovereignty violation. India promotes IMEC (India-Middle East-Europe Corridor) as alternative.

🌎 Summits & Multilateral Forums

G20 India Presidency 2023 (New Delhi): Theme: “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam.” African Union (55 nations) admitted as permanent G20 member. IMEC (India-Middle East-Europe Corridor) announced. Global Biofuels Alliance launched. New Delhi Declaration adopted by consensus.
BRICS Expansion (Johannesburg, Aug 2023): 6 new members invited; Argentina declined; 10 members from Jan 2024 (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Iran, Ethiopia, Egypt join).
SCO Summit 2023: India hosted (virtual). Iran joined as full member. India = member since 2017. Focus: counter-terrorism, connectivity.
QUAD: India-USA-Japan-Australia. Not a formal military alliance. IPMDA for maritime domain awareness.
India’s Voting at UN: Russia-Ukraine = abstained. Gaza ceasefire = abstained. Reflects “strategic autonomy” — India avoids taking sides in bloc conflicts.

🌐 International Organisation Heads

UN Secretary-General: Antonio Guterres (Portugal). UNSC P5 = USA, UK, France, Russia, China (India is NOT P5).
World Bank President: Ajay Banga (USA, Indian-origin). First Indian-descent World Bank President. Since June 2023.
IMF MD: Kristalina Georgieva (Bulgaria). Since 2019.
WHO DG: Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus (Ethiopia). First African DG of WHO.
WTO DG: Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala (Nigeria). First woman + first African DG.
NSG (Nuclear Suppliers Group): India seeking membership; China blocking. India is member of MTCR, Wassenaar Arrangement, Australia Group (all 3 export control regimes). NSG membership enables civilian nuclear trade without restrictions.

📝 AFCAT PYQ

International Relations — AFCAT Pattern Questions

Q1. The QUAD grouping (Quadrilateral Security Dialogue) consists of which four nations? (AFCAT 2022)

(a) India, USA, UK, Australia (b) India, USA, Japan, South Korea (c) India, USA, Japan, Australia (d) India, France, Japan, Australia

Answer: (c) India, USA, Japan, Australia
QUAD focuses on free and open Indo-Pacific. Not a formal military alliance. Malabar naval exercise = QUAD’s naval expression (Australia rejoined 2020). QUAD tech cooperation: IPMDA (maritime domain awareness), Cancer Moonshot initiative, semiconductor supply chain, clean energy. AFCAT pairs QUAD with specific exercises or outcomes.

Q2. India purchased the S-400 Triumf air defence system from Russia. The USA threatened sanctions under which legislation? (AFCAT 2023)

(a) Defense Production Act (b) CAATSA (Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act) (c) Arms Export Control Act (d) Patriot Act

Answer: (b) CAATSA (Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act, 2017)
CAATSA prohibits significant transactions with Russia, Iran, or North Korea in defence. USA waived CAATSA for India given the strategic partnership. S-400 is crucial for India’s layered air defence (alongside Akash, QRSAM). 3 of 5 squadrons delivered by 2024. Total deal: Rs ~35,000 crore.

Q3. Which new member was admitted to G20 as a permanent member during India’s presidency in 2023? (AFCAT 2024)

(a) ASEAN (b) African Development Bank (c) Arab League (d) African Union

Answer: (d) African Union (AU)
India strongly lobbied for AU’s inclusion. The African Union (55 member states) was admitted as permanent G20 member at New Delhi Summit. PM Modi announced at the opening session. G20 theme: “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam.” This is seen as India’s biggest diplomatic achievement of the G20 presidency.

Q4. GE-F414 engine co-production deal between India and USA (2023) is for which aircraft programme? (AFCAT 2024)

(a) Rafale (b) Tejas Mk2 (LCA Mk2) (c) Su-30MKI upgrade (d) Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA)

Answer: (b) Tejas Mk2 (LCA Mk2)
GE Aerospace (USA) agreed to co-produce GE-F414-INS6 engine in India with HAL for the Tejas Mk2 programme. 80% technology transfer. This is the first time USA has agreed to co-produce a jet engine in another country. Tejas Mk2 needs more powerful engine than current Mk1A’s GE-F404 engine. The AMCA (Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft) is a separate 5th-generation fighter programme.

📝 Rapid Revision — CFA03 International Relations

🇺🇸 USA Defence Deals

LEMOA (2016) = logistics base access
COMCASA (2018) = encrypted comms
BECA (2020) = geospatial intel
GE-F414 = engine for Tejas Mk2; ToT
MQ-9B = 31 drones (7 for IAF)

🇷🇺 Russia + 🇨🇳 China

S-400 = 3/5 squadrons; CAATSA waived
AK-203 = Amethi; India-Russia JV
Russian oil = ~40% of India’s crude imports
LAC = Depsang/Demchok disengagement Oct 2024
BRI = India refuses; CPEC through PoK

🏢 Summits

G20 2023 = New Delhi; AU admitted; IMEC
G20 theme = Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam
BRICS 2023 = 10 members (Argentina declined)
QUAD = India, USA, Japan, Australia
India’s UN votes = abstained (Ukraine + Gaza)

🌎 Org Heads

UN SG: Antonio Guterres (Portugal)
World Bank: Ajay Banga (Indian-origin)
IMF: Kristalina Georgieva (Bulgaria)
WHO: Tedros (Ethiopia; 1st African DG)
WTO: Okonjo-Iweala (1st woman + African)

⚡ Quick Booster — CFA03

Defence Deals Quick

Rafale = France; 36 IAF + 26 Navy
S-400 = Russia; 5 squadrons ordered
GE-F414 = USA; Tejas Mk2; ToT
MQ-9B = 31 drones; 7 for IAF
AK-203 = Russia; Amethi factory

Multilateral Quick

QUAD = India+USA+Japan+Australia
G20 2023 = AU admitted (55 nations)
BRICS = 10 members (Argentina refused)
SCO = India member since 2017
India = strategic autonomy; abstains at UN

AFCAT Traps

GE-F414 = Tejas Mk2 (NOT AMCA)
BRICS = 10 members (NOT 11; Argentina)
World Bank = Ajay Banga (NOT IMF)
S-400 = Russia + CAATSA threat (waived)
QUAD = not formal military alliance

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