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: shutterstock / Allahfoto
The embargo on rare-earth magnets by China reflects a gap in India’s critical mineral supply chain. India should reduce the need for these minerals by promoting green hydrogen.
Courtesy: Nayanima Basu
Thailand is often associated with its stunning beaches and vibrant nightlife. However, a visit to the country’s historic past, from the ancient kingdoms of Sukhothai and Ayutthaya to its role in the second World War, reveals how much Thailand has for those interested in history and culture.
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The Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Washington on 1 July, 2025, underscored the importance of diversified and reliable global supply chains, especially for critical minerals. A Gateway House report shows how to strengthen supply chains for rare earths by creating deep financial markets similar to those that exist for bullion and oil.
Courtesy: Gateway House
A slowdown of the Chinese economy, and the shift, particularly by MNCs, from China to other more competitive locations has opened up business opportunities for latecomers to supply chains in the developing world. Evidence suggests that Southeast Asia and some South Asian countries like India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, could be beneficiaries of the supply chain shift, particularly in labour-intensive segments.
Courtesy: Gateway House
As part of India’s diplomatic outreach after Operation Sindoor, Ambassador Manjeev Singh Puri and his delegation visited Spain, Greece, Slovenia, Latvia and Russia. He spoke to Gateway House on how the thinking of countries needs to coalesce so that the global gaze is not just on terrorism but on Pakistan, which should be pressured to understand that the price for terrorism is far beyond what it can afford.
Courtesy: The China-Global South Podcast
In the current era of geopolitical uncertainty, the Middle Power states are deepening engagement with countries of the Global South while reducing their exposure to the U.S. and China. Manjeet Kripalani and Carlos Coelho spoke to Eric and Cobus from The China-Global South Podcast, on how countries like India and Brazil are navigating this increasingly contested world.
Courtesy: New Spotlight Magazine
Building a robust engagement with India on energy can help offset some of the economic and political crises that most of India’s neighbours are facing. Smaller South Asian neighbours will benefit from cheaper electricity and oil, paving the way for greater regional economic cooperation.
Courtesy: U.S. Embassy & Consulates in India
The July 2 meeting of the QUAD foreign ministers in Washington, D.C., restated all the commitments of the grouping, including a condemnation of the April 22 terrorist attacks on Pahalgam. Yet, none of the QUAD countries actually came to the aid of India, despite China being a present player in the fight, in full support of its partner Pakistan.