Policy UpdateHimanshi Singh Background The old buyer-seller connection has given way to a comprehensive strategic partnership in the bilateral relationship between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and India. India signed a deal with the Kingdom to create the Strategic Partnership…
India-ASEAN relations have grown into one of the central drivers of Indo-Pacific stability and economic integration. Over three decades, bilateral engagement has moved from early dialogue mechanisms to a full Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.This evolution began with India's inclusion as a Sectoral Partner in 1992, a step that signaled New Delhi's turn toward Southeast Asia following its domestic economic reforms. India was elevated to Full Dialogue Partner status in 1996, which laid the groundwork for annual summit-level interactions established in 2002.The relationship reached formal Strategic Partnership status in 2012 at the Commemorative Summit in New Delhi, and was elevated further to Comprehensive Strategic Partnership status at the 19th ASEAN-India Summit in Phnom Penh in 2022.
Following the outbreak of a US-Israel military campaign against Iran on 28 February 2026, Iranian forces declared the Strait of Hormuz "closed", attacking merchant vessels and laying sea mines to enforce the blockade (Wikipedia contributors, 2026a).
India and the United Kingdom share a long-standing relationship rooted in historical connections, cultural ties, democratic values, and growing economic cooperation. Over the years, this relationship has evolved into a comprehensive strategic partnership driven by shared interests in trade, technology, security, climate action, education, and innovation.
Policy UpdateKavin Adithya C.B. Background The paradigm shift towards sustainable energy sources and electric mobility has significantly increased the significance of several natural resources. Hydrocarbons, in particular oil and natural gas, were at the centre of geopolitical confrontations during the…
India has undergone a significant change especially in the defence sector over the past few years mainly due to important indigenous manufacturing schemes like the Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan and the Make In India initiative. The main objective of such initiatives is to reduce dependence on imported defence equipment and raw materials while at the same time, strengthening domestic manufacturing capabilities and India’s most priced foreign policy principle, Strategic Autonomy.Defence-grade steel is a strategic resource as it is essential for manufacturing critical military platforms such as warships, submarines, armoured vehicles, and missiles.
The India-Philippines Brahmos Missile Agreement is known to be one of the major landmark developments in India’s development as a credible Defence exporter and strategic security partner in South-East Asia. The agreement, being signed in 2022 through a contract worth approximately 375 million dollars, marked India’s first ever export of the BrahMOS missile cruise system. The implementation phase gained momentum during 2024-2026 with the successful delivery of missile batteries, deployment support, operator training and sustained bilateral defence cooperation. The agreement also further reflects India’s broader objective of combining defence manufacturing capabilities with foreign policy to strengthen strategic partnerships under the Act East Policy and the vision of the Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR).