Category Center for International Relations and Strategic Studies

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India–Australia Critical Minerals Partnership: Building Resilient Supply Chains through Strategic Cooperation (2025-2026)

Critical Minerals such as Lithium, Cobalt, Nickel, Graphite and rare earth minerals have become indispensable for clean energy technologies, electric vehicles, semiconductors, defence manufacturing and advanced digital industries. Securing access to these minerals has emerged as one of the strategic priorities of many countries, as global supply chains have become vulnerable to geopolitical tensions. India and Australia have consequently deepened their cooperation, recognising that Australia's abundant mineral reserves complement India's expanding manufacturing sector and ambitious energy transition goals. 

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India and Oman Strategic Partnership 2026: Jaishankar’s 2026 Visit and Maritime Cooperation in the Indian Ocean

India and Oman share one of India's oldest and most strategically significant relationships in the Gulf and Indian Ocean region. Their historical connections go back centuries, while formal diplomatic relations were established in 1955. Bilateral relations were elevated to a Strategic Partnership in 2008, reflecting the growing importance of defence, maritime security, trade and regional cooperation. Oman occupies a particularly important position in India's West Asia policy because of its location at the entrance to the Gulf and close to major Indian Ocean sea lanes.

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India’s Campaign for the UN Security Council (2028–2029): Jaishankar’s Diplomatic Outreach at the United Nations (2026)

On 13 July 2026, India officially launched its campaign for a non-permament seat on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for the term 2028-2029. External Affairs minister, Dr. S. Jaishankar inaugurated the campaign at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, highlighting India’s long standing commitment to multilateralism, international peace and the reform of global governance institutions. The campaign reflects India’s objective of contributing constructively to international peace and security while representing the interests of the developing world. 

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Suvidha Vehicle Facilitation System (2022): Digitalising Cross-Border Trade and Border Governance at India-Bangladesh Land Ports in West Bengal

Policy UpdateDolly Kaushik This paper examines the Suvidha portal through the lens of collaborative governance and networked public administration. Traditional models of border management have historically relied on hierarchical control, separating security imperatives from commercial facilitation across rigid bureaucratic silos.…

Ameya Satam

Security Chiefs’ BIMSTEC Meeting, Delhi, 2026: Securing Supply Chains and Multi-Domain Defence

On 6th June, 1997, BIST-EC (Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka and Thailand) was created as a regional organization via the Bangkok Declaration (Shetty, 2026). It advanced into what today is known as the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) when Myanmar was admitted in December 1997, and Bhutan and Nepal in February 2004 (Shetty, 2026). BIMSTEC is a regional organization formed by seven member states - Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Myanmar and Thailand. Through this organization, all these countries that are located in the waters and adjacent areas of the Bay of Bengal represent their lineal unity in the region.

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India–Republic of Korea Strategic Cooperation: Insights from the 6th Foreign Policy and Security Dialogue (2026)

Policy UpdateKavin Adithya C.B. Background The India-Republic of Korea (ROK) Foreign Policy and Security Dialogue (FPSD) is a formal bilateral mechanism established in 2010 following the elevation of India-ROK relations to a Strategic Partnership. This dialogue was further reinforced when…

Pragya

India–US TRUST Initiative (2025)

The Transforming the Relationship Utilizing Strategic Technology (TRUST) Initiative was announced during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s working visit to Washington, D.C., on 13 February 2025 during the second term of President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi reaffirmed the India–US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership, emphasising mutual trust, shared interests, technological cooperation, and closer ties between the two countries.

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