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The big talking point of this episode of India First is the high-profile visit of UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to New Delhi for a summit with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
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00:00Good evening. The world is in turmoil from West Asia to Europe to the United States and in midst
00:08of war clouds over West Asia, the President of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Mohammed bin
00:14Zayed Al Nahyan is in Delhi. He air dashed to Delhi. He's met Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
00:21The two are close personal friends and India and UAE are also close strategic partners.
00:27Their aim is to increase bilateral trade to cross the 100 billion dollar mark beyond oil.
00:34And this is a very crucial visit. Prime Minister Narendra Modi went to Palam Technical Area to
00:38receive the President of the UAE. They travelled together to seven Lokalyan mark. The images that
00:44you see on your television screen, this indicates the warmth of not just in their personal ties,
00:49but in India, UAE ties. Now, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri says India-UAE summit,
00:56it was short, but it was substantive. It reflects the close ties between Prime Minister Narendra Modi
01:02and the President of the UAE, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Talks were both restricted,
01:12one-on-one, and of course, at the delegation level. There are several key agreements that were
01:17inked. That's breaking news that's just coming in, including a letter of intent towards a strategic
01:22defense partnership, cooperation on space infrastructure, and UAE's participation in
01:30the Dolera investment region. Plus, there's a long-term LNG supply deal that makes UAE India's second
01:39largest LNG supplier. The two sides have also agreed to deepen cooperation on food security,
01:45civil nuclear energy, artificial intelligence, data centers, and supercomputing, reinforcing the width,
01:54the breadth of the India-UAE strategic partnership. For India, UAE remains a very critical economic and
02:01strategic partner, backed by the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, which was the basis
02:07framework, which led to growing trade, strong investment. India's trade with UAE, it grew to about
02:14$83.7 billion in 2023-2024. And this visit comes at a very sensitive time, especially in West Asia.
02:23Iran-US tensions remain extremely high. Gaza continues to simmer. Then there is the Yemen conflict,
02:31tensions between UAE and Saudi Arabia. Against this backdrop, the Modi-MBZ visit and the dialogue
02:41on a wide-ranging issue of subjects. It just shows that the timing is very crucial.
02:50Tensions over Yemen. Riyadh's recent outreach to Pakistan reported Saudi strikes impacting UAE-linked
02:57assets in Yemen. It just adds many very, very complex layers to this visit. Now, MEA officials tell India
03:06today that UAE and India share a high degree of convergence on a number of issues, regional issues
03:13and global issues. Today's talks are all about charting the next phase of partnership.
03:19We will also tell you more about these images of the Prime Minister's residence. Prime Minister
03:24Narendra Modi is being introduced to the delegation from UAE. And the President of UAE is being introduced
03:31to External Affairs Minister, Dr. S. Jai Shankar. You can also see Hardip Puri, Petroleum Minister
03:36in those images. Plus, I must tell you, when the Prime Minister visited, you know, welcomed
03:43Sheikh Mohammed bin Nayan, Zayed Al Nayan, the President of UAE and his family at his residence,
03:50the Prime Minister presented traditional Indian gifts to them. The Prime Minister gifted the President
03:57of UAE, a royal carved wooden jhula, a swing. And I'll show you those images of that swing
04:05because it's a beautifully carved wooden swing. It comes from the state of Gujarat. It sits
04:12at the heart of many Gujarat family homes. It's a hand carved, detailed, floral and traditional
04:20design jhula. It actually shows, watch those images, they're just coming up there. That's
04:25the jhula that the Prime Minister has presented to the President of the UAE. You know, in Gujarati
04:31culture, this jhula symbolizes the togetherness of a family, conversation and bonding across
04:40generations. This gift also resonates deeply with the UAE since 2026, even in the United Arab
04:49Emirates is the year of the family. Then the Prime Minister also gifted the President of UAE a
04:57Pashmina shawl in an ordinate silver box. This Pashmina shawl comes from Kashmir, an integral part
05:05of India. Made by hand, fine wool, very soft, light and warm is what we are being told. The shawl was
05:14placed in a decorative silver box. That silver box was made in Telangana. Together, they represent
05:21India's rich tradition of handloom and handicraft. Pashmina shawl in an ordinate silver box was
05:28also gifted to Her Highness, Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak al-Kethbi. She was also gifted Kashmiri
05:36saffron, Kesar, in an ordinate silver box. Now, grown in the Kashmir Valley, saffron is
05:44actually, you know, the more crimson, the deep crimson saffron, it just stands for intense
05:52aroma and is an integral part, not just in Kashmir, but even in the rest of the country. Before
05:58I get you more on the story, listen in to Foreign Secretary Vikraman Sree.
06:05The discussions between the two leaders focused on several new and emerging areas of cooperation
06:12as well. In fact, to capitalize on the new opportunities for civil nuclear cooperation
06:19in the light of the passage of the Shanti Act in India for sustainable harnessing and advancement
06:27of nuclear energy for transforming India, the two sides decided to explore partnership in
06:35advanced nuclear technologies, including development and deployment of large nuclear reactors and
06:42small modular reactors, as well as cooperation in advanced reactor systems, nuclear power plant
06:48operations, and maintenance and nuclear safety.
06:53So let's try and make sense of some of these developments at a time when USS Abraham Lincoln,
07:00the U.S. aircraft carrier battle group, is enroute the Persian Gulf. Donald Trump, the U.S.
07:06president, has invited several countries, including India, the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi,
07:10to be a part of the Board of Peace for Gaza. UAE-Saudi Arabia tensions over Yemen. Now, that's a cause for
07:17concern, not just for the region, but the world. Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, defense pact in the
07:23work. So there are many developments that are taking place. And of course, the bilateral partnership.
07:28There are about 4.3 million Indians, Indian expatriates in the United Arab Emirates. So that just shows how
07:35close the two countries are. Joining me on India first is Pranay Upadhyay, my colleague, and of course,
07:40Sushant Sarin is senior fellow at the Observer Research Foundation. Pranay, sudden and short
07:45visit. But this is more than just a curtsy call of friends. You know, while the Foreign Secretary
07:54spoke of some of the MOUs that have been inked, what were other aspects that were discussed here?
08:01The most important and significant part of this visit was the timing. As you mentioned about what
08:06is happening in the West Asian region, the turbulent, you know, geopolitics of West Asia.
08:11At a time, probably, President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan felt that this is the time to
08:16talk and have exchange of ideas with the Prime Minister of India, who has important influence
08:21in that entire region, and reaching out to India for a more robust partnership. This visit might be
08:28short in terms of the time both leaders spent. It was only three or three to, like, you know,
08:33three and a half hour visit, but very substantive in terms of the delivery. See, the list of
08:38agreements agreed between both the countries. So, it means that they, both the leaders share
08:43a robust partnership. They share, you know, close partnership. And the kind of bond they have,
08:48like, you know, if such kind of a visit can be worked out at a short notice, you can very well
08:53understand, Gaurav, that what kind of partnership Prime Minister Nareen Modi and Sheikh Mohammed bin
08:57Zayed Al Nahyan shares. And we have seen in the past that, you know, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al
09:02Nahyan visited vibrant Gujarat, Prime Minister Modi and N Nayan, MBZ, as he popularly known as,
09:09have carried out roadshows as well. And see, the areas, you know, what both leaders have agreed to
09:15work upon, be it investment, be it the space sector, you know, development of the new space launch site,
09:21the new satellite fabrication facilities, the nuclear sector, as you heard, Foreign Secretary Vikram
09:27Misri mentioning and listing out all those things. In fact, in terms of the investment, both India and
09:32UAE will work not only to expand the bilateral trade, but they will also work to expand the trade and
09:39export of Indian goods in the West Asian region as well as in the African continent. So, definitely, it's
09:44very substantive in terms of the delivery and in terms of the geopolitical, you know, impact of this
09:49partnership. It indeed is. Remember, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the UAE in 2015,
09:57an Indian Prime Minister was visiting UAE after a gap of more than three decades. And in the past
10:03decade, 2015 to 26, this relationship has gone from strength to strength. So, Shant Sareen, symbolic and
10:11substantive, given the fast-paced developments in the region. But this particular visit coming at a time
10:17when there's a Saudi Park defense agreement, Turkey is also trying to become a part of what is being
10:23widely touted as the Islamic NATO. How do you see this visit?
10:31Gaurav, I see it more substantive than symbolic. And the accords that have been signed, which we have
10:40just been told by Pranay and by the Foreign Secretary, you know, I am actually very curious to know
10:48what beyond that. Because I would imagine that this kind of a visit, you know, this short,
10:55sweet kind of a visit is not just for coming and signing these accords. You know, you could have
11:00probably scheduled it later as well. I am quite curious to know what were the other discussions which
11:07we are not being told. And that to my mind is what is really, it's not as well what has been signed
11:14is any less significant. I think it tells you the trajectory of the relationship. And this
11:19relationship has just grown from strength to strength, not just in economic numbers, but in
11:26the sheer, you know, the depth and the breadth of the kind of engagements that we are getting into
11:32with the UAE. But I would imagine that, you know, a discussion between the two principles
11:39could not have happened until, unless some, some very serious strategic aspects of the relationship
11:51were not on the table. We've got some hint of it, of that letter of intent, which you mentioned
11:56earlier. Yes. But is it something beyond that? Is it, is India also looking at playing a much
12:04bigger role than what we have already played in, in West Asia so far? So that bigger role is,
12:12Sushant Sarin, so let me just, you know, prod a little further. That bigger role vis-a-vis Iran
12:16or that bigger role vis-a-vis Israel and Gaza? No, I don't think either UAE or India is interested
12:27in playing a bigger role vis-a-vis Iran in terms of taking any kind of an offensive action against
12:35Iran or being involved in anything which goes against Iran, any kind of kinetic action against
12:41Iran. I don't think we would be interested in doing that, nor for that matter, would be,
12:47I think the Gaza factor would certainly have come up. I would imagine that, because I have no way of
12:56knowing what happened. I wish I was a fly on the wall when the Prime Minister and His Highness were
13:01discussing these issues. But I would imagine that the Gaza issue would certainly have come up.
13:08I think Israel and the UAE have developed close relationship. I think there's a convergence of
13:14interests between the two out there. And India fits in very well. But right now, the problem is also
13:20Saudi Arabia, because… Yes, Yemen, Somalia, Horn of Africa. I don't think they'll last very long,
13:27but as of now, of course, there is, there are tensions between the two countries. I think the UAE has
13:33acted very pragmatic and pulled out, not pushed too much on that particular issue.
13:39Yeah, but come on, Pranay, because GCC countries are also not in favor of U.S. bombing Iran,
13:45since the impact would not just be in the region or the Strait of Hormuz or oil supplies,
13:50but across the world. But what's the thinking here on UAE and especially UAE and Saudi Arabia
13:55conflict either over Yemen or the Horn of Africa or the Red Sea or across the Red Sea?
14:00I'll be very happy if Sushant can add more context to it. But there is a pretext of this visit.
14:04MBZ was in Pakistan just a few weeks ago. He was there in Pakistan at a time when Saudi Arabia
14:10carried out, you know, strikes in Mokala in Yemen. And in fact, they targeted the Yemeni
14:16supplied, you know, the Yemeni supplies there. And in fact, there was an, there is an acrimony
14:20between, you know, both these states. And at that point of time, the Pakistani Foreign Office
14:25issued a statement which expressed in explicit terms the complete solidarity with the state of
14:30Saudi Arabia. And they did not even mention a word about the UAE. So clearly, this is a message.
14:35And now we see that, you know, what Foreign Secretary has mentioned that Mohammed bin Zayed
14:40in the Al Nahyan clearly said and expressed that we condemn in equal terms, the cross-border
14:47terrorism, all the perpetrators, financers and supporters of terrorism, cross-border terrorism
14:52need to be brought to justice. So clearly, there is a divide. There is a shift taking place
14:58in the GCC region. Definitely, the sanctions on Iran impact UAE. Sanctions on Iran and the
15:04instability in the West Asia sector does impact India as well. And therefore, there is a new
15:09partnership which is emerging in the region. And we have seen that UAE has now become, with
15:13this visit, the second largest energy supplier, LNG supplier for India. Third, secondly, or most
15:20importantly, UAE is a house for, you know, last, more like the highest number of expats,
15:26Indian expats. 4.5 million people of India are residing in UAE in terms of the employment, in terms
15:33of the investment, in terms of, you know, the regional security architecture. The India-UAE partnership
15:39has a very significant role. And this is also a larger message. So let me bring in Sushant once again
15:43into this conversation, because Saudi Arabia and the UAE, Sushant, are at daggers drawn over
15:47Yemen, across the Red Sea, over Sudan and Somalia. Would it be a tightrope walk for India? Or are we
15:55very clear now, given the situation of that Pakistan-Saudi Arabia defense partnership, that
16:02India and the UAE are much closer? Look, I don't think either India or the UAE is interested in
16:10going against Saudi Arabia. I think the UAE and the UAE have shown that while there were certain
16:17differences between them and the Saudis, I don't think the UAE is interested in getting into a
16:22long-winded kind of a, you know, tiff with the Saudis. At least they will try not to do that. And
16:28they've given indications of that. Also, remember one thing. It's good that Pranek brought out the
16:34visit of MBZ to Pakistan, but he just went out there because the Pakistanis are literally begging
16:40him that, you know, at least make some kind of an official visit into Pakistan. And then he went
16:46for his hunting trip to Rahimiya Khan. But the thing is, and the next day, the Pakistani prime
16:51minister went to call on him. Now, the difference, however, is that the sheer, you know, the nature of
16:59the agreements that were signed today. But more than that, also remember that UAE and Pakistan have
17:05had somewhat testy relationship. The UAE is not issuing visas to Pakistanis. Almost 80 to 90% of visa
17:12applications by Pakistanis are rejected. Part of the reason is that Pakistanis go and beg in the UAE.
17:19They create a nuisance out there. They bring their politics out there. They are involved in all kinds
17:25of criminal activity in the UAE. And that, of course, has not gone down well with the UAE.
17:30Secondly, nobody wants to give a visa to chores and beggars. The United States has also put
17:36restrictions. But Sushant, if you give me 30 seconds, should India join the Trump board for
17:41peace for Gaza since it's not a UN mandated effort or keep it at arm's length? Because I'm sure that
17:47also would have been on the table. Gaurab, before I come to that, there's one thing which you must
17:53understand that inside Pakistan over the last two months or so, there has been a sustained propaganda
17:59campaign against the UAE. They've been badmouthing the UAE. They've been accusing it of spreading
18:04terrorism in Pakistan and all kinds of other things. But on the Gaza question, look, I think that
18:10that invitation has come to India. I don't think we should accept it or reject it in a knee-jerk
18:16manner. Let us see what exactly it entails. Because as of now, it seems that it's a private limited
18:21company that Trump is floating and he wants all other countries to come as board members
18:26and eventually probably put in a billion dollars each. But what will be the responsibilities?
18:31Will we be shareholders? Will we call the shots? Will we have something to say in that? Or will
18:38we all be supplicants to his highness, the great emperor of the world, the great Nero or the great
18:45Caesar, Donald Trump, where everybody is genuflecting before him and stamping on whatever he
18:51demands on whichever day he wakes up? How are we going to do that? So, I don't think there's
18:56a whole lot of clarity on what exactly is involved in becoming a member of this board of peace.
19:02We don't know as yet. There is no meat on that skeleton right now.
19:07Oh, absolutely. And we'll be tracking that story very closely. Sushant, stay on with me.
19:11Pranay, for the moment, many thanks for joining me. I now have to move on to the other big story
19:16we're tracking here on India today. And I'm shifting focus for a moment from India-UAE
19:21relationship now to sporting ties between India and Bangladesh. But let's step aside a little.
19:27It's ICC and Bangladesh. So, ICC has read the right act to Bangladesh, issuing a clear ultimatum to
19:34Bangladesh Cricket Board to take a call on either playing the T20 World Cup International in India
19:40or not play at all. Bangladesh has to respond by the 21st of January. So, that's about 72 hours from now.
19:48Bangladesh is incidentally ranked ninth. It's under tremendous pressure after its request to swap
19:54groups and move matches out of India were turned down by the ICC. So, either Dhaka shows flexibility
20:02and stops cutting its nose to spite its face. The ICC is also looking at other options. That is,
20:09replace Bangladesh completely from T20 International. Failure to comply would cost Bangladesh its World Cup
20:16spot. The 14th ranked Scotland is waiting in the wings. We'll get you more in this report.
20:23Even before the cricket begins, a fierce contest is playing out away from the field of play.
20:36The BCB that has been trying hard to get their matches moved out of India has been given an ultimatum
20:42by the ICC to make its decision by January 21st. Ninth ranked Bangladesh are on the defensive. Their request
20:51to swap groups has already been denied. With the BCB showing little flexibility on the issue,
20:57the ICC is now contemplating replacing them. Not budging is likely to result in Bangladesh losing
21:03the spot to Scotland, who are 14th on the ranking.
21:09We believe that no one should have a monopoly over the game of cricket. The fate of a game or a tournament
21:14cannot be determined solely on the basis of market management. If the ICC is truly a global
21:19organisations and if the ICC does not simply follow India's orders, then they should definitely give
21:24us the opportunity to play in the T20 World Cup in Sri Lanka. We will not accept any compromise on this issue.
21:31Bangladesh still have the ball in their court, but they need to move away from stubbornness and choose
21:37cricket over ego. 21st January will give us answers that will shape up not just the upcoming T20 World Cup,
21:45but who knows, the future of the game too. Bureau Report, India Today.
21:50So, the ICC has read the riot act to Bangladesh. Bangladesh either opts out or World Cup or will
22:00Bangladesh see reason? Joining me on India first is Major Mohamed Ashraful Zaman. He's a
22:06a retired Bangladesh Army officer. Sir, welcome on the show. He's a security and policy analyst.
22:13Vikrant Gupta is Senior Managing Editor and Head of Sports Thak. Nikhil Naz is Consultant Editor,
22:19Sports India Today. Also with me is Sushant Sareen. He stays on with us.
22:23Vikrant, what details do we have of the talks between ICC and Bangladesh Cricket Board?
22:28Was 4th of January when Bangladesh flagged security concerns? Ample time for the ICC.
22:33One, to consider their request. Two, is there merit in their request?
22:38Well, they did discuss a couple of times. In fact, they had a meeting on Saturday.
22:43The Bangladesh Cricket Board proposed swapping and switching the groups. They said,
22:49let's go to Sri Lanka and let Ireland come in this group and play in India. Obviously,
22:54you know, this is an ICC tournament. It is not a home tournament.
22:56It is an ICC tournament. And mind you, with all due consideration, this is Bangladesh. They are a full
23:09member of the ICC board. But I don't think they can blackmail the ICC. Now, the ICC is also made up of
23:16different cricket boards. Bangladesh is a party to that. Pakistan is a party to that. India has just one
23:22vote. But if you, every second tournament, if the ICC is forced to listen to some team or the other,
23:29you will never have any ICC tournaments. So, the ICC, I don't know if it's an official line.
23:35The Bangladesh Cricket Board has just denied the story which says that…
23:40So, let me just bring in Major Ashraful Zaman on this, sir. What's the thinking in Bangladesh now?
23:48Why does Bangladesh not want to play in India and play its matches in Sri Lanka? Is it more politics
23:54than actual security concerns? I think… Thank you very much for taking me on board.
24:02The main issue is, you see, the way Mustafa Raman was sent back and his security was not ensured properly.
24:17And that is the backdrop of sending him back. The issue is, if one player cannot be,
24:26his security cannot be ensured, how the security of 25 players and other officials plus spectators will be ensured.
24:39I would appreciate to think from Bangladesh perspective, it is not the politics. Rather, I would say
24:48that it is a genuine concern. And there is a sort of feelings here, a sort of big brotherly attitude
25:02from your side. And all these together have not gone down well. And the government will make a final
25:10decision on 21st. So, we have some time. But they have taken…
25:15Let me bring in Sushant Sareen before I bring in Nikhil on this. Nikhil, Sushant, would you agree?
25:21One, big brotherly attitude of India. Two, if India cannot ensure security of one player,
25:27how will it ensure security of a 25-member team plus support staff plus fans who come to India?
25:34Yeah. Look, that one player was not coming for the T20 tournament. He was coming for the IPL and
25:41that could be held all over. And it was not a matter of security so much. It was a matter of,
25:47there is a certain amount of anger in India over how the minorities have been treated in
25:55Bangladesh. And a bunch of people raised a lot of noise about why this character was taken in the
26:01team. And the team kind of buckled under and they let him go. Now, that was a private team
26:08where there was pressure put on it. They let the guy go. Now, to conflate from that,
26:14that there is some grave security danger to the Bangladesh team, that is standard. You know,
26:20that is the kind of logic that the Pakistanis use. I don't know if Bangladesh is now becoming
26:24East Pakistan once again. But it is entirely disingenuous. And the reason… Look, I understand
26:31if the Bangladesh board has some security concerns and it seeks, you know, to know whether, you know,
26:40what the security situation will be like and whether security guarantees can be given,
26:44completely understandable. And I am sure both the Indian side as well as the ICC would ensure the
26:51safety of the Bangladeshi cricket team. Sir, let me bring in Nikhil for a moment. Nikhil,
26:55is there a middle path on this? ICC has said no to both, we are told. No change of venue, no change of
27:01group. Gaurav, I mean, is there a middle path? Sure, there is a middle path. We have seen it being
27:07applied to two countries where you have had a hybrid model. But the question is, can a middle path be
27:12possible at the moment? And I don't think so. What you're witnessing right now, Gaurav, I must say,
27:18is going to be an unprecedented situation, something that you've never encountered
27:22in cricket. You are heading towards a logjam, looking at the stance that Bangladesh is taking
27:27at the moment, doesn't, because it's not up to the Bangladesh cricket board. Had it been
27:31up to them, we were looking at a different scenario. Because the government is involved,
27:34and now that you've heard from the ICC as well, they don't want to make an exception. They are not
27:39going to, because also I understand from ISIS's point of view, this is the 11th hour, they can't
27:43make those logistical changes. What you're actually looking at at the moment, as I say, is just the
27:48tip of the iceberg. You might just be stumbling upon the biggest cricket story that there is in a decade,
27:54because as I see it, you are heading towards a direct clash, which could actually result in a direct
28:00split in the world of cricket. That split may be uneven, whereas you might have India with more
28:05countries towards India, and taking India aside. However, that split is emerging, because if both
28:10parties don't move, and that does seem like a situation, and you reach a situation where Bangladesh
28:15are actually, for a lack of a better word, chucked out of the tournament, you have a scenario,
28:19there's a threat from Pakistan, you're well aware of that, and they're waiting for an opportunity.
28:24I mean, if I was to use a Hindi word, it is, you know, quite often used in Bollywood films,
28:28chants pe dance, that's what they're waiting for. But if that was to happen, I agree,
28:32it'll be lopsided, but if that is to be happened, it's going to be a serious issue.
28:36Okay, Vikram, can this actually be a case that Bangladesh is chucked out as, you know,
28:41if we were to use that parlance for not agreeing, and Pakistan, we won't play.
28:46Pakistan, again, to continue from where Nikhil left,
28:49Begani Shadi Me Abdullah Diwana is also another movie that fits the situation well for Pakistan
28:55cricket board. I don't think, Gaurav, the word chucked out can be used for Bangladesh.
29:00Okay. See, the cricketing ecosystem in Bangladesh wants to play. They want to play cricket. They
29:07also know that without the BCCI or India, their cricket will be finished. Ever since they made their
29:13international debut, when they got the test status, Indian cricket board was the one who was guiding
29:18them. The Asian cricket council, the BCCI, so everything was going well for them. It's just
29:24that the interim government in Bangladesh is opposed to India. Now, that is going to be a reflection in
29:31the cricket board, because again, the cricket board will have to go to the government. The government
29:35will say, okay, don't go to the World Cup. The ICC will then turn around and say, listen,
29:40why is it that you're trying to put the ICC in a spot of bother?
29:47Let me bring in Major Ashraf Uzaman once again onto this, because is this more about politics,
29:52Major Saab? Bangladesh is scheduled to play four matches, Kolkata and Mumbai, including the opening
29:57game. Opening game is India-Bangladesh on the 7th of February. Now, has the Bangladesh cricket board cited any
30:04specific threat assessment in either Kolkata or in Mumbai? Or is it more based out of the broader
30:12diplomatic tensions with India? And of course, elections around the corner in Bangladesh. So,
30:17anti-India ho ke chance pe dance kar re hai Bangladesh ka interim administration.
30:21Thank you very much. I have a humble request to the other fellows. I think the rhetorics they used,
30:32that's not very complimentary. Definitely, the government, whether it is interim government or
30:42routine or say normal government, they take decision based on the situation between the countries as
30:52well as the country context. Now, you cannot look down a country. I'm very sorry, some of the
31:02gentlemen, he said Pakistan, Purva Pakistan or is Pakistan. These are not very complimentary words.
31:09Why should you? You have difference of opinion. You have a different viewpoint. That's fine. But let's not
31:18switch to degrading remarks. We are discussing issue, cricket issue. And cricket is…
31:26Major sahab, tell me this. Is Bangladesh happy to sit out the World Cup? Will it, if I may,
31:33will it be cutting its nose to spite its face? Whether it is cutting nose or he is cutting something else,
31:40that is not the issue. The issue is, you see, how the cricket has been linked to the politics.
31:49Please be kind to consider the minority issues the one gentleman brought out. This is very unfortunate.
32:00I have Hindu friends. We have Hindus around. Your friends are being killed every other day in Bangladesh,
32:06sir. Every other day. Oh, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry. I wish your statement would have been true.
32:12That is not the fact. You see, be kind to consider one thing, that whatever the issue that had with
32:21those people, with the only government or the followers, but rest, things are okay.
32:27No, they are not okay, sir. Sir, we have survived through genocide in our own country in Kashmir in 1990.
32:33Sadly, exactly on this day, exactly on this day, 19th of January 1990, Hindus were thrown out of Kashmir.
32:42We've lived through it, sir. So don't make us live through it once again, Sushant Sarin.
32:45We are living through it in our neighborhood once again. And then there are genocide. I mean,
32:50no, I look at, not genocide, but the mass killings that are taking place every other day, when they
32:55say, no, no, this is a supporter of the people. Sir, we will also be a supporter of the people.
32:59It does that justify killing them. But, Sushant Sarin.
33:03Nothing is enough. Nothing is enough to kill or take away any life.
33:07No circumstance is enough to justify any such thing.
33:13Be assured, there will be… And yet, look at how you justify it, sir.
33:17So, there are Avami League supporters. So, you'll kill them.
33:19No, no, no, no. No, but let me get Sushant Sarin.
33:22Let me get Sushant Sarin since I have limited time on this part of the show.
33:25Sushant Sarin, you wanted to come in.
33:26You know, Gaurav, this is exactly what is so galling about, you know,
33:30how the Bangladeshis are trying to brush aside the pogroms against the Hindus by saying,
33:36oh, you know, these are people who are supporting the Avami League.
33:38So, okay, this is fair enough. This is not anti-Hindu. Why?
33:43How many of the Muslims have you targeted because they were supporting some other party?
33:46Is this the kind of democracy you have? Is this the kind of democracy you want to bring?
33:51This is under a Nobel Peace laureate. Is this what you're trying? And you are pointing fingers at me,
33:56that why are you calling us East Pakistan? Well, you are behaving like East Pakistan.
34:00This is what happened in East Pakistan. This is how minorities were treated in East Pakistan.
34:05In Bangladesh, from 25% of the population, you've reduced the population of Hindus to 7%
34:11and you are still in denial that you have friends who are Hindus.
34:13Let me bring in Vikrant once again. Vikrant, if Bangladesh, should Bangladesh refuse to travel to India,
34:19it'll be replaced by Scotland. Would it mark the first time that Bangladesh is not part of
34:24T20 World Cup? It's out of it without playing it? And what would it mean for Bangladesh cricket, Vikrant?
34:29It'll be difficult for them to survive. They will get the money. See, what happens is,
34:35there is a minor little note which says that on the advice of the government of Bangladesh,
34:41they will pull out. And I think they will get their money. They will get their money. But what can happen
34:46thereafter is their relations with the BCCI will be very, very bad. India will not go to Bangladesh.
34:52Bangladesh will not play with India. So their revenues will get it. See, like we'd seen last week,
35:00the cricketers in Bangladesh actually revolted against their board. They revolted against their board. And it's
35:06just that the Bangladesh Cricket Board knows that the best friend or the most reliable partner that
35:12they've ever had was India. Yes. But again, I don't know what's the situation there with the interim
35:18government. So, Nikhil, before I bring in Major Ashrafu Zaman once again, then it means in case Pakistan
35:23also were to back out, you know, hypothetically speaking, as Pakistani media, at least some in the
35:27Pakistani media are reporting this, then it'll be, you know, bilateral cricket would only be Pakistan
35:31versus Bangladesh and some countries that may choose to play with them bilaterally. I mean, that would
35:36actually, you know, bilateral engagements then, Gaurav, would depend on each country. I don't think like
35:41countries like South Africa, England, Australia would want to get involved in bilateral relations with,
35:46you know, or spoiling bilateral relations with either one of those countries, whether it's India, Pakistan
35:51or Bangladesh, I don't think. But this could have repercussions in two ICC tournaments going forward.
35:57What are the long term impacts that you're going to have? Firstly, you have to look at it from ICC
36:01point of view. We're talking about India versus Bangladesh. You've got to remember ICC is a
36:06third party. ICC may be represented by a few Indian faces there. It still remains a neutral third
36:11party and they have to safeguard their interest, which is to ensure all teams participate at all
36:17time. They cannot afford a situation where one team is, you know, asked to step out of the tournament,
36:22replaced or another team threatening that we'll also pull out because that will be to the detriment of
36:27long term success of cricket. Cricket, remember, is anywhere a very small community. You have
36:32limited, you know, permanent members, Bangladesh, Pakistan, India, all that. So you have to see a long
36:37term outlook as well. And I think ICC is going to be looking at that. But for the moment, it does
36:43seem like that both parties have dug their heels in and no common ground can really be found at this
36:48level. So, Major Zaman, ultimately, do you think Bangladesh would want to play now that ICC is
36:55making it very clear its options are play or Scotland replaces you?
37:03The decision is about two days away. That is on 21st. So I won't make any speculative remark on that.
37:12I would only hope that this situation comes down and cricket is a game of the gentlemen.
37:20So it should continue. And any backing out from any tournament is not a good thing
37:26for the ICC as well as for us and for other countries. You see, it also hurts India as well.
37:35It's a reputation as well. So India's reputation, India's reputation as a cricketing giant last 30
37:41seconds, Vikrant, is very well protected. But one message that India also perhaps would want to
37:47send out that nobody should think that they can push India around Vikrant. I am a little surprised
37:52though, Gaurav, that the BCCI secretary, Mr. Devajit Saikya, the other day said that we have not been
37:59kept in the loop. I'm actually a little shocked. I won't say surprised. I'm shocked that the BCCI is
38:04just sitting like that and just hoping and praying for Jaisa who now is the ICC chief to take the decision.
38:12Ultimately, if the ICC were to ask about the security in Kolkata, will they ask the BCCI
38:19and the Indian government or will they take a unilateral decision on their own? They won't.
38:24Okay, we'll track that story very closely. I want to thank all my guests for joining me from India and
38:29from Bangladesh. Gentlemen, many thanks for joining me. There are reports of transatlantic showdown between
38:34US and the European Union over Greenland. President Donald Trump has talked of slapping another 10%
38:41tariffs on eight European Union nations. Warning that could rise to 25% from June unless
38:48Europe cooperates with Washington DC's push on Greenland. The countries targeted are the ones
38:54that had recently sent troops to Greenland as part of a NATO exercise. Not that they sent large
39:00numbers. The UK sent one officer. Germany sent about a dozen. Some other countries sent three, four,
39:07five military observers or troops or reconnaissance parties. Europe is pushing back. EU leaders have
39:14called the move bullying. They're preparing for coordinated countermeasures. Denmark and Greenland
39:19have made it clear. Greenland is not for sale. But will Europe now use the trade bazooka? That's coming up.
39:33We deemed Greenland for national security very badly. Trump has tightened the screws of the European
39:47Union over Greenland. From France to Britain, Denmark to Germany. President Donald Trump has imposed 10%
39:56tariffs on eight European nations. Trump says a failure to cooperate with the US push to take over
40:04Greenland could push tariffs to 25% from June 1st. These are the very countries that sent troops, though in
40:13small numbers, to Greenland for the NATO Arctic Endurance military exercise. Europe has called the move
40:20bullying and its closing ranks against Trump. The EU is preparing a coordinated economic counterattack,
40:27making it clear that pressure tactics will be met with firm resistance. Denmark and Greenland have
40:35bluntly told Washington that Greenland is not for sale. Countries like France and Denmark are taking a
40:43hard line. Britain's Prime Minister Starmer has called Trump's tariff threat completely wrong.
40:50Germany and France are in agreement. We will not allow ourselves to be blackmailed. Europe will give
40:57a united clear response. And we are now preparing united countermeasures with our European partners.
41:03We are preparing them in case President Trump maintains his tariff threats.
41:13The European Union will be very firm in defending international law.
41:17I am coordinating a joint response.
41:23The use of tariffs against allies is completely wrong. It is not the right way to resolve differences
41:33within an alliance. One major move on the table is blocking a proposed US-EU trade deal
41:41that would have given American products zero-duty access. Greenland, a vast IC strategic landmass,
41:48falls under Denmark. But Trump maintains controlling Greenland will make America safer.
41:53Well, I wanted to say that NATO has been dealing with us on Greenland. We deem
41:58Greenland for national security very badly. If we don't have it, we have a big hole in national security.
42:04Seven European countries have now sent troops to Greenland. America isn't backing down. Europe
42:12isn't bowing. What began as tariff is fast becoming a full-blown transatlantic showdown with Greenland
42:19and its frozen heart. With Geetha Mohan, Bureau Report, India Today.
42:27Now another twist in the tale. There are reports in the US that say, President Trump has actually
42:31shot off a letter saying, and this is a letter to Norway, saying, considering your country decided
42:37not to give me the Nobel Peace Prize for having stopped eight wars plus, I no longer feel obligated
42:42to think purely of peace. Will Europe use the trade bazooka? Will Europe impose counter-tariffs?
42:49Joining me on the show, Ray Loka, author and security expert, joins me from the United States.
42:54David Willi is a former BBC Rome correspondent, joins me from Europe. David Willi, if I may,
43:00is it now NATO versus NATO, US versus Europe, just because Trump wasn't awarded a Nobel Prize?
43:06And what are options for Europe?
43:13Very surprised by Trump's acceptance of the Nobel Peace Prize. They never thought that Mrs.
43:21Maduro would actually hand it over because the Nobel Prize Committee had made it very clear already
43:30that they, as far as they were concerned, it was not transferable. So he's, in a sense,
43:35he's given himself the prize. Now, in Europe, there's a feeling, I think, that Mr. Trump here has gone
43:43completely off the rails. There's no support to it. Here in Italy, the Italians are more opposed, I think,
43:55than other European nations to allowing Mr. Trump to take over Greenland. They didn't send any troops
44:06recently in this token landing of a few soldiers from European countries.
44:13But that's most symbolic. How will Europe fight US with just 35 troops? Britain sent one.
44:21Ray Loka, why is Greenland so important for Donald Trump? Important enough to risk the NATO alliance?
44:27Or does Trump actually believe Europe is all bark and no bite? Well, he seems to be absolutely convinced
44:37that he has to fight for Greenland and he's prepared even to use force. In Europe, this seems ridiculous,
44:44to be honest, because he's been offered an alternative solution. The Danes have said that they are quite
44:51willing to send American troops should return to the bases which they had. In fact, there's a report
45:03from journalists who have been visiting Greenland recently and they said that the former American bases
45:10in Greenland are all abandoned. They'd have to start from scratch again to rebuild them. So the Americans are
45:19as unprepared as the Europeans to do battle with either China or Russia. So give me a moment,
45:25give me a moment, David. Let me bring Ray Loka into this conversation. Why is Greenland so important
45:32for Donald Trump? Is this more now a prestige battle? Is he trying to tell Europe there is no NATO without
45:39America so it's my way or the highway? And can Europe actually do something or is it all bark and no bite?
45:47I don't know what Trump is actually thinking. I don't think anybody knows what he's thinking. If
45:54you've looked at the letter he sent the Norwegian Prime Minister, the things he put on Truth Social
46:00about the need to take over Greenland, it's clear he's obviously insane. We're like riding in the
46:07backseat of a car driven by a drunk driver. We don't know what's going to happen. No one
46:12has the ability to grab the steering wheel from him. He's a total lunatic and a convicted felon and
46:19he attacked Venezuela and kidnapped. Where do you want to start? Where do you want to end with this guy?
46:26There is no US need to have Greenland. As our other guest has noted, we've had bases there for a long
46:34time and we abandoned them so they weren't that important. And if we wanted to go back,
46:40Denmark would let us go back. We don't need to own Greenland or possess it or whatever he thinks we need.
46:47He's a lunatic, okay? And all this talk about what does Trump want? What are the US security needs?
46:57Who knows? He's crazy. He's just a crazy person. I mean, the Americans have been there since the
47:04World War, post-46. They've had a number of bases and troops. But David Willey reports suggest that the
47:10European Union is in talks to potentially impose tariffs on about $100 billion, $108 billion of US
47:18goods if Donald Trump actually follows through with his threat to hit European countries with 10%
47:24tariff on the 1st of February. Will Europe, in your view, sir, use the trade bazooka? Is Europe on the
47:30same page on that? I don't think so. I don't think that Europe is ready to do battle, really. So far,
47:42it's been all words and no real action. The Europeans don't really know how to deal with President Trump.
47:53Your other contributor here calls him crazy. Well, there's a lot of people who would agree with
48:00him. But I think his madness is a rather cerebral madness. He knows what he wants. But the way he's
48:12going about it and the style in which he's operating is abhorrent to most Europeans. They don't understand
48:23why a President of the United States should be openly opposing policies that Europe has been
48:33supporting for, well, for 80 years.
48:36But is there a method to that madness? Is there a method to that madness? Does he have a larger game
48:43plan for Europe to fall in line? Europe already rail occur. Europe already is now bringing up their
48:49defense spending for NATO. The Trump administration is now threatening 10% tariff, rising to 25% on
48:57selected European countries that are participating in this military exercise. Now, given this 15%
49:02reciprocal tariff, plus 50% on steel and aluminium duties, how much room does US realistically have
49:10before tariffs start stacking, you know, to damage US importers and consumers? Or is there no thought
49:16given to that, sir? They're already damaging US businesses and consumers. What Trump is saying,
49:23basically, is we're going to charge Americans more for European products, because we pay the tariffs,
49:30not Europe. We're going to charge Americans more for European products because Europe won't go along
49:35with my crazy idea about Greenland. I mean, and that is sinking in in the United States. People here know
49:42that this economy and the problems with this economy are Trump's fault, okay? And he's going to double
49:49down, triple down, quadruple down on what he's already done, and we're going to pay for it. And you're seeing
49:55it already with lower manufacturing output, lost manufacturing jobs. Remember, tariffs are supposed
50:02to help the US manufacturing sector. They're not. Businesses have been eating many of the tariffs.
50:08That's going to stop. And more and more, you're going to see the prices passed on to US consumers.
50:13So he wants to punish- The last 30 seconds I have on this part of the show, Ray Loka,
50:17is NATO as we know it dead or dying? Well, it's certainly in critical condition.
50:26Okay. David, is that also you're reading NATO as we know it, especially when it's America versus
50:32Europe, NATO will not be able to trust each other once again, because soldier to soldier,
50:36you need to trust each other. The Europeans, I think, have a much more sophisticated attitude
50:45towards the problems that President Trump has created. They are prepared to wait out,
50:51I think, to see what the election is, the midterm elections are going to produce in November of
50:58this year. That's going to be the critical time. And nobody knows, really, from one minute to another,
51:06what President Trump is going to do. That's the- Okay.
51:09So it's a nine-month-long wait. Will a happy baby be born nine months later? Or will there be a bigger nightmare?
51:19Ray Loka and David Billy for joining me here on this India First special broadcast. Many thanks.
51:24You know, when we look at the situation, NATO versus NATO, America versus Europe, we can only watch
51:31and wonder what next. And we'll be reporting that on India First. Many thanks for watching.
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