Courtesy: Reuters
The BRICS Summit in Delhi carried over the issues from the previous years. But it was particularly important because it also hosted the India-China leaders’ bilateral, and it was preceded by the visit of Chinese President Xi to the U.S. The optics of the 2026 Summit will have been keenly watched in Washington for its effect on U.S.-China relations.
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Chinese President Xi Jinping’s September state visit to the U.S. produced no joint statement, indicating major differences, although both countries agreed Iran should not develop nuclear weapons and no country should collect tolls in the Strait of Hormuz. Tariffs on China remained unresolved. There was a staleness to the visit, with both countries’ leaders focused on the past. The visit appears to favour China, denoting its growing stature.
Courtesy: PTI
There is a positive reset in India-Canada relations, and this is being strengthened through cooperation in security, trade and education ties. Both countries believe in the strategic value of the Indo-Pacific, and both have been at the receiving end of rough geopolitical treatment by the U.S. They see their salvation in putting the past behind them and deepening bilateral relations.
Courtesy: Gateway House
President Trump’s January 2025 executive order ending birthright citizenship has reignited the global debate over citizenship and migration. Dual citizenship has become increasingly popular since the Second World War, but it is now viewed with growing anxiety over migration and national identity, prompting some countries to tighten restrictions. This infographic maps which countries permit, restrict, or prohibit dual citizenship.
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
The Smackover Formation in south Arkansas and east Texas holds vast reserves of lithium — the critical mineral powering electric vehicles, energy storage systems, and data centres. If successfully tapped, those reserves could drastically reduce America's dependence on China. Arkansas has a stable, proven, predictable regulatory and statutory framework and familiarity with the production process. Policymakers in India would be wise to follow developments closely.
Courtesy: Finland in India
Amid the fast-changing geopolitical landscape, European Union (EU) member states seem to have rediscovered the value of close cooperation with India, an Asian power with greater ambitions. India, too, finds that growth in partnership with the EU and the UK is a source of strategic comfort. Both sides are propelled to deeper mutual policy proximity by the pressures generated by the Trump 2.0 presidency in the U.S.
Courtesy: Gateway House
Once central to global strategic discourse, the Indo-Pacific and Africa have been sidelined amid the “Age of Polycrisis,” as attention shifts to crises in Europe and West Asia. While India has long expressed goodwill toward Africa, recent regional tensions have pushed the continent off its strategic radar. Renewed India–Africa cooperation is essential to advancing the agenda of the Global South and strengthening South–South partnerships.
Courtesy: Bloomberg
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s visit to India from February 27 to March 2, though sandwiched between the AI Impact Summit and the outbreak of the U.S.-Israel war against Iran, produced concrete outcomes with long-term impact. The visit announced a multidimensional roadmap aligning India’s ‘Viksit Bharat’ vision with Canada’s ‘Build Canada Strong’, to ensure the bilateral relationship does not drift apart again.
Courtesy: Indian Navy
Over the last two decades, the Indian Navy has taken a quantum leap in modernising its fleet with stealth frigates, warships, submarines, and fighter planes. Its goal is to be the net security provider and first responder securing Sea Lines of Communication in the region. But it is still lagging behind its Indo-pacific naval partners and most important, its regional rival, China.