Gulbin Sultana

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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 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.

Associate Fellow
Email: Gulbin.sultana[at]gmail[dot]com
Phone: +91 11 2671 7983

Publication

India-Maldives: Continuing Momentum of Bilateral Engagement

Research Analyst, Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Dr. Gulbin Sultana’s commentary ‘India-Maldives: Continuing Momentum of Bilateral Engagement’ got published by the external services division of All India Radio (AIR) on April 19, 2021.

Since 2018, efforts have been on, both from India and the Maldives to strengthen and re-energize bilateral relations between the two close neighbours. High-level bilateral visits are testimony to the commitment of both sides to continue the momentum, writes Dr. Sultana.

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  • Published: 19 April, 2021

Inauguration of NSA Trilateral Secretariat: A step forward for maritime security cooperation with Sri Lanka, and the Maldives

Research Analyst, Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Dr. Gulbin Sultana’s Op-Ed ‘Inauguration of NSA Trilateral Secretariat: A step forward for maritime security cooperation with Sri Lanka, and the Maldives’ has been published in the Financial Express on March 04, 2021.

The newly set up Secretariat can facilitate maritime intelligence information sharing and benefit all the three countries to deal with their maritime security challenges coming from illegal activities at sea including, act of terrorism; piracy; drug, weapons and human trafficking, illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing; marine pollution and so on. Expanding the membership of the trilateral forum to include Mauritius and Seychelles would further strengthen the capability and capacity of this sub-regional grouping to deal with the maritime security challenges in the Indian Ocean writes Dr. Sultana.

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  • Published: 4 March, 2021

India-Sri Lanka Partnership Based On Mutual Sensitivity

Research Analyst, Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Dr. Gulbin Sultana’s Commentary ‘India-Sri Lanka Partnership Based On Mutual Sensitivity’ has been published by All India Radio (AIR) World Service, an External Services Division of AIR, on January 08, 2020.

The commentary analyses India’s External Affairs Minister, Dr. S. Jaishankar’s visit to Sri Lanka as significant. It has conveyed the message that India will always be a dependable partner and reliable friend of Sri Lanka.

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  • Published: 8 January, 2021

India, Sri Lanka and Maldives to discuss security concerns; Maritime Cooperation also on agenda

Research Analyst, Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Dr. Gulbin Sultana’s article ‘India, Sri Lanka and Maldives to discuss security concerns; Maritime Cooperation also on agenda’ has been published in the Financial Express on November 27, 2020.

Factoring in the geo-strategic dynamics in the Indian Ocean region, as well as the security needs and strategic concerns of the littoral states, resumption of the NSA level trilateral meeting between India, Sri Lanka and the Maldives on maritime Security Cooperation and inviting Mauritius, Seychelles and Bangladesh is a welcome development, writes Dr. Sultana.

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  • Published: 27 November, 2020

Foreign Secretary’s Visit Bolsters India-Maldives Ties

Research Analyst, Dr. Gulbin Sultana’s article ‘Foreign Secretary’s Visit Bolsters India-Maldives Ties’ has been published by All India Radio (AIR) World Service, an external services division of AIR, on November 12, 2020.

The future of India-Maldives relations looks positive, as both governments are committed to strengthen the bilateral ties. The continued engagement between the two countries at the highest level is desirable for the smooth implementation of the agreed projects, writes Dr. Sultana.

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  • Published: 12 November, 2020

Sri Lanka’s ‘India-First Policy’: Should India be complacent?

Research Analyst, Dr. Gulbin Sultana’s Op-Ed ‘Sri Lanka’s ‘India-First Policy’: Should India be complacent?’, has been published in ‘The Financial Express’ on October 15, 2020.

India must engage, understand, and assist Sri Lanka in a non-reciprocal manner, but it has to ensure that it is not taken for granted under any circumstance. India should not be complacent with the policy announcement from Colombo and must insist that India’s concerns and interests should be taken due care of, writes Dr. Sultana.

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  • Published: 15 October, 2020

China-Maldives Relations under President Solih

Research Analyst, Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Dr. Gulbin Sultana’s article on China-Maldives Relations, titled ‘China-Maldives Relations under President Solih’ has been published by the Nepal Institute for International Cooperation and Engagement, on July 09, 2020.

The current administration of the Maldives is mindful about its vulnerability in the midst of the big power rivalries in the region. The Solih administration is aware of its strategic importance for both India and China. Taking side of one country or allowing one power to have its influence will lead to security dilemma which would ultimately impact the strategic autonomy of the Maldives, writes Dr. Sultana.

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  • Published: 9 July, 2020

COVID-19 and Sri Lanka: Response, Issues and Concerns

Reasearch Analyst, Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Dr. Gulbin Sultana's commentary on COVID-19 and Sri Lanka, titled 'COVID-19 and Sri Lanka: Response, Issues and Concerns', has been published by the Nepal Institute for International Cooperation and Engagement on May 10, 2020.

COVID-19 is a common enemy of human being, but unfortunately, this common enemy too could not unite the political parties of Sri Lanka and convince them to lodge a united fight leaving their political interests aside, writes Dr. Sultana.

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  • Published: 10 May, 2020