Untitled design (10) Courtesy: Foreign Affairs
15 January 2026

How Strong are The Strongmen?

BY Stephen Kotnik

Not long ago in the sweep of history, countries that had once been buried behind the Iron Curtain, and even some Soviet republics, were transformed into members of the solidly democratic club. Some of those that weren’t, such as Ukraine, Georgia, and Kyrgyzstan, experienced mass revolts against rigged elections and corrupt misrule amid widespread public yearning to join the West. Free trade was again celebrated as an instrument of peace; Kant’s “democratic peace theory” enjoyed a revival.

Website articles (2) Courtesy: Atlantic Council
6 November 2025

Trump’s Asia tour redefines China approach

BY

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.

AFP (1) Courtesy: ANI
16 October 2025

Uncertainty around the Quad

BY

The Quad summit is expected to be hosted by India in the second half of 2025, possibly in November. However, the grouping faces turbulence that transcends the current flow of India-U.S. relations. The relevance of Australia and Japan, too, needs to be factored in. Beijing considers the Quad as “the Asian NATO” that aims to contain China. Since the commencement of Trump 2.0, the grouping has been struggling to redefine its role and mandate.

PIB Courtesy: PIB
4 September 2025

What the China-India readouts mean

BY

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s visit to India comes after three years, and the outcomes from it throw up interesting issues. Three read-outs issued from this visit. One from the Chinese side and two from the Indian side. The diverse nature of the India and Chinese read-outs is striking. Certainly the visit yielded benefits; the test lies in the deliverables.

X @Narendra Modi Courtesy: X / @narendramodi
4 September 2025

Modi in Japan: a larger Asia mission

BY

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Japan is significant for India domestically and its extended Asian influence. His visit, just prior to the SCO Summit in China, represents a shrewd endeavour at balancing the several priorities of Indian foreign policy

Inc42 Courtesy: Defense News
26 June 2025

Drones are the game-changer

BY

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.

Mark Carney Win Courtesy: AFP
30 April 2025

Canada’s challenges ahead

BY

The victory of Mark Carney and the Liberals in the Canadian elections is a turnaround from the party's diminished position just four months ago. The former banker's campaign ran on a strong, independent Canada able to stand up to the new U.S. administration’s tariff provocations. Now come the challenges. The Carney government has much work to do in rebuilding ties abroad and bridging Canada's internal divisions.

Bandung conference (3) Courtesy: PTI
24 April 2025

Bandung Principles and the path ahead

BY

Amid polycrises, from pandemics to wars and trade wars, the global order is in flux, with the contours of the new order still unclear. As the world marks the 70th anniversary of the historic Bandung Conference, this article analyses how its Ten Principles still resonate in today's fractured geopolitical landscape and offer a roadmap for equity, inclusivity, and balance.

Screenshot 2025-03-25 111538 Courtesy:
27 March 2025

Is U.S. reset with Russia due to the China factor?

BY

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.

South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa walks past G20 member flags as he is welcomed by Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to the G20 Summit in Osaka on June 28, 2019. (Photo by Ludovic MARIN / POOL / AFP) (Photo credit should read LUDOVIC MARIN/AFP via Getty Images) Courtesy: Institute for Global Dialogue
13 March 2025

G20 ship in choppy waters: will it make it?

BY

The G20 and South Africa - its presiding nation - will both face a difficult year. The U.S., one of the G20’s most vital members has not yet participated, notable by its absence from two important ministerial meetings. The U.S.’ changed foreign policy stance will be a tough challenge for G20; the Global South members will have to step up and become proactive.