North America & Strategic Technologies

About Centre

The Centre tracks relations between India and the countries of North America. US and Canadian internal developments are also monitored to have a better understanding of their role as drivers of foreign and domestic policies. The large Indian diaspora in these two countries also serves as a bridge for strengthening bilateral relations.

The Centre also actively tracks and analyses trends in strategic technologies, with principal focus on critical technologies and their implications for national security. It addresses evolving threats in space security and cyber security, ensuring comprehensive research into these critical domains. The other mandate of the Centre is to undertake research on Biological and Chemical Weapons with a focus on studying the dangers of proliferation and terrorism.

What does the discovery of Higgs boson mean?

With the discovery of the Higgs boson, the missing link in the Standard Model of physics has been found and the Standard Model stands further strengthened.

Arvind Gupta
July 09, 2012
IDSA Comments

Deliberating the Space Code of Conduct

Ajey Lele argues that, in its present avatar, the International Code of Conduct for Outer Space Activities is not capable of realizing its stated aim fully because it lacks an accountability mechanism.

Ajey Lele
June 29, 2012
Issue Brief

CBMs in Cyber Space: What should be India’s Approach?

India should support the idea of TCBMs (transparency and confidence building measures) as a first step towards a code of conduct or eventual cyber security convention.

Arvind Gupta
June 27, 2012
IDSA Comments

Space Code of Conduct: Inadequate Mechanism—A Response

An “imperfect” International Code of Conduct can help establish and strengthen norms for responsible space-faring nations. We must make hard choices about which less-than-perfect approach can best serve national and international security.

Space Code of Conduct: Inadequate Mechanism

The EU’s Code of Conduct has been advertised as a mechanism to preserve the sustainability and security of space, but it is difficult to comprehend how a non-binding and voluntary mechanism could help achieve this.

Ajey Lele
June 18, 2012
IDSA Comments

Panetta’s Prescription for New Directions in US-India Defence Relations: Cyber and Space Security

There is an ongoing global competition to gain dominance in the space and cyber domains; while going it alone might be the best policy, collaboration with clearly laid out guidelines and end-goals is not without its benefits.

India Launches Radar Satellite

ISRO has done its job and now the onus lies on other agencies to make appropriate and timely use of the inputs that will be provided by RISAT-1.

Ajey Lele
April 27, 2012
IDSA Comments

Agni V Launches India into the ‘Strat’-o-sphere

The Agni-V launch is a significant milestone for the Indian scientific community as this is the first missile with a strike-range covering major Chinese cities including Beijing and Shanghai.

Abhijit Singh
April 23, 2012
IDSA Comments

North Korea’s Rocket Fails

Without getting into any a debate about whether the satellite launch was actually a missile test or not, the US should make an offer to help North Korea launch a satellite in order to foster sustained engagement with Pyongyang

Ajey Lele
April 16, 2012
IDSA Comments

Emerging Trends in Cyber Security

The absence of agreed norms of conduct in cyberspace and the scope for conducting a myriad range of malafide activities with limited risk of retribution is leading to both vertical and horizontal proliferation of such activities.