The Hindu Editorial (Reflective pause) – Jul 14, 2023

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The Hindu Editorial (Reflective pause) – Jul 14, 2023:

reflective (adjective) – thoughtful, contemplative, speculative, thinking, pensive, reasoning.
pause (noun) – temporary stoppage, break, interval.
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.
paradigm (noun) – a model or pattern of something; example, prototype, standard, criterion.
paradigm shift (noun) – a fundamental and important change with new ideas/thinking.
conflict (noun) – war, warfare, armed conflict, military action, armed clash.
set in motion (phrase) – start, begin, activate, initiate, launch; cause, bring about.
take stock of (phrase) – to review a situation carefully, usually before making a decision; assess, analyze, weigh up, appraise, evaluate, investigate, scrutinize, look carefully at.
in the face of (phrase) – despite, notwithstanding, regardless of; when confronted with.
aggression (noun) – hostility, belligerence, combativeness, warmongering, hawkishness.
come away (phrasal verb) – depart, leave, break off, go away.
induct (verb) – admit, allow, appoint someone officially (into an organization.).
chagrin (noun) – annoyance, irritation, vexation, exasperation, displeasure, dismay, disappointment, frustration, embarrassment, humiliation.
vent (verb) – release, let out, discharge, express, voice.
summit (noun) – meeting, conference, conclave (international meeting/conference of heads of state/government).
reassuring (adjective) – optimistic, favourable, encouraging, promising, hopeful.
to the effect that (phrase) – used when you are giving the general meaning of something.
outlast (verb) – exist longer than; live/last longer than; live after, outlive.
apparent (adjective) – visible, noticeable, obvious, evident, manifest.
likely (adverb) – probably, presumably, doubtlessly.
the fact that (phrase) – used to refer to a specific situation under consideration or discussion.
objection (noun) – resistance, opposition, criticism, disapproval, defiance.
it is only a matter of time (phrase) – if you say that something is just a matter of time, you mean that it is certain to occur at some time in the future.
accession (noun) – joining, signing up, enrolment.
go to great lengths (phrase) – to make a major effort or try very hard (to do something).
waive (verb) – ignore, overlook, set aside, forgo, drop (from forcing someone to comply with rule).
The Membership Action Plan (MAP) (noun) – it is a NATO programme of advice, assistance and practical support tailored to the individual needs of countries wishing to join the Alliance. Participation in the MAP does not prejudge any decision by the Alliance on future membership. Upon decision of the North Atlantic Council, countries participate in the MAP by submitting individual annual national programmes on their preparations for possible future membership. These cover political, economic, defence, resource, security and legal aspects.
North Atlantic Council (NAC) (noun) – It is the principal political decision-making body within NATO. It oversees the political and military process relating to security issues affecting the whole Alliance.
prospective (adjective) – potential, aspiring, would-be, eventual, soon-to-be, designate.
entrant (noun) – new member, newcomer.
market economy (ME) (noun) – an economy with the minimum of government involvement; a form of economic system where businesses and consumers drive the economy with minimal government intervention.
civilian (noun) – non-military person, ordinary citizen.
resolution (noun) – solution, settlement.
fairly (adverb) – equally, properly, justly, impartially.
willingness (noun) – readiness, preparedness,, inclination.
gloss over (phrasal verb) – conceal, hide, camouflage, cover up, paper over.
existential (adjective) – relating to existence of something.
campaign (noun) – an organized effort which seeks to influence the decision making progress within a specific group; drive.
bone of contention (or) point of contention (noun) – a main subject/topic of an argument or disagreement; point at issue, matter in question
wage (verb) – engage in, proceed with, carry on, conduct (a war).
chicken-and-egg (adjective) – relating to a cause-and-effect relationship between two things where we don’t know which happened first.
dimension (noun) – aspect, feature, side, element.
unprovoked (adjective) – unjustified, without reason, uncalled for, unwarranted.
incursion (noun) –attack, invasion, intrusion, trespass/infiltration.
Georgia (noun) – a transcontinental country at the intersection of Eastern Europe and Western Asia. It is part of the Caucasus region, bounded by the Black Sea to the west, Russia to the north and northeast, Turkey to the southwest, Armenia to the south, and by Azerbaijan to the southeast.
annexation (noun) – occupation, conquering, capture, seizure, annexing, takeover.
Crimea (noun) – a peninsula along the northern coast of the Black Sea in Eastern Europe. The peninsula is almost entirely surrounded by both the Black Sea and the smaller Sea of Azov. The status of Crimea is disputed. It is claimed by Ukraine and in 2014 was recognized as Ukrainian by the United Nations and most other countries, but it is governed by Russia. Russia formally annexed Crimea on 18 March 2014.
proxy (noun) – representative; deputy, substitute. (proxy war means war through a representative/agent).
prospect (noun) – likelihood, chances, expectation, possibility.
nuclear-armed (adjective) – equipped/furnished with nuclear weapons.
the Cold War (noun) – The Cold War was a state of political and military tension after World War II between powers in the Western Bloc (the United States and a group of countries) and powers in the Eastern Bloc (the Soviet Union and a group of countries).
dig in one’s heels (phrase) – to refuse to change, particularly when someone is trying to persuade you to do so; resist stubbornly, defy, oppose, refuse to accept, object to, take a stand against, go against.
set the stage for (phrase) – prepare the circumstances for the beginning of something.
escalation (noun) – intensification, aggravation, exacerbation.
cluster munition (noun) – it is a weapon that disperses or releases explosive submunitions: small, unguided explosives or bomblets (each weighing less than 20 kg) that are designed to explode prior to, on or after impact, according to the global ‘Convention on Cluster Munitions’ (CCM). Depending on the model, the number of submunitions dispersed or released by a cluster munition can vary from several dozens to over 600. Due to this, the submunitions get dispersed over a large area, remain unexploded for several years and cause significant civilian casualties.
explore (verb) – examine, evaluate, review.
potential (adjective) – possible, probable, likely.
ceasefire (noun) – a negotiated agreement that will be accompanied by other associated commitments to de-escalate the fighting; a temporary stoppage of war, truce, armistice.
truce (noun) – an ad-hoc (temporary/makeshift) arrangement, arrived at by the combatants (fighters), to pause the fighting.
cessation of hostilities (phrase) – it means that the combatants are willing to stop fighting and to restrain their forces.
cessation (noun) – termination, discontinuation, suspension.
undeterred (adjective) – not discouraged; determined, ambitious.
acquisition (noun) – gain, appropriation.
fuel (verb) – provoke, incite, goad, intensify, whip up; stimulate, boost, encourage, support, nurture.
shadowy (adjective) – indistinguishable, unrecognizable, ill-defined.
Kremlin (noun) – The name “Kremlin” means “fortress inside a city”, and is often also used metonymically to refer to the official residence of the President of the Russian Federation in a similar sense to how “White House” refers to the Executive Office of the President of the United States; Kremlin is a fortified complex in the center of Moscow city. (Metonym is used as an alternative for something else with which it is closely related/associated).
human rights (noun) – human rights are rights inherent to all human beings, regardless of race, sex, nationality, ethnicity, language, religion, or any other status.
in the first place (phrase) – at the very beginning, at first, to begin with, initially.