From WTO to FTAs: India’s Evolving Trade Priorities Amid Institutional Breakdown and Geopolitical Fragmentation
Abstract Over the past three decades, India’s engagement with the global trading order has experienced a structural transformation. Following the economic liberalisation of July 1991 and India’s accession to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) on 1 January 1995, the trade-to-GDP ratio rose from approximately 15 per cent in 1990 to 27 per cent by 2000, […]
Nepal’s Electoral Revolution in a South Asian Mirror
Nepal’s Electoral Revolution in a South Asian Mirror Abstract In March 2026, Nepal’s Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) achieved a historic electoral victory, capturing 182 of 275 seats in the parliamentary elections held after the September 2025 Gen Z uprising. The youth-led movement ousted Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli’s government, resulted in 76 deaths, and led […]
From framework to force multiplier: the real test of the EU–India defence pact
From framework to force multiplier: the real test of the EU–India defence pact The signing of the EU–India Security and Defence Partnership at the January 26-27 2026 bilateral summit marks the formal consolidation of a security relationship that has long existed in practice but remained structurally underdeveloped. The agreement codifies a broad spectrum of cooperation […]
Issue Brief on the Ports of the Future
Quad Ports of the Future Partnership A Framework for Indo-Pacific Port Development Core Argument The Quad Ports of the Future Partnership will build on the strengths of four governments with differing capacities but all geared to use technology to promote cooperative outcomes in the Indo-Pacific. The Quad governments will promote interoperable systems and enforcement capacity […]
Between Instability and Interdependence: India–Bangladesh Relations after 2024
Between Instability and Interdependence: India–Bangladesh Relations after 2024 India–Bangladesh relations are undergoing a period of pronounced stress, shaped by political transition in Dhaka, rising societal tensions, and growing strategic uncertainty in the region. While institutional cooperation between the two countries remains intact, the political and societal dimensions of the relationship have come under renewed strain. […]
Modernising Ports and Logistical Operations
Modernising Ports and Logistical Operations In early 2025, the Port of Los Angeles launched its fully integrated “Digital Twin Operations Hub,” it marked more than just an upgrade in infrastructure, it signaled a global transformation in how ports and their administrators adapt, manage, operate, and compete. Across the Indo-Pacific, India’s Jawaharlal Nehru Port, Singapore’s Tuas […]
Maritime Partnerships in the Indo-Pacific: Regional Convergence and Strategic Divergence
Maritime Partnerships in the Indo-Pacific: Regional Convergence and Strategic Divergence India’s evolving maritime diplomacy in the context of the October 2025 maritime week in Mumbai reflects the nation’s strategic imperative to balance economic opportunities with security concerns across the Indo-Pacific. The examination of bilateral partnerships with Singapore, Philippines, South Korea, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam […]
Taliban in Town: India’s Diplomatic Tightrope
Taliban in Town: India’s Diplomatic Tightrope Introduction Afghanistan’s Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi’s October 2025 visit to New Delhi is best read as a calibrated diplomatic step within India’s broader strategy toward Afghanistan. It underscores New Delhi’s intent to engage pragmatically with the Taliban regime to safeguard its strategic, security, and humanitarian interests, without extending […]
Votes, Violence, and Valuable Minerals: Myanmar’s Elections Amidst Civil War and Rare Earths Race
Votes, Violence, and Valuable Minerals: Myanmar’s Elections Amidst Civil War and Rare Earths Race The world depends on China for its critical minerals needs but China, in turn, depends on a remote state in war-torn Myanmar. Myanmar holds one of the world’s largest reserves of heavy rare earth elements (HREE), supplying 57% of China’s total […]
Undersea Cables, Digital Connectivity and Maritime Operations
Undersea Cables, Digital Connectivity and Maritime Operations The Indo-Pacific region anchors the world’s digital connectivity, underpinning economic vitality, public communication, intelligence sharing, and strategic military operations through a vast network of undersea cables. Undersea cables are the backbone of global digital connectivity, transmitting over 95% of all international data traffic, surpassing the capacity and cost-effectiveness […]