Dr Gulbin Sultana is an Associate Fellow with the South Asia Centre in the Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (MP-IDSA), New Delhi. Her area of research in the institute includes Sri Lanka and the Maldives. She has written extensively on the politico-economic and foreign policy developments of these two countries. Additionally, Dr Sultana takes interest in the study of small island states particularly in the Indian Ocean Region and also issues pertaining to maritime security. She has done her MPhil on "India's Naval Support to Sri Lanka and the Maldives" from the South Asian Studies Division of School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. She was awarded a PhD degree too by the same university. Her doctoral thesis was on "Sri Lanka’s Maritime Security: A Study of Military and Non-military Responses." Before joining MP-IDSA, she worked with the National Maritime Foundation and the United Service Institution of India in New Delhi.
Forthcoming Presidential Election in Sri Lanka: What to Expect?
Associate Fellow, Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Dr Gulbin Sultana’s commentary ‘Forthcoming Presidential Election in Sri Lanka: What to Expect?’ has been published by the Nepal Institute for International Cooperation and Engagement, on 19 September 2024. https://niice.org.np/archives/9589
Sri Lanka is all geared up for one of the most crucial Presidential election on 21 September 2024. This will be the first election after the 2022 people’s uprising known as Aragalaya, writes Dr Sultana.
Domestic Politics and Foreign Policy of the Maldives: Implications for India
Associate Fellow, Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Dr Gulbin Sultana’s article on ‘Domestic Politics and Foreign Policy of the Maldives: Implications for India’ has been published in National Security, Vol. 7 Issue 2 (April-June 2024).
The article argues that India should acknowledge and feel confident about its own strength, and address concerns in the bilateral relations through dialogue and engagement with all the stakeholders in Maldives rather than adopting reactive measures.
THINK20@G20: Towards A Resilient South Asia
Operation Cactus: India’s First Rapid Reaction Strategic Mission in the Neighbourhood
Operation Cactus was one of the most important strategic airlifts by the Indian Air Force (IAF) in the neighbourhood, which was accomplished despite several issues and challenges. Various lessons were learnt from the experience of Operation Cactus. Some of the issues and challenges were subsequently addressed to improve the capability of India to undertake a joint strategic mission within a short period. However, with India’s everincreasing strategic interests and sphere of influence, the IAF needs to further bolster its strategic airlift capability.
Spat between India and the Maldives: Way Forward?
Associate Fellow, Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Dr Gulbin Sultana’s commentary titled ‘Spat between India and the Maldives: Way Forward?’, has been published in the Financial Express on 11 January 2024.
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Muizzu as the Eighth President of the Maldives: Implications for India-Maldives Relations
President Mohamed Muizzu will continue security and defence cooperation with India and unlikely to cancel ongoing infrastructure projects.
India-Sri Lanka Fishermen Issue: An Indian Perspective
Associate Fellow, Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Dr Gulbin Sultana’s chapter, ‘India-Sri Lanka Fishermen Issue: An Indian Perspective’, has been published as part of the book ‘Geopolitics of India-Sri Lanka Relations: The Way Forward, KDU Press: General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University, Ratmalana, 2023, edited by Asantha Senevirathna.
Maldives Presidential Elections: Fragmented Campaign
While the pre-poll environment in Maldives is relatively peaceful, the political fragmentation makes it difficult to project a certain outcome in the upcoming presidential elections.
One Year of Ranil Wickremesinghe’s Presidency and Sri Lankan Economy
The ambitious policy measures taken by the Ranil Wickremasinghe government to revive the economy have yielded some positive outcomes though concerns remain over their implementation.
How French President Macron’s visit to Sri Lanka will usher in a new dynamism in Indo-Pacific
Associate Fellow, Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Dr Gulbin Sultana’s opinion piece ‘How French President Macron’s visit to Sri Lanka will usher in a new dynamism in Indo-Pacific’ got published in Firstpost on 03 August 2023.
France is keen to strengthen its relations with Sri Lanka as part of its 'Indo-Pacific strategy'. Sri Lanka’s multiple crises too have obligated the government in Colombo to reach out and deepen the ties, saus Dr Sultana.