Courtesy: Gateway House
All eyes are on the July 25-26 visit of Prime Minister Modi to Maldives as chief guest for the Maldivian Independence Day celebrations. It’s a remarkable turnaround by Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu, who won the 2023 election on an “India Out” campaign. What caused the change? Proximity and geopolitics, says Rajiv Bhatia transformed Maldivian view.
Courtesy: Getty Images
India is strategically expanding its influence across the Indo-Pacific region, positioning itself as a key player in regional affairs. Three elements anchor the effort: development aid, trade and the diaspora. The country now has 20 Free Trade Agreement partners in the Indo-Pacific. The 21.8 million-strong Indian diaspora across the region is a significant source of soft power for India.
Courtesy: Adem Altan/AFP via Getty Images
Iranian foreign policy must move toward strategic autonomy and internal concord. As witnessed after the 1988 ceasefire with Iraq, such moments can mark an inflexion point - one that prioritises national reconstruction, resilience, and welfare; strategic recalibration, strengthening of confidence, and finding a geopolitical identity. Iran has been there before, and can apply those experiences again.
Courtesy: Defense News
Warfare is changing its character, and drones are playing a big role in it. Technology that was first extensively used in the Vietnam war is a current conflict staple. With the increasing use of artificial intelligence, drones are becoming more powerful and useful.
Courtesy: Reuters photo
Presidential visits abroad are high-level instruments of statecraft and, more often than not, signals of geopolitical priorities. The recent visit of U.S. President Donald Trump to the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar, exemplified this, indicating the administration's policy orientation.
Courtesy: Narendra Modi on X
U.S. President Donald Trump is determined that India lower tariffs on American imports. He is sending his top representatives to communicate with officials in New Delhi before his own arrival in the Indian capital, aiming to finalize the proposed bilateral trade agreement.
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U.S. President Trump is prioritising strategic competition with China and seeking stability with Russia. This approach involves sanctions relief, sidelining Ukraine, and fostering economic ties with Moscow to weaken its reliance on China and reshape global power dynamics. Europe is divided on the outreach to Russia, but the U.S. wants to leverage energy markets and investment opportunities to expand its influence over Moscow.
Courtesy: India Today
Former President Trump and incumbent President Biden have emerged as frontrunners in the ongoing U.S. primaries. While the former faces several legal hurdles, the latter has been criticised for his response to the crises in Israel and Ukraine and the strategic contest with China. Neelam Deo, co-founder, Gateway House, speaks with Purvi Patel, International Affairs Fellow, Council on Foreign Relations, about the electoral race, legal challenges to Trump's candidature, and what India can expect from another Trump presidency.
Courtesy: Hindustan Times
PM Modi’s State visit to the U.S. was marked by over a hundred agreements in emerging technologies, trade and investment. Manjeet Kripalani, Executive Director, Gateway House, spoke with Atul Keshap, President, U.S.-India Business Council, on the future of the India-US bilateral and thier multilateral relationships through the Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technologies (iCET) and the Quad.
Courtesy: Gateway House
Mexico has followed Prime Minister Modi’s visit to the U.S.,and sees an opportunity to partner with India. Geopolitically, as a global south country with shared interests in peace, security and sustainable development; regionally, as part of the supply chain and export gateway to the U.S.; strategically as a diplomatic platform with a pragmatic narrative that privileges mutual interests.