A Decade of Modi’s Foreign Policy: From Aspiration to Assertion
A day might be a long time in politics, but in foreign policy, even a decade is usually not long enough to merit a serious appraisal.
Harsh V Pant
Professor of International Relations at King’s College London and Director of Research at Observer Research Foundation (ORF), New Delhi.
Navigating China’s Indian Ocean Ambitions: Mohamed Muizzu’s Role in Malé
Mohamed Muizzu is helping Beijing expand its presence in the Indian Ocean
India’s Nuclear Deterrence Advancement: The Strategic Impact of MIRV Technology
The Agni-5 ballistic missile test dubbed the “Divyastra”, that was conducted by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), is strategically consequential. With a range of over 5,000 kilometres, the Agni-5 is the longest-range missile India has tested so far. But it is not simply its range but, equally, its potency which represents a watershed moment for India’s nuclear deterrent. The potency of India’s nuclear deterrent is enhanced because this variant is integrated with Multiple Independently Targetable Re-entry Vehicles (MIRVs).
The Maldives’ China Tilt: Implications for Regional Security
Last week, the Maldives and China signed a defence pact "on China's provision of military assistance gratis to the Republic of Maldives", underlining Male's continued shift away from India under the government of President Mohamed Muizzu.
A New Chapter? Developments in Russia-North Korea Relations
This is a partnership that has been forged amid common challenges and shared strategic objectives.
Navigating the New Norm: China’s Assertiveness and India’s Response Reshaping Asian Geopolitics
On India’s part, it has stood up to the China challenge on several fronts.
At the 2024 iteration of Raisina Dialogue, Asia’s premier conference on geopolitics, China featured prominently in the discussions, given that there has been a tense standoff at the border between the Indian and Chinese armies for nearly four years. The clashes between the two armies in Galwan in 2020, which resulted in fatalities of on both sides, is an important turning point in the relations between the two Asian powers. Foreign minister S Jaishankar deconstructed China’s approach in dealing with India. He said that while China tried to change the status quo at the border in the process violating the agreements to which it is a signatory, it was trying to stymie India’s bid to get a permanent seat in the UN Security Council. The minister alluded to China deploying mind games to resolve border issues with India, but that the breakthrough would come about only if other powers were kept at bay. Underlining India’s response to these developments, Jaishankar stated that India would not let a competitor curtail its policy choices, and that his government would look to make use of the international system for the best outcome.