Courtesy: Reuters
A new troika is on the rise: India, France and Brazil, led by Modi, Macron and Lula. They were present at the AI Impact Summit in New Delhi on February 20, representing the three largest democracies in Latin America, Asia, and Europe. Can their mutual understanding and global influence bring prosperity and resilience to their economies and strengthen their cooperation in addressing global challenges?
Courtesy: Bayerischer Rundfunk
During the week of the Munich Security Conference, Munich transformed into a temporary capital of global diplomacy. Gateway House participated and hosted a Side Event, “Multipolarity without Multilateralism: India, Europe and the Future of Global Order” on February 14. This diary captures observations from the conference and the city, reflecting on Europe’s evolving priorities and how the continent assesses its role in an increasingly fragmented world.
Courtesy: Gateway House
In February 2026, India and the U.S. announced an Interim Trade Agreement framework, advancing toward a full bilateral trade pact and deeper economic integration. Beyond government ties, the relationship is increasingly shaped by supply chains and diaspora influence. Now over five million strong, the Indian diaspora plays a pivotal role across technology, finance, and innovation, creating new pathways for cooperation in a rapidly transforming global order.
Courtesy: ANI
The Myanmar military coup of 1 February 2021 derailed a decade-long experiment in limited democracy, triggering violent resistance, armed conflict, fragmentation, and humanitarian crises. As instability deepens and global attention wanes, Myanmar’s turmoil carries significant implications for India, particularly along the border regions. With China’s growing footprint and ASEAN’s limited mediation, India must carefully navigate its Act East and Indo-Pacific strategies while sustaining people-to-people ties.
Courtesy: ANI
From 7-8 February, Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Malaysia to review the current state of bilateral ties and explore new avenues of cooperation. The focus was to deepen and diversify the economic dimension of the engagement. Two factors will help achieve this: Malaysia’s role in the ASEAN–India Trade in Goods Agreement review, and India’s enhanced negotiating weight following the signing of recent Free Trade Agreements. Both sides must now translate intent into action.
Courtesy: Debarpan Das
Over the last few decades, countries have stopped, delayed, or withheld their UN dues. The UN’s increasing financial needs have led to the acceptance of “voluntary” contributions. Those which come from any entities or individuals and are now its largest income stream. The biggest of these donors are the global philanthropies, which often have differing agendas from the UN’s responsibilities. This report studies these contributions and examines the linkages between donor priorities and UN mandates.
Courtesy: Gateway House
On January 7, 2026, the U.S. government announced its withdrawal from 31 UN organisations. This is a shock to the UN system. Several other countries have halted or only partially paid their dues over the years, creating a major funding gap. To cover for it, the UN has turned to “voluntary contributions” which come from philanthropic and private actors. Their misaligned mandates are distorting UN priorities.
Courtesy: Niamul Rifat
In less than a week, on 12 February, Bangladesh will witness one of its most consequential parliamentary elections. The same day, the people of Bangladesh will also vote on a referendum that seeks to overhaul the country’s governance structure. The outcome of both, whichever way they turn out, is likely to pull Bangladesh into a vortex of political turmoil.
Courtesy: Gateway House
Mumbai’s oldest sports club, the Bombay Gymkhana, is celebrating 150 years of its existence. Its legacy as a central gymkhana for all sports in the city is reflected in the year-round sports events in which the Club has a continuous presence, such as cricket, rugby, football, squash, tennis, badminton, swimming, and billiards. Its biggest achievement is putting India on the international calendar for cricket and rugby.
Courtesy: DD News
By signing the EU-India Free Trade Agreement on January 27, the ties that bind India and the European collective have been re-energised. They are now set to reach new heights, while overcoming past hesitations and divergences.