Last modified: Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Lectures to address India-Israel relations, nuclear weapons
National security lectures at Indiana University:
- "The Evolution of India-Israel Relations," Ambassador Rajendra Abhyankar, 4:15 p.m. Wednesday, April 13, Maurer School of Law, room 124
- "Are We Stuck in the Nuclear Age?" Sir Lawrence Freedman, 6:30 p.m. Thursday, April 14, University Club, Indiana Memorial Union
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 6, 2011
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Two distinguished lecturers who have played critical roles in recent events that impact the U.S. and other countries will visit Indiana University Bloomington this month. They will discuss timely topics related to global security: relations between India and Israel and prospects for control of nuclear weapons in a post-Cold War world.
Former Indian diplomat Rajendra Abhyankar will speak on "The Evolution of India-Israel Relations" at 4:15 p.m. on April 13 in room 124 of the Maurer School of Law.
Sir Lawrence Freedman, professor of war studies and vice-principal at King's College, London, will speak April 14 on "Are We Stuck in the Nuclear Age? Future Prospects for Deterrence and Disarmament." His talk will take place at 6:30 p.m. in the University Club of the Indiana Memorial Union.
Rajendra Abhyankar
Both lectures are sponsored by the Center on American and Global Security at Indiana University and are free and open to the public.
Abhyankar is currently diplomat-in-residence at the Center for American and Global Security. He also is chairman of the Kunzru Centre for Defence Study and Research in Pune, India. He was Indian ambassador to Syria, Turkey, Azerbaijan and the European Union and served as secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs with responsibility for Asia, North Africa and Oceania.
He will discuss relations between India and Israel, including the explosive growth in the diversity of contact since India opened full diplomatic relations with Israel in May 1992 with commencement of the Madrid Peace Process. Security and defense exchanges became the cornerstone of the relationship in the 1990s, buttressed in recent years by ventures based on technology and innovation.
Sir Lawrence Freedman
Freedman served as foreign policy adviser to former British Prime Minister Tony Blair and in June 2009 was appointed to serve as a member of the official inquiry into Britain and the 2003 Iraq War.
His career has been marked by impressive contributions to the understanding of nuclear issues, culminating in his seminal publication The Evolution of Nuclear Strategy. He has been appointed a Fellow of the British Academy, Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire and Knight Commander of the Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George. He is the official historian of the Falklands Campaign, the 1982 conflict between Britain and Argentina.
The Center on American and Global Security, founded in 2007, seeks to enhance and expand the teaching, research, and service mission of Indiana University concerning the security challenges facing the United States and the global community in the 21st century.
News media: To arrange to speak with Ambassador Rajendra Abhyankar or Sir Lawrence Freedman, please contact Sumit Ganguly, the Rabindranath Tagore Chair in Indian Cultures and Civilizations and director of research for the Center on American and Global Security, 812-855-4438 or sganguly@indiana.edu.
