Frank Winser Courtesy: International House
6 March 2025

Obituary: Frank G. Wisner (1938-2025)

Frank G. Wisner was the most consequential U.S. ambassador to post liberalisation India. He used his three years in India to put the economic and commercial elements into the heart of the bilateral. He had friends on both sides of the aisle in India. He was an astute diplomat, but also accessible, making everyone feel comfortable regardless of their hierarchy in business or in official circles.

Quad meeting Courtesy: X
13 February 2025

Where is the Quad heading in 2025?

The first plurilateral meeting attended by new U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio was the Quad, a day after assuming office. The meeting reinforced the commitment to the Indo-Pacific but with the change in government, the Quad's trajectory in 2025 remains a question. Part of the answer lies in its past interactions, while the rest depends on how the U.S. and India will approach China.

Reuters Courtesy: Reuters
11 February 2025

Modi negotiates with Washington

India and the U.S. have a big agenda, bilaterally and geopolitically, to discuss when Prime Minister Narendra Modi and U.S. President Donald Trump meet in Washington on Feb 12-13. Trade, China and migration are central points of discussion. So will ensuring that Trump allies with India on its neighbourhood as an area of common concern. The big election win in New Delhi will strengthen Modi’s negotiating hand.

Turkstreampipe Courtesy: President of Russia-Events website
30 January 2025

LNG: winners and victims

Europe has reduced its reliance on Russian gas following the war in Ukraine, and its chief supplier Russia is mired in western sanctions. What does it mean for Russia? It has certainly changed the fortunes for American gas to be sold to Europe: as of 2023, the US had become the world’s top exporter of gas.

Modi trump - Newsweek Courtesy: Newsweek
30 January 2025

What Trump 2.0 means for India

U.S. President Donald Trump is back for a second term, and India and the U.S. together have much to gain from it. The bilateral has grown tremendously over the decades, with technology, scientific and trade ties deepening and expanding. Also, both countries have a common interest in addressing the ascent and bullying tactics of China.

Map-2-International-Trade Courtesy: Oxford University Press
23 January 2025

The ancient precursor to IMEC

The India Middle-East Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) announced during India’s G20 leaders’ summit in September 2023 aims at security and ease of connectivity by multi-modal physical, digital and energy corridors connecting India, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Israel, and Europe. Like many of the connectivity projects created around the world today, IMEC’s origins are 2,300 years old, ancient routes that connected the Indian Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea

trump Courtesy: Indian Express
16 January 2025

Détente for hegemony

On January 20, when the U.S. gets a new president, he will face a world of changed alliances. China at the high table and newly aligned with Russia, which is separated from its European cousins, two wars and a G2-leaning global economy. Will Donald Trump revert to the days of ‘détente’ or continue the ‘neocon’ policies in vogue, to maintain U.S. hegemony?

trump mideast Courtesy:
5 December 2024

A new U.S.-Middle East diplomatic landscape

Donald Trump has re-entered Washington with the backing of a solid political base, a redefined Republican Party, and a more seasoned presence on the international stage, including in the Middle East. Since his last imprint on that region in 2016, 2024 presents significant shifts: alliances redefined, regional power dynamics realigned, trade networks transformed, and urgent security challenges restructured. These changes demand strategic recalibration from all stakeholders.

240730-trump-harris-al-0828-b83c20 Courtesy:
5 September 2024

Ideological differences dominate America’s election

The U.S. presidential election campaign has produced two stunning developments: the attempted assassination of Trump and the withdrawal of Biden, under severe pressure from leaders of the Democratic Party. Putting optics aside, observers should focus on the ideological differences between the two candidates Kamala Harris and Donald Trump, which will be on display on Sept. 10 when they debate the issues.