Washington:

Donald Trump said the federal government should “take over Washington DC,” as the US president complained about crime, graffiti and “too many tents on the lawns.”

Trump has had a contentious relationship with the nation’s capital’s Democratic mayor, Muriel Bowser, since his first term in office.

“I think that we should govern the District of Columbia… I think that we should run it strong, run it with law and order, make it absolutely flawless,” he told journalists late Wednesday on Air Force One.

“The federal government should take over the governance of DC And run it really, really properly.”

Trump said he likes the mayor and gets along “great” with her. “But they’re not doing the job — too much crime, too much graffiti, too many tents on the lawns.”

The Republican leader said he wanted to make the city safe because people were “getting killed” and “being hurt.”

He also raised the issue of homelessness, saying: “It’s a sad thing, homeless people all over the place.

“We’ve got to take care of the homeless, but we can’t have that in Washington, DC.”

Trump raised concerns over welcoming foreign leaders to the city given the situation, including French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and China’s Xi Jinping.

“You can’t let that be, you just can’t let that happen.

“You can’t have tents over your once magnificent plazas and lawns.” 

Washington, with a population of around 700,000, is a federal district rather than a state.

Two Republican lawmakers introduced a bill in early February to repeal the city’s Home Rule Act, which would effectively strip the mayor and city council of their authority.

“The corruption, crime, and incompetence of the DC government has been an embarrassment to our nation’s capital for decades,” said Senator Mike Lee, adding Congress should restore “honor and integrity” to the city.

Bowser has not directly responded to the president but stated on X that Washington “is a world-class city.”

She also stated it is the only place in the United States where you can see pandas for free.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Washington:

An appeals court upheld an order on Wednesday blocking President Donald Trump from ending birthright citizenship for children whose parents are in the United States illegally.

The emergency request was filed by the Justice Department in an attempt to clear the path for Trump’s executive order, which has been blocked by judges in lower district courts since it was issued in January.

Trump’s order attempts to redefine the 14th Amendment to the US Constitution, which decrees that anyone born on US soil is a citizen.

Among the most controversial of Trump’s executive orders, it claims the right does not apply to the children of anyone other than permanent residents and citizens.

The request was denied by a panel of three judges from the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, who were nominated by Trump and former presidents Jimmy Carter and George W. Bush.

“Here, the Government has not shown that it is entitled to immediate relief,” judge Danielle Forrest, who was appointed by Trump in 2019, said in the ruling.

She said the “sole basis” for seeking the emergency request was that the district court had “stymied the implementation of an Executive Branch policy… nationwide for almost three weeks.”

She said “deciding important substantive issues on one week’s notice turns our usual decision-making process on its head” and that the circumstances did not “dictate that we must.”

Trump’s executive order was due to come into effect by February 19 but was first blocked temporarily by a federal judge in January and the timeframe has since been extended.

His orders have faced growing pushback from the courts, with about a dozen injunctions issued so far from among some 40 lawsuits.

The Trump administration made its first appeal to the Supreme Court in a separate case on Sunday to allow him to fire the head of a whistleblower protection agency.

The Supreme Court, which includes three Trump-nominated justices, is primed to play a significant role in what some experts suggest is a looming constitutional crisis as the president tests the limits of his executive power and the judiciary pushes back.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Washington:

Kash Patel, President Trump’s nominee for FBI director, is set to face intense scrutiny from Democratic senators at his confirmation hearing. Patel’s loyalty to Trump and his desire to overhaul the FBI have raised concerns about his ability to maintain the bureau’s independence.

As a former aide to the House Intelligence Committee and ex-federal prosecutor, Patel has been vocal about his skepticism of government surveillance and the “deep state.” His comments have alarmed critics, who point to his lack of experience and questionable judgment. In a podcast interview, Patel suggested that he would “shut down” the FBI’s headquarters and reopen it as a “museum of the deep state.” He also stated that he would send the 7,000 employees to “go chase down criminals” and “go be cops.”

Patel’s close relationship with Trump has also raised eyebrows. He was part of a small group of supporters who accompanied Trump to his recent criminal trial in New York, where he told reporters that Trump was the victim of an “unconstitutional circus.” This level of loyalty is unusual for an FBI director, who is typically expected to maintain a level of independence from the president.

Last month, Christopher A. Wray, the previous FBI director stepped down from his position after President Donald Trump said that he would fire him if he did not leave.

Democratic senators, including Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois, have expressed apprehension about Patel’s fitness to serve as FBI director. Durbin stated that Patel lacks the experience, judgment, and temperament to lead the agency. “I’m deeply concerned about his fitness to serve as FBI Director,” Durbin said. “He has neither the experience, the judgment, nor the temperament to head this critical agency.”

Republican allies of Trump, however, have rallied around Patel, seeing him as someone who can shake up the bureau and provide needed change. Sen. Thom Tillis, a North Carolina Republican, has pledged to support Patel’s nomination, saying that he has spent hours with him discussing his qualifications and vision for the FBI.

The confirmation hearing is expected to be contentious, with Democrats likely to press Patel on his past comments and his ability to maintain the FBI’s independence. Patel’s nomination has already sparked controversy, with some critics accusing him of being unqualified and unfit for the role.

One of the key issues that Democrats are likely to raise is Patel’s book, “Government Gangsters,” in which he identifies several current and former FBI officials as targets for investigation. This has raised concerns about Patel’s ability to lead the agency impartially and without targeting perceived enemies.
 

Hyderabad:

Former chief scientist of the World Health Organisation, Soumya Swaminathan on Saturday said the US opting out of WHO would not be good for anyone including that country and contributions to the global health watchdog depends on the GDPs of respective countries.

Hoping that the US, which has so much technical and scientific expertise, will reconsider its decision, she said if it opts out, the North American nation would also be unable to access data of WHO to be part of solutions.

“The richer the country, the more you pay because you have to pay as a percentage of your GDP. The current system is very fair. You cannot expect a small country in the middle of Africa like Congo to pay the same amount as the United States,” Swaminathan told PTI Videos, on the sidelines of the Hyderabad Literary Festival here.

She was responding to US President Donald Trump’s comments that his country with 325 million population paid USD 500 million to the WHO against China with 1.4 billion people paying USD 39 million.

Trump recently signed an executive order beginning the process of withdrawing America from the WHO, the second time in less than five years that the US has made a move to withdraw from the world body.

She opined that for health security in the future and to protect people from pandemics, all countries, including the US, need to work together.

“Even the United States will actually find it difficult to access data to be part of solutions to know what is going on in the other parts of the world if they are not part of WHO,” Swaminathan said.

“I think it is really not good for anyone that such an important, such a large country is withdrawing.” Asserting that health is interconnected and all the health risks are global, she said today viruses arising in one part of the world can spread around the world within 30 hours.

“So unless we have global collaboration and global policies and rules and regulations and understanding between countries, it is going to be impossible to address the threats to global health,” Swaminathan said.

She said the WHO is one place and platform where 193 countries come together and discuss issues, debate and arrive at a consensus before formulating rules like international health regulations and pandemic treaties. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

New Delhi:

India’s diplomacy stands out globally for its ability to balance ties between adversaries. The latest example of this is happening this week. As foreign minister S Jaishankar touches down in New Delhi after a five-day visit to the US for Donald Trump’s inauguration, foreign secretary Vikram Misri heads to China to foster ties with Beijing.

Just ten days ago, during a visit to Spain, foreign minister S Jaishankar had said India is one of the very few countries in the world that can engage both Russia and Ukraine, as well as Israel and Iran. “This is something very, very unique. And it is unique because if you look at the world today, it is a very polarised world,” he said.

Donald Trump has threatened to impose hefty tariffs on China and even the BRICS+ countries, which India is a member of as well. China, the world’s second-largest economy, has warned that it will retaliate, should Washington actually follow through. President Trump has also targeted China over its presence in the Panama Canal and said the US will take control of the waterway even if it means involving the military. China, on the other hand, has warned Washington over its involvement with Taiwan. Both nations have sanctioned each other.

ENGAGING ALL SIDES

Amid all this, India, which according to PM Modi, has “always chosen the side of peace”, aims to engage all sides for positive and constructive outcomes. Earlier this week, S Jaishankar strengthened India-US bilateral ties when he met the US Secretary of State and National Security Adviser for their first foreign engagements after the Trump administration took over. As PM Modi’s special envoy, Dr Jaishankar was also given the first seat at the US President’s inauguration.

As he returned after concluding “a very positive” visit to Washington, India’s foreign secretary heads to Beijing to build the momentum in India-China ties following a meeting between PM Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Russia late-last year. Foreign Secretary Misri’s visit was preceded by a visit by National Security Adviser Ajit Doval last month when he met Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi.

REBUILDING AFTER THE STORM

India and China, two of Asia’s leading economies and the world’s most populous nations, are working to boost bilateral ties after a four-and-a-half-year-long military standoff along the Line of Actual Control or LAC brought ties to a grinding halt. After dozens of rounds of talks – both diplomatically and militarily – an agreement was reached and troops on both sides pulled back from the buffer zones, returning the status quo-ante. This happened within a week of PM Modi and Xi Jinping announcing it during a meeting in Russia late last year. Following this, Chinese and Indian foreign and defence ministers also met each other on multilateral occasions.

After Ajit Doval, foreign secretary Vikram Misri’s will be the second high-level visit by an Indian official to Beijing in a month.

A WELCOME FROM BEIJING

China has welcomed Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri’s visit this weekend and sounded positive about its outcome. “We welcome Foreign Secretary Shri Vikram Misri’s travel to China for the meeting of the Foreign Secretary-Vice Minister mechanism between China and India,” Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning said.

India’s Ministry of External Affairs also said that “Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri will be visiting Beijing on January 26 and 27 for a meeting of the Foreign Secretary-Vice Minister mechanism between India and China. The resumption of this bilateral mechanism flows from the agreement at the leadership level to discuss the next steps for India-China relations, including in the political, economic, and people-to-people domains.”

THE AGENDA

Besides bilateral issues such as boundary talks, maintaining peace along the LAC, the building of the world’s largest dam on the Brahmaputra, resumption of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, people-to-people ties, resuming direct flights between the two countries, and facilitate the issuance of visas to Chinese citizens, the two sides are also likely to touch upon issues of mutual global interest.

“All matters of mutual interest will be discussed,” the foreign ministry said at a press briefing in New Delhi ahead of the foreign secretary’s visit.

The BRICS+, where both countries are threatened with massive tariffs, might figure in talks as well, as would the latest sanctions threat to countries dealing with Russia and buying Russian oil – again a common threat to both countries. Regional issues such as the situation in the Middle East and in Syria are likely to be discussed too.

US backing out of the Paris Climate agreement and the WHO, as well as the much-needed reform of the United Nations and the Security Council are likely to be discussed as well.

For more news and updates, follow NDTV World on WhatsApp.
 

Donald Trump’s verbal threats towards Canada are paying off for one entrepreneur, after the new US president’s belligerent approach gave him an idea.

Liam Mooney, founder of an Ottawa-based design firm, made a hat emblazoned with “Canada is Not for Sale” in response to Trump’s tariff threats and suggestions that Canada become the 51st US state.

The hats gained attention after Ontario Premier Doug Ford wore one during a meeting with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and other premiers in Ottawa last week to discuss Trump’s vow to impose tariffs on imports from Canada.

According to Mooney, tens of thousands of hats have been ordered online since then. 

Mooney told Reuters he designed the hats as a creative rebuttal to President Trump’s rhetoric, aiming to cut through political discourse with a message of nationalism and unity. 

“It’s an opportunity to bring people together from all of civil society, regardless of political persuasion,” Mooney said.       

Tariffs would cripple Canada’s economy and also raise the price of oil and other goods in the United States.

Trump is threatening tariffs at a time of political turmoil in Canada, with Liberal leader Trudeau set to resign in March after nearly a decade in power and the opposition Conservatives leading in the polls ahead of a federal election later this year. 

Mooney said that he and his business partner designed the hats after seeing one of Ford’s recent interviews on Fox News. The host urged the premier to consider annexation, suggesting it would be a “privilege” for Canada to merge with the US

Ford responded that Canada is not for sale.

Trump, speaking via video to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, on Thursday, said he demanded respect from Canada. He has previously addressed Trudeau as “Governor.”

“Our sovereignty is threatened when our dignity is disrespected,” Mooney said. “We have allies and we have friends all around the world who are ready to rise to the call and defend us and join in.”

(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

Washington DC:

In a first legislative win to President Donald Trump, the US Congress on Wednesday gave the final approval to a GOP-led bill that would require the detention and deportation of undocumented migrants who enter the country without authorization and are charged with certain crimes. The bill – titled the Laken Riley Act –  capped the opening salvo in a broader crackdown on immigration that the President has promised.

The legislation received 263 to 156 with 46 Democrats voting in its favour, a sign of the growing cross-party consensus around taking a hard-line approach against those who enter the US illegally.

The bill is named after a 22-year-old Georgia student who was killed last year while out for a run. An undocumented migrant from Venezuela was convicted and sentenced to life without parole. The convict had previously been arrested in a shoplifting case but had not been detained. Laken Riley’s case reignited a debate over immigration and crime in America. 

Under the provisions of the bill, the Department of Homeland Security is required to detain undocumented migrants– people who are in the US unlawfully or without legal status– if they have been charged with, arrested for, convicted of, or have admitted to certain criminal offences, including theft and burglary, according to a report by The New York Times. 

The House of Representatives passed the bill after the Senate debated changes to it last week, where amendments were adopted to reportedly expand the list of criminal offences covered under the bill to include assault on law enforcement officers and crimes resulting in death or serious bodily injury.

Republicans made the legislation their top priority after winning the government trifecta. Still, it would not have been able to advance to final passage without support from key Democrats as Republicans control only a narrow majority.

Democrats who opposed the legislation reportedly argued that the bill could undercut US foreign policy by giving state attorney generals and federal judges overly expansive power with respect to blocking visas. Though it is passed out of Congress to reach President Trump’s office– who on Monday started his second term by issuing a raft of executive orders that kicked off his immigration crackdown– there are still hurdles ahead for its implementation.

Per a CNN report, the Laken Riley Act will require a ramp-up period and a boost in funding. “Full implementation would be impossible for ICE to execute within existing resources,” Immigration and Customs Enforcement said in a memo to lawmakers this month.

According to the agency’s estimate, it would need an additional 110,000 beds to support the population of people the new act covers, far exceeding its current inventory. ICE is funded for 41,500 detention beds and already had over 39,000 people in its custody till December.

The agency said that its initial cost estimate of $3.2 billion to execute the act “does not represent the full cost of implementation.”

“If additional resources are provided, a ramp-up period would be needed due to implementation challenges such as hiring, detention bed availability, and contracting/ acquisition timelines,” the memo said.

Washington DC:

Highlighting a “very high degree of trust” between India and the United States, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar today revealed the details of his visit to the United States for Donald Trump’s inauguration and subsequent top-level meetings with senior Trump administration officials.

Describing the special treatment extended to him during his visit as India’s representative, Dr Jaishankar said, “It is very clear that the Trump administration is prioritising the bilateral relationship with India.”

Dr Jaishankar said that one of the concerns he raised in his meeting with his US counterpart Marco Rubio was that of the delay in the visa process. “It hampers work, business, travel, and tourism,” the minister said.

Grateful for the warmth and the hospitality he received, and for being given the front seat at the Trump inauguration, Dr Jaishankar said, “A special envoy of Prime Minister Modi is naturally treated very well.” S Jaishankar represented Prime Minister Narendra Modi as his Special Envoy at the inaugural function of President Donald Trump in Washington DC. He even carried a letter from the Prime Minister for President Trump.

Speaking further on his meetings with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and National Security Adviser Mike Walz, Dr Jaishankar said that the efforts of the new Trump administration are to build on the “strong foundation” laid by the previous Trump administration between 2017 and 2021.

Speaking about the Quad foreign ministers’ meet which was held on day-one of the Trump administration, Dr Jaishankar said that the US is keen to expand the scope and scale of the Quad, adding that Washington wants to intensify the activities of the multilateral grouping which is a diplomatic and security partnership set up by the four nations to maintain peace and freedom of navigation under a rules-based order in the Indo-Pacific region.

“If I were to share my overall impressions, I would say one, it was very keen. It was very clear that the Trump administration was keen to have India present at the inaugural itself. They’re clearly prioritising the bilateral relationship. Secondly, in the meetings, it was also evident that they would like to build on the foundation of the relationship, a foundation which the first Trump administration also contributed a lot to building,” Dr Jaishankar said.

He further highlighted that “President Trump and Prime Minister Modi at that time took a number of initiatives, and we have seen that mature in many ways. And the third impression was, with regard to the Quad, a very strong sense that the current administration would reciprocate our desire as well to take the Quad further, to intensify its activities.”

Washington DC:

Indicating the importance Washington gives to New Delhi as the new Trump administration takes office, US Secretary of State Maro Rubio and National Security Adviser Mike Walz held their first bilateral and international meets respectively with India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar.

Foreign Minister S Jaishankar is in Washington at the invitation of the US Government to attend the inauguration of Donald Trump as the 47th president of the United States. The meeting between the two top diplomats representing the world’s oldest and largest democracies took place at the Foggy Bottom headquarters of the US State Department. The bilateral meeting was preceded by the first Quad ministerial meet after Donald Trump became President.

NEW US SECRETARY OF STATE’S FIRST BILATERAL MEETING

Marco Rubio’s decision to have his first bilateral meeting with India’s S Jaishankar assumes significance given that the first foreign outreach of any previous new US administration traditionally has been with its two neighbours Canada and Mexico, or with one of its NATO allies.

The bilateral meeting between new US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Dr Jaishankar comes less than an hour after the former officially took office. The two leaders held wide-ranging discussions during which they delved into the entire gamut of the India-US strategic partnership. The meeting, which lasted for over an hour, also had India’s Ambassador to the US, Vinay Kwatra, being part of it.

Immediately after the meeting, Secretary Rubio and Dr Jaishankar made a joint appearance before the international press, where they shook hands and posed for the official photographs.

“Delighted to meet @secrubio for his first bilateral meeting after assumption of office as Secretary of State. Reviewed our extensive bilateral partnership, of which @secrubio has been a strong advocate. Also exchanged views on a wide range of regional and global issues. Look forward to closely working with him to advance our strategic cooperation,” Dr Jaishankar wrote on social media platform X shortly after the meeting.

Delighted to meet @secrubio for his first bilateral meeting after assumption of office as Secretary of State.

Reviewed our extensive bilateral partnership, of which @secrubio has been a strong advocate.

Also exchanged views on a wide range of regional and global issues.

Look… pic.twitter.com/NVpBUEAyHK

— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) January 21, 2025

NEW TRUMP ADMINISTRATION’S MAIDEN QUAD MEET

Immediately before the two leaders met for bilateral talks, they joined their counterparts Penny Wong from Australia and Iwaya Takeshi from Japan for the new Trump administration’s maiden Quad meeting – a diplomatic and security partnership set up by the four nations to maintain peace and freedom of navigation under a rules-based order in the Indo-Pacific region.

The meeting between the four top leaders went on for more than an hour, at the end of which they appeared before the press for a customary photograph. They however, did not take any questions or give any statement.

“Attended a productive Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting today in Washington DC. Thank @secrubio for hosting us and FMs @SenatorWong and Takeshi Iwaya for their participation,” Dr Jaishankar wrote, adding that it is “Significant that the Quad FMM took place within hours of the inauguration of the Trump administration. This underlines the priority it has in the foreign policy of its member states. Our wide-ranging discussions addressed different dimensions of ensuring a free, open, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific.”

Attended a productive Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting today in Washington DC. Thank @secrubio for hosting us and FMs @SenatorWong & Takeshi Iwaya for their participation.

Significant that the Quad FMM took place within hours of the inauguration of the Trump Administration. This… pic.twitter.com/uGa4rjg1Bw

— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) January 21, 2025

He further noted that the four leaders “Agreed on the importance of thinking bigger, deepening the agenda and intensifying our collaboration. The meeting today sends a clear message that in an uncertain and volatile world, the Quad will continue to be a force for global good.”

MEETING WITH NEW US NSA MIKE WALZ

After these two meetings, Dr Jaishankar held another top meeting – with new US National Security Adviser or NSA Mike Walz. For Mr Walz too, this was his first international meeting since taking office earlier that same day. The meeting took place at the White House.

“Great to meet NSA @michaelgwaltz again this afternoon. Discussed strengthening our friendship to ensure mutual benefit and enhance global stability and prosperity. Looking forward to working together on an active and outcome oriented agenda,” Dr Jaishankar said after the meeting.

Great to meet NSA @michaelgwaltz again this afternoon.

Discussed strengthening our friendship to ensure mutual benefit and enhance global stability and prosperity.

Looking forward to working together on an active and outcome oriented agenda.

pic.twitter.com/LUlc1WBbWm

— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) January 21, 2025

On Monday, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar was seen in the front row as US President Donald Trump delivered his inaugural address at the Capital Rotunda in Washington DC. Dr Jaishankar said it was a “great honour” to attend the ceremony as India’s special envoy. He also met members of the new Trump administration, including the 56th Speaker of the US House of Representatives Mike Johnson, Senate Majority Leader John Thune and nominee for the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Kash Patel.

He also exchanged a handshake with Vivek Ramaswamy, who quit the newly-formed Department of Government Efficiency to possible pursue the race for Ohio Governor.
 

Washington DC:

Donald Trump has sniffed trouble brewing afar against the United States – one that may topple the US’s position as a dominant global power and end Washington’s ability to impose economic sanctions against those it deems fit for the case. The storm in question is the steadily-expanding BRICS+ grouping.

Within hours of taking office as President of the United States, Donald Trump went after the BRICS+, threatening to impose 100 per cent tariffs on member countries. The reason Washington feels threatened by the grouping is because it makes the US dollar, America’s greatest weapon – one it can actually use, vulnerable.

In recent times there have been reports of a possibility of the BRICS+ nations working on a common currency which would replace the US dollar for international trade. The founding members of the BRICS are Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa – the acronym of which is BRICS. Over the years, several other countries have become members of the bloc, namely Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Indonesia. Saudi Arabia has accepted the membership, but has not formally joined yet, saying that the matter is under consideration.

BRICS+, which is shaping up to be the developing world’s alternative to the West-led G7, has set up its own financial structure and institutions, and is cooperating economically and diplomatically to reduce its dependence on the US Dollar – the default currency for international trade.

Donald Trump has now said his administration will impose 100 per cent tariffs against countries of the BRICS+ bloc, should they take any steps to replace the US dollar. “If the BRICS nations want to do that (replace the US dollar), that’s okay, but we’re going to put at least a 100 per cent tariff on the business they do with the United States,” President Trump told the international media shortly after his presidential inauguration.

“They will have a 100 per cent tariff if they so much as even think about reducing the use of the US Dollar in global trade,” he threatened.

Less than a month before he took office, Mr Trump had made a similar reference warning the BRICS+ countries. “We require a commitment from these countries that they will neither create a new BRICS currency, nor back any other currency to replace the mighty US dollar or, they will face 100 per cent tariffs and should expect to say goodbye to selling into the wonderful US economy,” Donald Trump, then President-elect, had warned in December.

HOW THE US DOLLAR IS WEAPONISED IN SANCTIONS

The US Dollar, has for decades, been the world’s principal reserve currency. It has been the case since the Second World War, following which global institutions like the United Nations, World Bank, and International Monetary Fund, among many others were set up. All these institutions were set up in the United States – And America being the largest trading country of the world at that time led to US Dollar becoming the default currency for global trade.

In 1973, a new system was set up to moderate international transactions. This system is known as SWIFT, which is short for Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication. Since then, this has become the world’s commonly accepted and standardised model for international money transfers.

According to its website, SWIFT is a member-owned cooperative connecting more than 11,000 banks, financial institutions and corporations in more than 200 countries and territories. SWIFT is neither a payment nor a settlement system, and is therefore is not regulated as such by any of the world’s central banks.

SWIFT is overseen by the central banks of G10 nations – namely, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, The Netherlands, United Kingdom, United States, Switzerland, and Sweden.

Since the US Dollar is the default currency of trade globally, and SWIFT is the method or channel of settlement, sanctions are imposed by controlling these two. Sanctions are imposed via SWIFT by restricting access to the network or completely prohibiting individuals, institutions, and countries from using its services. When sanctions are imposed, it completely freezes an account and restricts any further transactions from it.

SWIFT sanctions can freeze any bank’s ability to transact with the rest of the world. Under an international rules-based order, much of the global financial governance is dominated by the US-led West.

MULTI-POLAR WORLD

In the 21st Century, with the rise of Asia, and economies like China, India, Russia, Indonesia, UAE, Saudi Arabia, and others, the world has become much more multi-polar, instead of being bipolar – which was the case during the Cold War between the US and USSR through much of the 20th Century, post the two world wars in the first half of the century.

Brazil in South America and South Africa in Africa were also rising global economies.

With time, emerging economies became increasingly disgruntled with the dominance of the US Dollar being the default in almost all global transactions. This also kept them under a constant threat of Western sanctions, should they not two the line. To deal with this, BRICS leaders have for long reportedly advocated for de-dollarisation, and been in favor of increased trade in local currencies and even reportedly explored the possibility of a potential common BRICS currency.

The BRICS members have even set up the New Development Bank (NDB) and the Contingent Reserve Arrangement or CRA – which act and function exactly like the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund or IMF, respectively.

The so-far 10-member BRICS+ grouping already comprises nearly half of the world’s population and over a third of the global economy. It also has more than 25 per cent of the world’s landmass, produces more than 30 per cent of the world’s oil output and is on track to surge ahead of the G7 economies in less than 20 years.