Courtesy: Department of International Relations and Cooperation, SA (DIRCO)
The U.S. will host the 2026 G20 Summit on December 14-15, but South Africa is not invited – a departure from G20 norms and a rebuff to Africa, the Global South, and the G20 itself. Its historic term as the first African presidency in 2025 ended on a mixed note: despite a successful summit, tensions with the U.S. and fears of retreat from Global South priorities left a mark.
Courtesy: Foreign Affairs
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.
Courtesy: Sri Lanka PMD
After a remarkable recovery from a very deep crisis in 2022, Sri Lanka’s recent budget for 2026 consolidates economic stabilisation and introduces a few markers for further growth. But more needs to be done to embed a growth strategy and transform its economy to avoid further IMF austerity programmes.
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: X (@rashtrapatibhvn)
India hosted Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto on a four-day state visit and as chief guest for its 76th Republic Day. The bilateral is now going beyond civilisational commonalities. Tourism, trade and connectivity are central themes, as is defence and maritime security cooperation with India. A robust India-Indonesia partnership can help both nations achieve shared goals in the Indo-Pacific.
Courtesy: Bloomberg
Bangladesh faces an energy crisis due to increasing prices, depleting foreign exchange reserves and political instability. Amit Bhandari, Senior Fellow, Energy, Investment and Connectivity, Gateway House, speaks with Rayhan Rashid on an episode of the South Asia Democratic Forum’s podcast on challenges affecting Bangladesh’s energy sector and potential solutions such as diversification of energy sources, a shift toward low-carbon energy production, and regional integration.
Courtesy: UNESCO
India and China are the world’s most populous countries, with much in common and much divergence. Reform, discipline, long-term thinking and scale brought China to its present near first-world conditions; India is accommodative with its democracy, cultural diversity and all-round religiosity to achieve development, wealth creation, cultural preservation and self-respect. There’s a great deal that the two Asian giants can learn from each other.
Courtesy: The Diplomat
Managing ties with the U.S., China, Russia, and those within its South Asian neighbourhood will be India’s key foreign policy priorities in 2025. For India to be a principal player in the region and beyond, it must skillfully weave national security, economic, and diplomacy into its strategic calculations.
Courtesy:
India and Indonesia have a comprehensive strategic relationship built on their ancient and modern histories, and a flourishing relationship sustained by trade, economic exchange and people-to-people contact. Manjeet Kripalani, Executive Director, Gateway House and Yose Rizal Damuri, Executive Director, Centre for Strategic and International Studies-Indonesia, speak with India Today Global on the India-Indonesia strategic relationship and the potential for bilateral and regional cooperation between the two countries.
Courtesy: The Hindu
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s six-day visit to Nigeria, Brazil, and Guyana in November resulted in several bilateral agreements on economic, developmental, energy and technological cooperation. The trip highlighted India’s strategic and diplomatic priorities in Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean and offered the country an opportunity to position itself as a key partner for sustainable development and multilateral cooperation in the Global South.