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: Rajiv Bhatia
Myanmar’s latest political transition offers the illusion of closure, but little clarity. After years of conflict triggered by the 2021 coup, a new administration under Min Aung Hlaing takes charge amid continuing resistance and fragmentation. Is this consolidation or another phase of instability? Reflecting on this question, Ambassador Rajiv Bhatia draws upon his three-decade-long association with Myanmar, including serving as India’s Ambassador from 2002 to 2005.
Courtesy: Reuters
A new government will be sworn into office in Myanmar in April to run a ‘hybrid democracy’ in which military and civilian representatives will share power. It is Myanmar’s second experiment with this system. The West is rethinking its positioning on Myanmar and now seeking ‘calibrated engagement.’ India, too, should reassess its two-track diplomacy and develop a nuanced policy and an early outreach to the new leaders.
Courtesy: Presidential Communications Office
The West Asia conflict has disrupted global stability, impacting ASEAN economies and diplomacy. As chair, the Philippines balances its alliance with the U.S. and regional neutrality, while Indonesia and Malaysia reflect domestic support for Arab states. With energy shocks, remittance risks, and inflation rising, ASEAN’s limited influence is evident. Has ASEAN once again been drawn into a vortex of crises beyond its control?
Courtesy: ANI
The Myanmar military coup of 1 February 2021 derailed a decade-long experiment in limited democracy, triggering violent resistance, armed conflict, fragmentation, and humanitarian crises. As instability deepens and global attention wanes, Myanmar’s turmoil carries significant implications for India, particularly along the border regions. With China’s growing footprint and ASEAN’s limited mediation, India must carefully navigate its Act East and Indo-Pacific strategies while sustaining people-to-people ties.
Courtesy: ANI
From 7-8 February, Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Malaysia to review the current state of bilateral ties and explore new avenues of cooperation. The focus was to deepen and diversify the economic dimension of the engagement. Two factors will help achieve this: Malaysia’s role in the ASEAN–India Trade in Goods Agreement review, and India’s enhanced negotiating weight following the signing of recent Free Trade Agreements. Both sides must now translate intent into action.
Courtesy: Atlantic Council
U.S. President Donald Trump embarked on a five-day trip to Asia, arriving in Kuala Lumpur on October 26. Covering Malaysia, Japan, and South Korea, the visit marked a shift in focus from the Ukraine and Gaza conflicts to Southeast and East Asia, as his administration is set to finalise its China policy and Indo-Pacific strategy. The trip yielded important results, though their impact will take time to assess.
Courtesy: VOA
The year 2025 is often compared to the Bandung moment of 1955, and for good reason. With the U.S. reordering traditional relationships, the opportunity for greater emphasis on the Global South is now. It is therefore time for India, Africa and ASEAN among others to re-burnish their Global South credentials and use that identity as a platform to engage each other more deeply.
Courtesy: Gateway House
As India seeks leadership in a multipolar world, cultural credibility is as vital as economic clout. Cinema gives India an edge with vivid storytelling, music, and empowering narratives, fostering understanding in a polarised world. Its popularity correlates with trade, as seen in the U.S., Russia, and Middle East. The more popular the cinema, the bigger the boost to trade.