Gateway Features
Maldives turns to India
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Observers and students of Maldives’ foreign relations may judge 2024 as an exceptionally important year. If President Mohamed Muizzu’s official voyage to China in January revealed a ‘pivot to China,’ his five-day state visit to India in October witnessed a notable move to bring significant improvement in ties with its closest neighbour. The overall message was clear: the small Indian Ocean state plans to carefully balance its relations with the two major Asian powers, thereby deriving maximum benefit for itself. read more
Energy cost of Iran-Israel Conflict
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Ever since Iran hit Israel with a missile barrage on October 1, a potential conflict between the two has created fear in the energy markets. The worst-case scenario being envisaged is a retaliatory strike by Israel either on Iran’s nuclear facilities or its oil infrastructure. A strike on Iran’s oil infrastructure will hit Iran’s oil exports, a financial lifeline for Tehran. Iran’s potential retaliation could seriously affect the oil and gas production in its neighboring countries, dealing a far more read more
Unfolding Geopolitics, Episode 14 | India’s outreach in South Asia
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The past week has been eventful for India’s Neighbourhood First policy, with the External Affairs Minister’s visit to Sri Lanka and the state visit of the President of Maldives to India. Rajiv Bhatia, Distinguished Fellow, Foreign Policy Studies, Gateway House and Amit Bhandari, Senior Fellow, Energy, Investments and Connectivity, Gateway House, analyse India’s regional outreach and recent economic and political changes in the subcontinent. read more
Protectionism and Rising Challenges to Ensuring the Developing World’s Priorities in the G20 Agenda
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The G20 represents more than 85% of global economic output and approximately 75% of international trade, as well as roughly two-thirds of the world’s population. Ever since the breakdown of the Doha negotiations, globalization backlash, rising nationalism, the global pandemic, and recent conflicts have created a perfect storm that led to increasing protectionism that is challenging WTO’s practices and disproportionately affecting developing countries. Newly acquired data through a survey with approximately 1000 experts in Brazil, India, South Africa, and Germany reiterates how protectionism is undesirable. read more
Research
On December 1, 2023, India will hand over the G20 Presidency to Brazil. The G20 troika will now comprise the three IBSA countries – India, Brazil, South Africa – till November 2025. This trio has an agenda in common and with the G20, such as multilateral reform, energy transitions and digitalisation. IBSA should use its mechanisms and natural solidarity to advance the interests of the Global South.
Foreign Affairs
China’s expansionist nuclear programme aims to bolster its capabilities, so much so, that Beijing's predictions boast 2500 new warheads by 2030, thus rivalling the American and Russian arsenals. As the dragon quadruples its nuclear propensity, heralding the world to something greatly unstable – a tripolar nuclear system; nuclear peace seems a quite convoluted goal.
Book Reviews
A timely book on the Naga contribution to Allied victory in the Second World War is a necessary documentation. Northeast India was the eastern flank of the British empire where the battles of Kohima and Imphal stopped Japan’s invasion into India. While western historical narratives are being reiterated during the war’s 80th anniversary, the role and sacrifice of the Nagas is a neglected but important counterpoint.
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