Courtesy: X / @narendraodi
India’s Eurasian shift will play itself out in the upcoming BRICS Summit. This is in contrast to just four years ago, when India cultivated the West, especially the U.S., in the aftermath of the 2020 Galwan clashes. Now with the U.S.’ tough tariffs and trade negotiations, India has made space to lean towards the Eurasian groupings, emphasising its long-held foreign policy principle of strategic balancing.
Courtesy: Xinhua via AP
Russia-China ties have come a long way from the tensions of the Cold War. Since Russia’s relationship with the West began deteriorating in 2008, China has emerged as a counterweight, with growing economic and cultural ties. In 2026, 83% of Russians viewed China favourably, while bilateral trade grew 22%. This relationship seems rock-solid, and even a thaw with the West is unlikely to alter its course.
Courtesy: Xinhua / Wang Ye
The SCO aims to be more than a security dialogue, because churn in the global order means not only military power but includes new instruments like infrastructure, energy and technology. The SCO has potential here. China’s factories, Russia’s energy and resources, India’s technology and services, and Central Asia’s location and minerals, connected to Iran and Pakistan’s location on the Arabian Sea, could become a formidable economic geography.
Courtesy: Indian Navy Website
The India–Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement (ISFTA), implemented in 2000, has significantly expanded India–Sri Lanka trade, investment and tourism. But it now needs to be deepened beyond goods to make the most of the modern, supply-chain-driven global economy. Any ISFTA 2.0 should update rules of origin, liberalise services, digitise customs, strengthen investment protections and deepen connectivity to help Sri Lanka integrate into India-centred supply chains.
Courtesy: Facebook / The Bharat Post
India will host the 18th BRICS Summit from September 12-13, 2026, amid adverse geopolitical circumstances. With Russia at war in Ukraine and Iran, the UAE and Saudi Arabia caught in the U.S.-Israel conflict, the BRICS grouping faces its biggest test yet. Yet its members remain committed to the “BRICS spirit” and promoting a fair international order. Can India use the summit to advance peace and development?
Courtesy: The Economic Times
“Economic D-Day”, recently announced by the U.S. Trump administration, will put additional sanctions on any party which facilitates any activity with Iran. India, Iraq, Turkey, and the UAE could be affected. But ironically China, the biggest supporter of Iran’s regime, may be off the hook given the deep mutual over-reliance with the U.S. and the risk that further sanctions on China could put the global financial system in jeopardy.
Courtesy: X / @MEAIndia
As 25 years of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) culminate in Bishkek, India waits intently, assessing the SCO's development. With PM Modi representing India from August 31–September 1, 2026, having previously chaired the SCO Council of Heads of Government in 2020, the forthcoming summit should provide an opportunity for the Indian delegation to take stock of the current status of previous initiatives and their advancements.
Courtesy: AFP
The Mecca Accord between Saudi Arabia, Turkiye and Pakistan has raised some red flags in the region, and in India. One element remains unchanged: India’s value to Riyadh as an energy importer. With demand security holding more weight than supply security in an uncertain future, a major and growing oil importer like India is more important than the cash-for-security arrangement the Kingdom has signed with Pakistan.
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As Israel readies for its national elections in October, a new actor has stepped into the national scene and will likely influence the polling. This is the Israeli-Jewish diaspora, which comes in all dimensions of Judaism and democracy. For the first time, they feel the need to actively cast their vote, given its criticality and the yearning for political change.
Courtesy: X / @USAmbIndia
The proposed Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) between India and the U.S. aims to enhance trade relations by reducing barriers and increasing cooperation in various sectors. But negotiations have reached an impasse largely due to the tariffs implemented during Trump's second administration. India is maintaining a firm stance on key issues rather than softening its position.