The Hindu Editorial (For more than a waiver) – Nov 17, 2021

The announcement by Russia that supplies of the S-400 Triumf system to India have already begun has set the stage for Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit in early December. For further reading, visit “The Hindu”. Below is today’s word list-1 for The Hindu Editorial (For more than a waiver) – Nov 17, 2021.

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The Hindu Editorial (For more than a waiver) – Nov 17, 2021:

waiver (noun) – deferral, rejection, renunciation (with no stipulations/restrictions).
strategic (adjective) – relating to achieving long-term or overall goals.
strategic partnership (noun) – it is a long-term interaction between two countries based on political, economic, social and historical factors (Courtesy: IDSA (Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses)).
sanctions (noun) – action taken, or an order given to force a country to obey international laws by limiting or stopping trade with that country, by not allowing economic aid for that country, etc (Courtesy: VOA Learning English).
undermine (verb) – weaken, subvert, sabotage, damage.
S-400 Triumf missile defence system (noun) – Developed by Russia, the S-400 (Triumph/Triumf) air defence system integrates a multifunction radar, autonomous detection and targeting systems, anti-aircraft missile systems, launchers, and command and control centre. It is capable of firing three types of missiles to create a layered defence. The S-400 is capable of destroying incoming hostile aircraft, missiles and even drones within a range of up to 400 km. It has a tracking capability of nearly 600 km.
set the stage for (phrase) – prepare the circumstances for the beginning of something.
throw down the gauntlet (phrase) – challenge, confront, dare.
Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) (noun) – CAATSA is a specifically enacted legislation that aims to prevent revenue from flowing to Russia. This legislation provides for economic and travel sanctions against countries and officials that transacted significant military and intelligence contracts with Russia, North Korea and Iran.
intelligence (noun) – information gathering, surveillance, observation, spying, espionage, undercover work.
justifiably (adverb) – validly, legitimately, reasonably.
heed (verb) – pay attention to, take notice of, listen to, notice.
slap (verb) – impose, levy, put on, add.
North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) (noun) – NATO was created in 1949 by the United States, Canada, and several Western European nations to provide collective security against the Soviet Union.
in contrast to (phrase) – in opposition to.
cave-in (noun) – yielding, submission, surrender (under pressure).
cave in (phrasal verb) – yield, surrender, submit, succumb.
assert (verb) – state, avow, insist, announce, declare (confidently).
frontier (noun) – the political and geographical area near or beyond a boundary; border, boundary, borderline, dividing line, demarcation line.
in order to (phrase) – with the purpose/aim of.
stricture (noun) – constraint, restriction, impediment/restraint.
rupee-rouble system (noun) – Indian and Russian industries are making transactions and payment in trade relations via Rupee-Rouble (exchange) method instead of using dollars for transactions. (Rouble is the currency of the Russian Federation).
squadron (noun) – an (air force) unit consisting a number of military aircrafts (2 or more) and their personnel deployed on a surveillance duty to protect a country’s skies; unit, contingent, regiment.
likely (adverb) – probably, in all probability, presumably, doubtlessly.
the die is cast (phrase) – something (a decision, a course of action, the future) has been determined that cannot be changed.
showdown (noun) – confrontation, face-off, clash.
authorise (verb) – permit, sanction, allow, agree to, approve.
Congress (noun) – legislative assembly, parliament; The United States Congress is the bicameral (two chambers) legislature of the federal government of the United States, and consists of two chambers: the House of Representatives and the Senate.
waive (verb) – to not demand something; ignore, forgo, omit.
interest (noun) – common concerns; advantage, benefit.
weaponry (noun) – instruments of war, guns, weapons.
unlikely (adjective) – doubtful, implausible, improbable, questionable.
prized (adjective) – highly valued, treasured, precious, much loved, beloved.
Quad/Quadrilateral (noun) – The ‘Quadrilateral’ is described as four democracies (the United States, Japan, Australia and India) with a shared objective to ensure and support a “free, open and prosperous” Indo-Pacific region.
The Indo-Pacific (region) (noun) – the Indo-Pacific region refers to the confluence (convergence) of the Pacific and Indian Oceans, which interconnect in Southeast Asia (Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, and more).
counter (verb) – combat, fight, tackle, confront, stand up to, oppose, resist.
rift (noun) – disagreement, dispute, conflict.
ties (noun) – association, relationship, bond, connection.
spur (verb) – stimulate, encourage, prompt, galvanize.
above all (phrase) – most importantly, primarily, essentially.
unilateral (adjective) – relating to a method of taking decisions (particularly on international relations) by a state (country) individually without considering other states (countries). In general, it is relating to the decision taken individually without consulting with the others concerned.
endorse (verb) – uphold, support, ratify, approve, justify.
multilateral (adjective) – involving many different countries (in which all WTO member countries are party to the agreement).
subjective (adjective) – personal, personalized, individual, internal.
whimsical (adjective) – volatile, unpredictable, mercurial, inconsistent, erratic, unstable, unsteady, fluctuating, bizarre, weird.
withdraw (verb) – retreat, pull back from, pull out.
reimpose (verb) – reinstate, put back, bring back, reinstitute.
accede (verb) – agree to, consent to, accept, comply with.
amount to (verb) – be equivalent to, be tantamount to, constitute, comprise, represent.
bilateral (adjective) – involving two groups or countries.
sovereignty (noun) – jurisdiction, supremacy, dominion, power, hegemony, domination, sway, authority, control.
strategic autonomy (noun) – the ability of a state (country) to pursue its national interests and adopt its preferred foreign policy without being constrained in any manner by other states (countries). In its pure form, strategic autonomy presupposes the state (country) in question possessing overwhelmingly superior power. This is what would enable that state (country) to resist the pressures that may be exerted by other states (countries) to compel it to change its policy or moderate its interests.
rather than (phrase) – instead of.
reason with (phrasal verb) – talk round, bring round, win round, persuade, coax, prevail on, convince.
exceptional (adjective) – unusual, uncommon, not typical.
make clear (phrase) – explain, clarify, elucidate.
negate (verb) – invalidate, nullify, make ineffective, neutralize, cancel out.
rules-based (adjective) – based on a predetermined set of principles.
world/international/global order (noun) – the arrangement of power and authority that provides the system for the conduct of diplomacy and world politics in relation to the entire world.