Courtesy: Prime Minister's Office of Japan
The 52nd G7 Summit, held in Evian-les-Bains from June 15-17, reflected both the challenges and continued relevance of the grouping. While the G7’s share of global GDP has declined, it remains influential. India’s participation as an invited guest drew attention as a major representative of the Global South. As BRICS chair this year, India has an opportunity to explain the motivations of both the G7 and BRICS to each other's members.
Courtesy: Gateway House
Pakistan and Afghanistan have long shared one of the world's most volatile borders. Pakistan's 2025 airstrikes inside Afghanistan marked a dramatic rupture in a relationship Islamabad had once carefully cultivated. Regional expert Raghav Sharma examines the evolving military balance, China’s mediation efforts, the role of the Gulf states, and how the Iran conflict is reshaping Pakistan’s economy and internal fault lines. The result is a region facing multiple crises, where traditional strategic assumptions no longer offer clear answers.
Courtesy: Nayanima Basu
The arrival of the sacred Piprahwa relics in Leh in May 2026 was more than a religious event; it was a powerful act of cultural reclamation and civilisational diplomacy. Linked to the Buddha’s Sakya clan, the relics reaffirm India’s place as the birthplace of Buddhism while sending a strong signal to China. As Beijing increasingly politicises Tibetan Buddhism and the Dalai Lama’s succession, this heritage carries growing geopolitical significance.
Courtesy: Gateway House
After eight years of its nomenclature, on 16th June the U.S. Pacific Command dropped the 'Indo' from its military command title. It reflects clearly that the U.S. does not consider the Indo-Pacific region to be the most consequential theatre of geopolitics today. Yet its significance as the platform on which great-power contestation in political, military, technological, and economic domains will play out cannot be overstated.
Courtesy: x/@MEAIndia
The recent visit of Myanmar President Min Aung Hlaing to India has re-engaged the two neighbours politically after a six-year gap. Critics and pragmatists had much to say, but the outcome spoke for itself: constructive border management, defence agreements and economic cooperation. And a reminder that India has not forgotten about Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, the democracy icon.
Courtesy: Business Post
The AI industry in the U.S. is on a high, with three major upcoming public offerings on the table from Anthropic, Open AI and Space X hogging the attention and news. But users are increasingly concerned about costs, and developers are rushing to raise capital. When the effervescence abates, a reduced appetite for AI stocks may eventually see investors return to emerging markets. Can India benefit?
Courtesy: Gateway House
Nepal’s ruling party leader, Rabi Lamichhane, visited India from June 1-5, 2026, highlighting Nepal’s evolving political priorities under the leadership of new Prime Minister Balendra Shah. A conversation with Nayanima Basu examines how India is faring under its Neighbourhood First and Act East policies and how New Delhi should navigate an increasingly volatile and sensitive region.
Courtesy: Gateway House
The 2026 Persian Gulf conflict has pushed energy security to the forefront of the BRICS agenda. Divergent national interests prevent the grouping from acting as a unified geopolitical bloc, the growing energy crisis highlights the need for stronger economic cooperation. Proposals such as a BRICS energy reserve, an Energy Stability Fund, and cross-border investments could enhance resilience and be essential if BRICS wants to emerge as a serious economic grouping.
Courtesy: DD India
BRICS is too significant to ignore but too fragmented to drive meaningful change for the developing world. The West Asia conflict, U.S. tariff threats over de-dollarisation, UNSC reform divisions, and the presence of regional rivals has exposed its internal strains. Will India’s ongoing 2026 chairship rise above the contradictions, and manage to turn BRICS from a reactive forum into a more assertive and credible global force?
Courtesy: AFP
India signed on to two deals on critical minerals in May: one was the launch of the Quad Critical Minerals Initiative and the other a new bilateral India–U.S. framework on critical minerals. Both highlight the deep concerns over China’s dominance of global supply chains. For India, specifically, these initiatives will advance its ambitions in green energy. Collectively, the QUAD members have differing priorities. Can those be sustained long-term, for success?