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The World This Week
Xi's visit to Saudi Arabia and Peru's political instability
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TWTW#193, 11 December 2022, Vol. 4, No. 42
China: President Xi's visit to Saudi Arabia hints at Beijing's pivot to the Middle East
Avishka Ashok
What happened?
On 8 December, China’s President Xi Jinping landed in Saudi Arabia for a three-day-long state visit. Chinese media claimed the visit was the country’s “biggest diplomatic initiative in the Arab world.” Xi Jinping signed a comprehensive strategic partnership agreement with Saudi Arabia and a series of investments and energy resources deals. Both countries signed 34 agreements on the following areas: information technology, genetics, mining, hydrogen energy and manufacturing. The Chinese delegation also agreed to set up an electric vehicle plant in Saudi Arabia. It also includes Huawei being allowed to provide cloud computing services and building high-tech complexes in Saudi Arabian cities.
On Iran, Xi agreed with the Arab concerns while Saudi officials agreed with Beijing’s one-China principle.
Xi engaged in two other summits during his visit to Riyadh: the China-Saudi-GCC Summit for Cooperation and Development and the Saudi-Arab-China Summit for Cooperation and Development. On 9 December, Xi Jinping met the Arab leaders from the Gulf, Africa and the Levant at a summit hosted by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. He also held bilateral meetings with the Kuwait Crown Prince, Egyptian President, Iraqi Prime Minister, Sudanese leader, and Palestinian President. He stressed on the importance of stability in the oil markets. Xi said: “China will continue to firmly support the GCC countries in maintaining their own security and build a collective security framework for the Gulf. China will continue to import large quantities of crude oil from GCC countries on an ongoing basis.” More importantly, Xi announced that China would buy oil and gas in yuan instead of the US dollar.
What is the background?
First, China and Saudi Arabia relations. China, the second largest economy, has an incessant demand for petroleum products such as crude oil and LNG. To keep up with its growth rate, China depends heavily on the Middle East and Africa for its energy imports. Saudi Arabia exports almost half of China’s oil imports. The country also views China as a lavish spender and investor. Saudi Arabia looks up to China in the field of technological advancements. Riyadh will spend over USD 24.7 billion on secure, efficient and accountable digital platforms by 2025. China has been lauded as a “natural partner” for Saudi Arabia’s emerging science and technology industry.
Second, Saudi Arabia’s interests in China. Saudi’s deepening relationship with China results from the country’s leadership, who aim to move away from any form of polarisation of the international order. Saudi Arabia wants to create strong bilateral relationships with all big powers and maintain a balanced relations to protect its interests. While China replaced the US as Saudi’s export destination in 2017, Riyadh became the top invested country in the Arab world with 20.3 per cent of Chinese investments in the 2005-2020 period. The Saudi leadership is also looking forward to moving away from the US after the frigid interaction between Joe Biden and the Crown Prince in July 2022. Despite being a US ally in the Middle East, the Kingdom’s growing proximity with China is a change in the US-Saudi relationship.
Third, China’s engagement with the Middle East. Compared to China’s involvement in other continents such as Africa and Southeast Asia, Beijing’s involvement in the Middle East has been slow to catch up. Relations with the Arab countries started picking up with the Belt and Road Initiative and comparatively low-key deals signed between countries. However, China’s engagements with the Gulf states have attracted attention in the past few decades. In 2014, Xi promised to double China’s engagement with Arab countries by 2023. In January 2022, China hosted the Arab Gulf Foreign Ministers in Beijing to discuss issues of common interest and deepen relations. In November 2022, China’s state-owned Sinopec signed a USD 60 billion deal with QatarEnergy for a period of 27 years. It has also signed a series of agreements with Iran worth USD 400 billion and Israel worth USD 18 billion on ports, transportation, railways, telecommunication, renewable energy and pharmaceuticals.
Fourth, China’s desire to replace the dollar with the yuan. In the furtherance of its end goal of replacing the US as the world’s superpower, China has been pushing for trading in the Chinese currency instead of the US dollar. To be accepted as the global currency, central banks must possess over USD 700 billion worth of yuan in forex reserves. In 2015, 18 local financial institutions in China and 17 Russian institutions agreed to establish an efficient payment mechanism to assist the trade between the countries. In the same year, the yuan was awarded the status of a reserve currency by the IMF. China has since been pushing for contracts which use the yuan as the trading currency. China once again pushed for an alternative payment system during the Shanghai Cooperation Organization’s summit in Uzbekistan in September 2022. As of September 2022, Russian businesses also opted to use the yuan to settle their payments, resulting in a boost in the yuan’s borrowing.
What does it mean?
The increasing Chinese involvement in the Middle East is a cause of concern for the US and Russia. Media sources comparing the US President Joe Biden’s visit to Saudi Arabia in July 2022 observe a massive change in the Kingdom’s approach. Analysts hint at a growing discomfort between the US and Saudi Arabia’s relations, caused by the Jamal Khashoggi’s murder, the human rights issues and its energy policies.
The deepening relations between China and the GCC are also a cause of concern for Russia as it competes with the Gulf to sell oil to its largest customer. It has already been offering big discounts after the Ukraine war; competing with the Gulf may become deeply disadvantageous for Russia.
Peru: Political instability following Pedro Castillo's impeachment
Madhura Mahesh
What happened?
On 07 December, President Pedro Castillo, ahead of the trial announced that he would be dissolving the congress “by decree.” The opposition, members of his party, the armed forces and the federal police condemned this decision. Ministers from his party resigned from their offices and the Supreme Court of Peru termed this move unconstitutional.
Congress convened two hours later to begin the impeachment trial and with 101 votes in favour, 6 against and 10 abstentions, Castillo was impeached from power. In his place, Vice President Dina Boluarte was sworn in as the first female President of Peru. She called for "a political truce to install a government of national unity." Castillo was then arrested from the presidential palace on a “rebellion” charge for trying to violate the constitution.
What is the background?
First, the structure of the Peruvian Government. The Government of Peru is a semi-presidential form of government with a multiparty system. It is divided into three branches: executive, legislature, and judiciary. Peru’s legislature or the Peruvian Congress is a unicameral body with 130 legislators elected through a proportional representation for five years. The legislature is led by the President of Congress who is elected by the members and is usually from the ruling party. The executive is led by the President of Peru who is the head of state and government. The executive consists of the President, two Vice Presidents, a Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers which are appointed by the President. President Pedro Castillo was elected in June 2021 and in his term, he shuffled his cabinet five times. The congress is held by the opposition and has always clashed with Castillo and his ministers.
Second, differences between the legislature and the executive. The current governmental structure was introduced in Peru in 1993. Since 1999, with the impeachment of former President Alberto Fujimori, the Congress and the Executive have always clashed. Since 2016, Peru has seen six Presidents assume office who have either been impeached or have dissolved the Congress and called for fresh elections. After Castillo came to power with more than 50 per cent of the total votes in 2021, he has clashed with the legislature controlled by the opposition on many accounts. The Congress has accused Castillo on multiple occasions of corruption and economically benefiting from his Presidency. As of 7 December, Castillo has five open criminal investigations and a constitutional complaint accusing him of leading a criminal organisation in the government.
Third, prior impeachment attempts. The impeachment motion passed on 2 December was the third impeachment motion tabled in Congress against Castillo. The first impeachment attempt was in December 2021 on the on the account of illicit financing of the ruling party and the second attempt was in March 2022 on the accusation of “permanent moral incapacity.” Both these attempts failed as the opposition did not garner enough support for the motion to pass, that is, 87 votes in favour of the procedure.
What does it mean?
First, the continued dominance of Congress. Congress being an independent body in the government has the power to not only make laws but also to remove the President. Since 1999, the Congress has played a major role in the appointment and removal of Presidents. Here Bolurate was appointed by the Congress but currently does not have concrete support of her party or the opposition. Her reign as the President will likely be dictated by the Congress unless she calls for fresh elections.
Second, the unstable nature of Peruvian politics. Since the constitution was formally introduced in 1993, the Peruvian political landscape has been dynamic and unstable. Presidents and Ministers in Peru have been involved in scandals, corruption, and human rights violations. The impeachment of Castillo brings out this tumultuous nature of Peruvian politics to light.
Also in the news...
Regional round-ups
East and Southeast Asia This Week
China: CPC withdraws the zero-COVID policy and introduces new norms for pandemic control
On 4 December, in continuation of the protests in China, students at Wuhan University gathered outside the administrative block and called for an open process and information transparency. The students protested against the zero-COVID policy of the Chinese government and expressed their discontent with the confusing regulations on returning to their hometowns. The numerous protests in cities across the country resulted in an emergency meeting where the authorities agreed to ease the COVID-19 restrictions. The World Health Organization (WHO) Emergencies Director Dr Michael Ryan appreciated China’s decision to loosen its policy. On 7 December, China’s National Health Commission released a 10-point announcement withdrawing the zero-COVID policy and presented a new set of lenient norms to control the pandemic.
China: UN Representative calls for greater support towards disaster prevention
On 6 December, China’s Deputy Permanent Representative at the United Nations Geng Shuang addressed the General Assembly and called on the developed countries to take up more responsibilities in providing humanitarian aid and enhancing disaster prevention. Shuang urged the countries to provide support in terms of funds, technology, and disaster relief management expertise along with fulfilling their obligations on climate change. Further, he stressed on protecting vulnerable groups such as women, children, refugees and displaces persons.
Japan: House of Councilors adopts resolution on human rights violation in China
On 5 December, Japan’s House of Councilors adopted a resolution on human rights in China and expressed concerns over the violation of rights in Xinjiang, Tibet, Inner Mongolia and Hong Kong. China’s Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning referred to the resolution and reprimanded it for ignoring the basic facts, being based on disinformation and interfering in China’s internal affairs. Further, Mao pointed fingers at Japan’s aggression during the world wars and said: “Pointing fingers at other countries will not cover up Japan's past. Politicizing and instrumentalizing human rights issues to hurt China's image and stall China's development will not succeed.”
Cambodia: US questions China’s access to Ream Naval Base
On 5 December, the US administration questioned the Cambodian government on its stand over China and asked for more transparency about the latter’s access to the Ream naval base in the gulf of Thailand. US had earlier accused Thailand and China of taking extraordinary measures to cover the strategic involvement in Cambodia. Chinese construction on the Cambodian base has sparked Washington on how important the location is for China. The Ream Naval Base will be China’s first overseas base in the Indo pacific region which allows the navy to expand its reach towards the Indian Ocean. The expansion is part of China’s diversification of military capacity-building efforts.
Philippines: Cooperation renewed with South Korea over nuclear power plant
On 7 December, the Philippines renewed its cooperation with South Korea regarding the resumption of the stalled nuclear power project. The Chief of the Southeast Asia nations’ special commission on nuclear energy made the request during the meeting with the Ministry of Trade and Energy officials of South Korea. The decision was based on the project to build a nuclear power plant in the Philippines in the 1970s but was shelved owing to safety concerns. The plant was supposed to be in the vicinity of 100 kilometres west of Manila. Officials from the Philippines said the push to strengthen nuclear power generation was to deal with climate change and the energy crisis. He stressed that South Korea’s cooperation is needed to conduct further tests and the country will be the optimal partner based on the operational technologies.
South Asia This Week
Nepal: ruling coalition falls short of securing majority in parliament
On 7 December, the Election Commission of Nepal said that the country’s ruling coalition which includes Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba’s Nepal Congress fell short of securing a majority with 136 seats in the 275-member parliament. A spokesperson for the Nepali Congress (NC) said that even though the NC emerged as the party to secure the largest votes in the parliament, the result was “not in line” with their expectation and that they “had expected more.” This result entails the NC seeking support from the other 34 independent and minor party candidates in the assembly, including Rabi Lamichhane’s National Independent Party, which has long campaigned against the NC-led government’s corruption in the country.
Maldives: President says the regional alliance is vital for peace and stability
On 8 December, Maldives President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih sent felicitations in the message to the Secretary-General of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Esala Ruwan Weerakoon, the Secretariat of SAARC, institutions partnered with SAARC and the citizens of the South Asian countries on the occasion of the 38th SAARC Charter Day. Solih’s message said that the Maldives recognises the significance of adhering to regional partnerships to ensure peace and stability. He added that the Maldives’ allegiance to the value and principles of the SAARC Charter. He also expressed his hope to continue to work together to achieve progress and prosperity for the countries of the SAARC region.
Sri Lanka: World Bank approves access to concessional financing from International Development Association
On 6 December, Sri Lanka’s President Media Division (PMD) reported that the World Bank had approved Sri Lanka to access concessional financing from the International Development Association (IDA). The financing offered at minimum interest rates will help the country implement government-led programs to stabilize the economy and protect millions of people’s livelihoods. World Bank also added that the approval makes Sri Lanka an IDA country. The World Bank Vice President for Development Finance, Akihiko Nishio, said that the World Bank is committed to helping Sri Lankan people when there are needs. He also added that the World Bank is ready to support Sri Lanka in implementing reforms and helping create the foundation of sustainable growth.
Pakistan: Islamabad requests Riyadh for another cash loan; IMF ninth review at the “advanced stage”
On 7 December, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar in a meeting with Saudi Arabia’s ambassador Nawaf bin Said Al-Malki requested the country to urgently provide USD three billion in cash after the foreign exchange reserves fell to a critically low level. He also thanked the ambassador for extending the term of a USD three billion deposit in the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) by the Saudi Fund for Development (SFD). FM Dar’s request for the cash bailout is the same amount of money rollover of the previous deposit by Saudi Arabia in the SBP. Separately, the Finance Division stated that talks with the IMF on the ninth review of Pakistan’s USD seven billion Extended Fund Facility (EFF) were at the “advanced stage.” This comes as the SBP’s exchange reserves dipped to USD 784 million to a fatal four-year low of USD 6.2 billion in the week that ended on 2 December 2022.
Central Asia, Middle East and Africa This Week
Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan: Countries refuse to join Russia’s trilateral gas union
On 7 December, Uzbekistan rejected President Vladimir Putin's creation of a trilateral “natural gas union,” including Russia, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. Uzbek Energy Minister said: “We will never compromise our national interests. Even if we [agree to receive natural gas from Russia], we will proceed via commercial sales contracts. We will not allow any political conditions to be imposed in return.” Similarly, Kazakhstan also refused to join the union as the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs said: “It is too early to discuss its content because so far this is some kind of idea. But the principled position of Kazakhstan is that Kazakhstan does not allow its territory to be used to circumvent sanctions. These positions have not changed and will be used in assessing any potential new initiatives.”
Lebanon: MPs fail to elect a President, once again
On 8 December, the Lebanese Parliament failed to elect a president for the ninth time. 39 MPs voted in favour of Michel Moawad, the Hezbollah opponent, but fell short of the required majority. Hezbollah and its allies casted blank ballots and most of the MPs spoilt their ballot, resulting in the Parliament Speaker calling for another session on 15 December. Lebanon is in the midst of a political crisis, with a vacant presidential post and a cabinet that is not fully functional.
Jordan: Trilateral meeting between Jordan, Iraq and Egypt on cooperation in economy, security and politics
On 7 December, foreign ministers of Jordan, Iraq and Egypt met in Amman, as a part of the trilateral cooperation mechanism between the three countries. They discussed the potential areas of cooperation in the fields of economics, security, politics and industry. They also discussed regional issues such as the Palestinian concerns, stability in Iraq, and Turkey’s operation in Iraq and Syria against the Kurdish regions. Egypt’s foreign minister Sameh Shoukry said “the trilateral mechanism aims to strengthen the existing ties based on integration between our countries, as well as enhance economic opportunities.”
Turkey: Oil tankers stuck at strait of Bosphorus after G-7 sanctions against Russian oil
On 8 December, at least 20 oil tankers were queuing off Turkey as the G-7 sanctions were slapped on Russia. Under the sanctions the European firms and individuals will not provide financing, brokerage, shipping and insurance services to ship Russian oil elsewhere if the crude was bought above a price cap of USD 60 a barrel. India who exports Russian oil on insurance and guarantee from European firms will likely witness the waiting for oil imports in upcoming weeks, claimed Business Standard.
Eritrea: Kenyan President visits Eritrean capital Asmara in supporting peace
On 9 December, Kenyan President William Ruto began his two-day official visit to Eritrea. The visit comes following Eritrea's foreign minister's visit to Kenya the previous week; Eritrea's ministry of information said following the visit that Ruto had "expressed the need for countries in the region to work jointly for realising peace and stability as well as political and economic developments." Ruto's unexpected visit to Eritrea seeks to strengthen relations between the two countries which were stranded in the past. Meanwhile, Eritrea faces international criticism for its human rights atrocities and involvement in Ethiopia's Tigray conflict.
Sudan: Military signs agreement for a civilian transition
On 5 December, Sudan’s pro-democracy coalition Forces of Freedom and Change and the military signed an agreement to restore civilian rule in two years that would lead to an election. However, protesters in capital city Khartoum challenged the agreement and called the military to be accountable for the coup as well as the death of anti-coup protesters. The deal doesn’t cover security reforms leaving public concern that it would leave the military powerful and disrupt the democratic transition. A Forces of Freedom and Change spokesperson said: “The goals of the agreement are establishing a fully civilian authority, creating a free climate for politics, and reaching a final agreement with the widest political participation.” The African Union, Arab and western countries have been pressuring both sides for negotiations. Meanwhile, the UN and the US welcomed the agreement.
Africa: Over 95 per cent malaria infections and deaths recorded in Africa in 2021
On 8 December, the World Health Organization (WHO) released the World Malaria Report 2022 outlining that the number of deaths from malaria in 2022 had risen by 63,000 against the pre pandemic figure; in 2020 and 2021, 625,000 and 619,000 deaths were recorded respectively against the 568,000 deaths in 2019. Similarly, the number of infections also increased, at a slow pace, from 232 million cases in 2019 to 245 million in 2020 and 247 million in 2021. Africa accounted for over 95 per cent of the infections and deaths in 2021 and Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Niger and Tanzania recorded over half of global malaria casualties.
Democratic Republic of the Congo: EU sanctions eight more individuals for violence and rights abuses
On 8 December, the European Union placed eight new individuals under sanctions: five belonging to the armed groups ADF, CODECO, FDLR, Mai-Mai Yakatumba and M23; a national army official, a Congolese politician and a Belgian businessman. The EU held them responsible for the human rights violations, inciting violence through illegal exploitation and trade of natural resources, and perpetuating the conflict in the DRC's eastern region. The EU also extended sanctions previously imposed on nine individuals; all 17 persons face a travel ban and an asset freeze.
Europe and The Americas This Week
Ukraine: Foreign Minister reveals that Ukraine can use American weapons in Crimea
On 8 December, Ukrainian Foreign Minister claimed that the US does not restrict Ukraine from using American-origin weapons for their strikes in Crimea. Ukraine is obligated to a promise made to the US to refrain from striking with the equipment supplied by the US, on Russian soil. During his conversation with the Wall Street Journal, Dmitry Kuleba accused Russia of not showing interest for the peace talks while arguing that Moscow has been preparing for new battles. The US and it’s NATO allies have been providing Ukraine with large quantities of weapons and military assistance since the start of the war. In this context, experts have claimed that these supplies have blocked the scope for a peace negotiation between the two warring countries.
Russia- US: Diplomats of both countries meet at Istanbul to discuss ‘irritants’ in bilateral relations
On 9 December, on the wake of a high-profile prisoner swap between Russia and the US, it was revealed that the diplomats of Moscow and Washington held talks in Istanbul at the Valdai discussion forum. Russian Foreign Minister told that the meeting was aimed at discussing the ‘irritants,’ in the bilateral relations between the two countries and stated that it was merely a routine issue and “not an indication of resuming dialogue with the US. The word ‘irritants’ is said to refer to the functioning of the Russian diplomatic missions in the US and vice versa. The US has not made any public comments on the meeting.
Argentina: Vice President sentenced to six years in prison
On 6 December, Argentinian Vice President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner was sentenced to six years in prison under the charge of embezzling USD one billion through public works projects in her presidency. She has also been barred from holding a public office. The judgement does not come into effect until all the appeals filed by Fernandez de Kirchner are addressed. Fernandez de Kirchner on her part has denied the accusations and has claimed that she is a victim of the “judicial mafia.” Fernandez de Kirchner was the President of Argentina from 2007-2015 where she allegedly sanctioned many public works projects and diverted funds from these projects to the business of her associates.
Uruguay: Uruguay announces plans to sign free trade agreements, causes tension in Mercosur trade bloc
On 06 December, Uruguay at a Mercosur trade summit announced its intentions to pursue free trade agreements with China and join the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). This rattled the Mercosur trade bloc consisting of Uruguay, Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina. Uruguayan President Luis Lacalle Pou said: "Uruguay needs to and has the ambition to open up to the world. Of course, if we go in a group, it is much better." The Presidents of Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay have opposed this move saying that it hampered the integration of the Mercosur trade bloc. The Paraguayan President Mario Abdo Benítez said that Uruguay can proceed with the deals but it should share and consult with the bloc before it ratifies it. Uruguay has previously criticised the trade blocs restrictions and tariffs and added that it was affecting its economy.
Mexico: Mexican Congress rejects proposed electoral reform but approves an alternate lesser electoral reform law
On 6 December, Mexico’s lower house of Congress failed to pass the proposed electoral reform calling for a constitutional amendment to restructure the National Electoral Institute (INE). The ruling parties and their allies did not get a two-thirds majority to pass the bill with 269 votes in favour, 225 against and one abstention. On 07 December, Congress did pass an alternate proposal for electoral reform which called for reducing the budget of the INE and reducing its power. Both proposals were criticised by the opposition and the public saying that the government wishes to gain more control of the electoral commission before the 2024 elections.
The US: Annual NDAA passed by US house of representatives, USD 858 billion allotted for defense spending
On 9 December, more than two third of the representatives voted in favor of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) which paved the way for defense budget to hit the record of USD 858 billion. Around 10 billion has been allotted for the Taiwan Enhance Resilience Act (TERA), while mentioning China as the main threat to national security objectives in the bill. The 2023 NDAA includes USD 816.7 billion for the Department of Defense. The legislation also dropped the Covid vaccine mandate for active service duty personnel. The bill did not include provision for vendors to mention the software bill of materials (SBOM) on the technology they provided to government agencies.
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Coup in Gabon: Three questions
NIAS Africa Team
Africa Weekly #78 | Coup in Gabon
Sneha Surendran
Wildfires in Europe: Another year of devastation
Rishika Yadav
Floods in Europe: Impacts, and issues
Padmashree Anandhan
Return of the Heatwaves
Jerry Franklin A
A profile on Ethiopia's Oromo ethnic group
Sneha Surendran
A profile on Ethiopia’s Somali ethnic group
Nithyashree RB
A profile on Ethiopia’s Afar ethnic group
Anu Maria Joseph
Ethiopia’s Amhara problem
Jerry Franklin A
ECOWAS and Niger remain at an impasse, causing a prolonged standoff
Lakshmi Parimala H
Mural, Movie and the Map: Akhand Bharat mural and Adipurush
Rishika Yadav
The High Seas Treaty
Indrani Talukdar
Ukraine War and the International Order
Jerry Franklin A
Coup in Niger: Manifold national, regional and international stances
Sneha Surendran
Senegal's political crisis: Four questions
NIAS Africa Team
Africa Weekly #73&74 | Coup in Niger and Senegal’s political crisis
Himani Pant
Germany-Russia Relations: What Next?
D. Suba Chandran
Que Sara Sara: Pakistan, Two Months After 09 May
Sneha Surendran
Pakistan’s e-Sport Industry: A Profile
Ramya Balasubramanian
Russia and Europe: Understanding Moscow’s strategies
Bibhu Prasad Routray
Return of Violence in Manipur
Nithyashree RB
The UN in Africa: MINUSMA has failed. So did Mali
Bibhu Prasad Routray
Myanmar continues to burn
Anu Maria Joseph
The Wagner Group in Africa: Fallouts of the failed revolt in Russia
NIAS Africa Team
Africa Weekly #69-71 | The Wagner Group in Africa
Lakshmi Parimala
Hybrid Warfare in Ukraine
Padmashree Anandhan
Rise and fall of the Wagner Revolt: Four Takeaways
Sneha Surendran
The Wagner Revolt: A profile of Yevgeny Prigozhin
Padmashree Anandhan
The War in Ukraine: Four Issues to watch in 2023
Rishika Yadav, Sneha Surendran, Sandra D Costa, Ryan Marcus, Prerana P and Nithyashree RB
Global Gender Gap Report 2023: Regional Takeaways
Harini Madhusudan, Rishika Yada, Sneha Surendran, Prerana P, Sreeja JS and Padmashree Anandhan
Russia: Anatomy of Wagner Revolt, and its Fallouts
Anu Maria Joseph
Resurging insurgency in Uganda and insecurity in East Africa
Jerry Franklin
Eritrea: Back to the IGAD after 16 years
Bibhu Prasad Routray
India: Violence continues in Manipur
Jerry Franklin
Tunisia: A Political Profile
Jerry Franklin
Cameroon’s Anglophone Crisis: Reasons for its continuation
Anu Maria Joseph
Ceasefires in Sudan: An uneasy trajectory
Rishika Yadav, Sreeja JS, Nithyashree RB, and Melvin George | Rishika Yadav is a Research Assistant in NIAS Europe Studies at NIAS. Nithyashree RB, Sreeja JS, and Melvin George are Research Interns in NIAS Europe Studies at NIAS.
The Battle for Bakhmut: Significance, Objectives, Course, and What Next
Nithyashree RB
Poland approves Russian Influence Law: Three Implications
Rishika Yadav | Research Assistant, National Institute of Advanced Studies, Indian Institute of Science Campus, Bangalore
Serbia: Mass shootings, protests and instability
Rishika Yadav and Nityashree RB | Research Assistant and Research Intern, National Institute of Advanced Studies, Indian Institute of Science Campus, Bangalore
Turkey’s Elections: Unravelling the Political Spectacle of 2023
Padmashree Anandhan | Research Associate National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bangalore
Belgorod drone attacks: Who, What and Why?
NIAS Africa Team
In Focus | Japan in Africa
Devjyoti Saha
Japan in Africa: Renewed Efforts to Revitalise Relations
Indrani Talukdar
Russia's Position in the Arctic: New challenges
Lakshmi Parimala H
Bhutan's Gross National Happiness
Amit Gupta
The Trump Phenomenon: Why it Won’t Go
Rishika Yadav
Turkey’s Election: Issues, Actors and Outcomes
IPRI Team
The Armenia-Azerbaijan Stalemate
NIAS Africa Team
Droughts in East Africa: A climate disaster
NIAS Africa Team
Sudan: Intensifying political rivalry and expanding violence
NIAS Africa Team
Expanding Russia-South Africa relations
Padmashree Anandhan
Pentagon document leak: Russia-Ukraine Conflict From a Tactical Lens
NIAS Africa Team
IN FOCUS | Tunisia: The question of undocumented migrants
Indrani Talukdar
Belarus’s endgame in Russia-Ukraine Conflict
Padmashree Anandhan
Russia: Drone attacks escalate the Ukraine war
Padmashree Anandhan
The UK: Conservative party put to test as worker strikes continue
Bhoomika Sesharaj
PR Explains: Pakistan’s power outage
Abigail Miriam Fernandez
Pakistan’s Blue Helmets: A long-standing contribution
D Suba Chandran
Karachi: The race and new alignments for the Mayor
NIAS Africa Team
IN FOCUS | Macron’s visit to Africa: Three Takeaways
NIAS Africa Team
IN FOCUS | Nigeria elections: Ruling party wins; What is ahead?
NIAS Africa Team
IN FOCUS | M23 atrocities in DRC and upcoming Nigeria elections
NIAS Africa Team
Africa in 2023: Elections and conflicts
IPRI Team
The continuing crisis in Israel
NIAS Africa Team
IN FOCUS | Chinese Foreign Minister's visit to Africa
IPRI Team
Protests in Spain, Sweden and Israel
Avishka Ashok
China: A complicated economic recovery
Padmashree Anandhan
Europe: An impending energy crisis and its economic fallouts
Ankit Singh
Defence: Towards a new cold war
Riya Itisha Ekka
Brazil: Managing Bolsonaro’s legacy
Apoorva Sudhakar
Africa: Despite the elections, democratic backslide will continue
Abigail Miriam Fernandez
Pakistan in 2023: Between elections, economic turmoil and climate crisis
Sethuraman Nadarajan
Sri Lanka in 2023: A troubling economy and an unstable polity
Avishka Ashok
Chinese Foreign Minister's visit to Africa
NIAS Africa Team
IN FOCUS | Bamako’s pardon of Ivorian soldiers
NIAS Africa Team
IN FOCUS | The relapse of ANC
Allen Joe Mathew, Sayani Rana, Joel Jacob
Newsmakers: From Putin to Rushdie
Sethuraman Nadarajan
Rest in Peace; Queen Elizabeth. Mikhail Gorbachev, Pelé...
Ankit Singh
Global economy in 2022: The year of cooling down
Bhoomika Sesharaj
Digital world: Elon Musk and the Twitter Chaos
Madhura Mahesh
The FTX Collapse: Depleting cryptocurrencies
Harini Madhusudan
The Space race: Scaling new technological feats
Avishka Ashok
G20: More challenges
Akriti Sharma
COP27: Hits and Misses
Padmashree Anandhan
The Ukraine War
Poulomi Mondal
French Exit from Mali: More questions than answers
Mohaimeen Khan
Yemen, Syria, and Sudan: Continuing humanitarian crises
Padmashree Anandhan
NATO and the Madrid Summit: Expanding defence frontiers
Padmashree Anandhan
Elections in France, Sweden, and Italy: The rise of the right
Janardhan G
North Korea: Missile Tests Galore
Avishka Ashok
The Taiwan Strait: Political and military assertions
Anu Maria Joseph
Ethiopia: Uncertainties despite ceasefire
Apoorva Sudhakar
Tunisia: The end of the Jasmine Revolution
Rashmi BR
Iraq: Deadlock and breakthrough
Kaviyadharshini A
Iran: Anti-government protests
Chrishari de Alwis Gunasekare
Sri Lanka: Political and Economic Crises
Aparupa Bhattacherjee
Myanmar: The coup and after
NIAS Africa Team
The US-Africa Leaders Summit
IPRI Team
Workers strike in the UK
NIAS Africa Team
IN FOCUS | End of Operation Barkhane
NIAS Africa Team
IN FOCUS | The ceasefire in Ethiopia
IPRI Team
Drone attacks in Russia
Vignesh Ram | Assistant Professor | Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal
Malaysia’s recent Elections: More questions than answers
Vignesh Ram
Anwar Ibrahim: Malaysia's new Prime Minister
Harini Madhusudan, Rishma Banerjee, Padmashree Anandhan, Ashwin Immanuel Dhanabalan, and Avishka Ashok
What next for Russia, Ukraine, Europe, South Asia & India, and China
Padmashree Anandhan and Rishma Banerjee
UNGA 77: Who said what from Europe?
Rashmi BR and Akriti Sharma
COP27: Ten key takeaways
Rashmi Ramesh
Ice Melt in Alps in Europe: Three impacts
Rishma Banerjee
Tracing Europe's droughts
Padmashree Anandhan
Major causes behind Europe’s continuing heatwaves
Emmanuel Selva Royan
100 days of the Ukraine war: US Responses in the war
Padmashree Anandhan
100 days of the Ukraine war: What next for Europe?
Ashwin Immanuel Dhanabalan
100 days of the Ukraine war: More loss than gain for Russia
NIAS Africa Team
IN FOCUS | Challenges to peace in Eastern Congo
Avishka Ashok | Research Associate | National Institute of Advanced Studies
20th Party Congress of the Communist Party of China: Major takaways
Angelin Archana | Assistant Professor, Women’s Christian College, Chennai
China's response to the Ukraine crisis: Shaped by its relationship with Russia and EU under the US Shadow
Shreya Upadhyay | Assistant Professor, Christ (Deemed to be University), Bangalore
Transatlantic Ties in the Wake of Ukraine-Russia War
Uma Purushothaman | Assistant Professor, Central University of Kerala, Kerala
Ukraine and beyond: The US Strategies towards Russia
Debangana Chatterjee | Assistant Professor, JAIN (Deemed-to-be University), Bangalore
Lessons from Ukraine War: Effectiveness of Sanctions
Himani Pant | Research Fellow, ICWA, Delhi
Ukraine and beyond: What next for Russia and Europe?
Sethuraman Nadarajan
Israel-Lebanon Maritime Border Deal
Avishka Ashok
G20 Summit: Four takeaways from Bali
NIAS Africa Team
China-Africa relations: Looking back and looking ahead
NIAS Africa Team
IN FOCUS | Chad's political crisis
Sourina Bej
Elections in Sweden
Padmashree Anandhan
Italy's far-right wins 2022 elections
Padmashree Anandhan
Putin’s address in the Valdai Discussion: Six takeaways
Devjyoti Saha
Solomon Islands’ China card: Three reasons why
NIAS Africa Team
Floods in West Africa: Nigeria and beyond
NIAS Africa Team
IN FOCUS | Famine in Somalia
NIAS Africa Team
IN FOCUS | Kenya Elections 2022
IPRI Team
Protests in Iran
IPRI Team
Clashes between Armenia-Azerbaijan
Padmashree Anandhan
Queen Elizabeth: End of an era
Padmashree Anandhan
Russia and Eastern Economic Forum 2022: A sturdy Far East
NIAS Africa Team
IN FOCUS | The reinvention of Al Shabab
NIAS Africa Team
IN FOCUS | Lavrov's visit to Africa
NIAS Africa Team
IN FOCUS | Macron's visit to Africa
GP Team
Floods and Emergency in Pakistan
IPRI Team
Six months of War in Ukraine
GP Team
Regional round-ups
Padmashree Anandhan
Who will be the next UK prime minister: Liss Truss v. Rishi Sunak
NIAS Africa Team
IN FOCUS | Tunisia's political crisis
NIAS Africa Team
Tunisia’s political crisis: Five questions
NIAS Africa Team
Tribal conflict in Blue Nile: Causes and Implications
STIR Team
Geopolitics of Semiconductors
Padmashree Anandhan
France: Uber files leak, and Macron’s trouble
Emmanuel Selva Royan
Italy: Three factors about its current political instability
NIAS Africa Team
Sudan-Ethiopia border tensions and a profile of Blaise Compaoré
NIAS Africa Team
Africa’s continuing migration problem: Three issues
STIR Team
China in Space: Shenzhou-13 and Tiangong
NIAS Africa Team
Africa’s displacement crises: Three key drivers
NIAS Africa Team
IN FOCUS | Into the Sixth Decade of African Unity
NIAS Africa Team
IN FOCUS | Communal Tensions in Ethiopia
Padmashree Anandhan
What does Macron's victory mean for France and the EU
Rishma Banerjee
The rise of Marine Le Pen
Sourina Bej
Four challenges ahead for President Macron
NIAS Africa Team
IN FOCUS | Mali ends defence ties with France
GP Team
New US assistance for Ukraine
NIAS Africa Team
IN FOCUS | UK-Rwanda asylum deal
NIAS Africa Team
IN FOCUS | Africa, Russia, and the War in Ukraine
NIAS Africa Team
IN FOCUS | Political Crisis in Tunisia
GP Team
Russia's gas ultimatum to Europe
IPRI Team
30 days of War in Ukraine
NIAS Africa Team
60 years of Algerian independence
IPRI Team
Sri Lanka’s worsening economic crisis
NIAS Africa Team
In Focus: Libya
IPRI Team
The end of Denmark’s Inuit experiment
NIAS Africa Team
IN FOCUS | Europe and Africa: Will AU and EU be equal partners?
Anu Maria Joseph
Europe and Africa: Will AU and EU be equal partners?
Ashwin Immanuel Dhanabalan
Lecture report: Ukraine, Russia and Europe
Joeana Cera Matthews
Into History: Northern Ireland and Bloody Sunday, 50 years later
Nireekshan Bollimpalli
Africa’s slow COVID vaccination continues. Four reasons why
NIAS Africa Team
IN FOCUS: Conflict over the Nile Dam
NIAS Africa Team
IN FOCUS: Instability in Burkina Faso
Padmashree Anandhan
Munich Security Report: Six takeaways
Joeana Cera Matthews
Europe and Africa: An elusive search for an equal partnership
Ashwin Immanuel Dhanabalan
Femicides in Europe: The case of France
Padmashree Anandhan
Post Brexit: Three challenges in Northern Ireland
Porkkodi Ganeshpandian and Angkuran Dey
The return of the Left
Ashwin Immanuel Dhanabalan
Lithuania and China: Vilnius has become Beijing’s Achilles heel. Four reasons why
Mohamad Aseel Ummer
Africa: The anti-France sentiments in Mali and beyond
Shalini Balaiah
The Middle East in 2021: Never-ending wars and conflicts
Angelin Archana
Russia in 2021: Expanding boundaries
Prakash Panneerselvam
East Asia in 2021: New era of hegemonic competition
Apoorva Sudhakar
Coup in Burkina Faso: Five things to know
Joeana Cera Matthews
In Europe, abortion rights are "a privilege." Four reasons why
Padmashree Anandhan
Mapping COVID-19 protests in Europe: Who and Why
Abigail Miriam Fernandez
Pakistan, US and Russia: Putin Online, Biden Offline
Abigail Miriam Fernandez
The unrest in Kazakhstan: Look beyond the trigger
Abigail Miriam Fernandez
Deepening Pakistan-Russia ties
D. Suba Chandran
Justice Ayesha: Breaking the Legal Ceiling
Ankit Singh
Pakistan's Judiciary in 2021
Abigail Miriam Fernandez
Same Page Story: Civil-Military Relations in 2021
D. Suba Chandran
Pakistan's Foreign Policy in 2021
Ankit Singh
Pakistan’s economy in 2021: Major highlights
Ankit Singh
Pakistan and the Asian Development Bank
Apoorva Sudhakar
The PDM is back, again
Abigail Miriam Fernandez
Qureshi’s visit to Brussels: Three takeaways
GP Team
The Complete Compendium for 2021
GP Team
The Americas in 2021
GP Team
Europe in 2021
GP Team
Middle East and Africa in 2021
GP Team
South Asia in 2021
Apoorva Sudhakar
Protests in Gwadar: Four major highlights
Ankit Singh
Mini budget, IMF and a contemporary puzzle.
Ankit Singh
Pappu Sain bids adieu to the world
Apoorva Sudhakar
Smog, pollution and more: Deteriorating air quality in Pakistan
Abigail Miriam Fernandez
PTI’s secret dealing with the TTP and TLP
Vaishnavi Iyer
France, Algeria, and the politics over an apology
Joeana Cera Matthews
NATO-Russia relationship: Looking beyond the suspensions and expulsions
D. Suba Chandran
PTI’s TLP flip-flop and a secret deal
Apoorva Sudhakar
The increasing curbs on digital media freedom in Pakistan
Padmashree Anandhan
Facebook's Metaverse: Why it matters to Europe
Joeana Cera Matthews
Poland, EU and PolExit. It is complicated, for three reasons
Harini Madhusudhan
Europe's Energy Crisis and Gazprom
D. Suba Chandran
TLP: The government caves in again
Abigail Miriam Fernandez
TLP is back again
Apoorva Sudhakar | Project Associate, School of Conflict and Security Studies, NIAS
Pakistan’s transgender community: The long road ahead
Abigail Miriam Fernandez
Since January 2021: Why the US President has not called Pakistan’s Prime Minister so far?
Apoorva Sudhakar
No honour in honour killing
Abigail Miriam Fernandez
The Military Reshuffle: A strategic or routine decision?
D. Suba Chandran
Dr AQ Khan: Between a national hero and a nuclear proliferator
Apoorva Sudhakar
Rising child abuse in Pakistan: Five reasons why
Abigail Miriam Fernandez
Hazara Persecution in Pakistan: No end in sight
D. Suba Chandran
Protests in Gwadar: Who and Why
Chetna Vinay Bhora
Europe's Energy Crisis: It could get worse. Five reasons why
STIR Team
Cover Story: War against Malaria
Aswathy Koonampilly
Japan: New Prime Minister, Old party
GP Team
Europe's Energy Crisis
STIR Team
The Science and Politics of Materials
Sourina Bej
France: Paris Terror Trial
Harini Madhusudan
Belarus: Weaponization of the Migrant Crisis
Juan Mary Joseph
Attacks on Chinese Investments in Pakistan: Who, Where And Why?
Joeana Cera Matthews
Haiti: Two months after the assassination, the storm is still brewing
Joeana Cera Matthews
From Crimea to Navalny: Putin's calibrated Europe strategy
Joeana Cera Matthews
Nord Stream-2: Why is the region unhappy about the pipeline?
Lokendra Sharma
Two months of Cuban protests: Is the ‘revolution’ ending?
GP Team
The New Afghanistan
STIR Team
Climate Change and Energy Options
Apoorva Sudhakar
Digital Pakistan: Idea, Potential and Challenges
Anu Maria Joseph
South Africa: What is behind the pro-Zuma protests?
Dincy Adlakha
China and Russia in Myanmar: The interests that bind
Sarthak Jain
Nord Stream 2 is Russia’s geopolitical victory
Jeshil J Samuel
REvil is dead. Long live REvil
STIR Team
Space Tourism
Keerthana Rajesh Nambiar
The EU Summit 2021: Five Takeaways
Abigail Miriam Fernandez
Impending famine in Tigray, should make Ethiopia everyone's problem
Anu Maria Joseph
Too late and too little is Ethiopia's international problem
Sankalp Gurjar
Africa's Ethiopia Problem
Apoorva Sudhakar
Ethiopia's Tigray problem is Tigray's Ethiopia problem
Lokendra Sharma
The future of nuclear energy looks bleak
Abigail Miriam Fernandez
Five reasons why Afghanistan is closer to a civil war
Mohamad Aseel Ummer
Migration in Africa: Origin, Drivers and Destinations
Dincy Adlakha
The new three-child policy is two decades too late
Dincy Adlakha
Loud Echoes of the National Security Law in China
Joeana Cera Matthews
Farfetched goals on pandemic recovery, climate action and economic revival
STIR Team
Rare Earths and the Global Resource Race
SDP Scholar
The Rise and Reign of Ransomware
Gurpreet Singh
India and the geopolitics of supply chains
Chetna Vinay Bhora
Spain, Morocco and the rise of rightwing politics in Europe over immigration
Vibha Venugopal
The return of Taliban will be bad news for women
Udbhav Krishna P
Revisiting the recent violence: Three takeaways
Joeana Cera Matthews
For the Economist, Taiwan is the most dangerous place. The argument is complicated
Apoorva Sudhakar
15 of the 23 global hunger hotspots are in Africa. Three reasons why
Abigail Miriam Fernandez
The US decision to withdraw is a call made too early. Three reasons why
Lokendra Sharma
Learning from Cuba's vaccine development efforts
V S Ramamurthy and Dinesh K Srivastava
An energy mix of renewables and nuclear is the most viable option
Lokendra Sharma
Deadly second wave spirals into a humanitarian disaster
Abigail Miriam Fernandez
The US-Taliban Deal: One Year Later
Akriti Sharma
The Quad Plus and the search beyond the four countries
Apoorva Sudhakar
India's Endgames, Roles and Limitations in Quad
Sukanya Bali
Tracing the Quad's evolution in the last two decades
Apoorva Sudhakar
Ethiopia: Five fallouts of the military offensive in Tigray
Abigail Miriam Fernandez
Afghanistan: The recent surge in targeted killing vs the troops withdrawal
Abigail Miriam Fernandez
In Honduras, a move towards a permanent ban on abortion laws
Aparupa Bhattacherjee
Civilian protests vs military: Three factors will decide the outcome in Myanmar
Abigail Miriam Fernandez
Trump’s Climate Change legacy: Disruption and Denial
Apoorva Sudhakar
Trump’s Iran legacy: Maximum pressure, minimum results
N Manoharan and Drorima Chatterjee
Five ways India can detangle the fishermen issue with Sri Lanka
IPRI Team
Coup in Myanmar and Protests in Russia
D Suba Chandran
The PDM differences, Gwadar fencing, and Lakhvi's arrest
Abigail Miriam Fernandez
Nagorno-Karabakh: Rekindled fighting, Causalities and a Ceasefire
Aparupa Bhattacherjee
Thailand: For the pro-democracy protests, it is a long march ahead
Harini Madhusudan
Brexit: A year of the UK-EU transition talks and finally, a Deal
Apoorva Sudhakar
Ethiopia: The conflict in Tigray and the regional fallouts
Aparaajita Pandey
The Americas: Top Five Developments
Teiborlang T Kharsyntiew
Europe: Top five developments
Sandip Kumar Mishra
East Asia: Top Five developments in 2020
Harini Madhusudan
Outer Space in 2020: Missions, Privatization, and the Artemis Accords
Sukanya Bali
5G, Huawei and TikTok: Four trends in 2020
Sumedha Chatterjee
COVID-19: How the world fought in 2020
Harini Madhusudan
The Vaccine Rush: Expectations vs Realities
Harini Madhusudan
Open Skies Treaty: The US should not have withdrawn, for five reasons
Savithri Sellapperumage
Kamala Harris makes history
Mallika Devi
China is against the Quad. Five reasons why
Srikumar Pullat
Space of Tomorrow: The Need for Space Security
Tamanna Khosla
Japan: New Prime Minister, Old Challenges
Vaishali Handique
Not just regime change: Women and protest movements in Sudan
Sneha Tadkal
Technology in contemporary global protest movements
Chavindi Weerawansha
Students as agents of change: Protest movements in Zimbabwe
Anju Annie Mammen
“Unveiling”: Women and protest movements in the Middle East
Harini Madhusudan
‘The Revolution of Our Times’: Protests in Hong Kong
Samreen Wani
Lebanon: Can Macron's visit prevent the unravelling?
Harini Madhusudan
The Legacy of Shinzo Abe. It is Complicated.
Boa Wang
Two Sessions in Beijing
Boa Wang
How China fought the COVID-19
N. Manoharan
Is COVID-19 a Bio-weapon from China?
Prof PM Soundar Rajan
Is there an overlap of 5G Networks and COVID hotspots?
Rashmi Ramesh
Will COVID-19 provide a new agenda to the NAM?
Harini Madhusudan
Iran's New Military Satellite: Does it violate the UNSC 2231?
Jenice Jean Goveas
Epidemics through History
Sanduni Atapattu
Preventing hatred and suspicion would be a bigger struggle
Chavindi Weerawansha
A majority in the minority community suffers, for the action of a few
Chrishari de Alwis Gunasekare
The Cardinal sermons for peace, with a message to forgive
Aparupa Bhattacherjee
Who and Why of the Perpetrators
Natasha Fernando
In retrospect, where did we go wrong?
Ruwanthi Jayasekara
Build the power of Co-existence, Trust, Gender and Awareness
N Manoharan
New ethnic faultlines at macro and micro levels
Asanga Abeyagoonasekera
A year has gone, but the pain has not vanished
Jenice Jean Goveas
In India, the glass is half full for the women
Fatemah Ghafori
In Afghanistan, there is no going back for the women
Lakshmi V Menon
The decline in terrorism in Pakistan in 2019
Rashmi Ramesh
The EU and the Arctic: The interest is not mutual. Why?
Rashmi Ramesh
Iceland, Denmark and Norway: Small is Big in the Arctic
Harini Madhusudan
The Non-Arctic powers: Interests of Japan and South Korea
Aparupa Bhattacherjee
Malaysia: New PM, Old Challenges
Lakshmi V Menon
Pakistan to remain “Grey”; North Korea and Iran in “Black”
Rashmi Ramesh
Trump's India Visit: Optics, Substance and Rhetoric
Kabi Adhikari
The controversial MCC Nepal Compact
Malini Sethuraman
ISIS post Baghdadi: Will there be another Caliphate in 2020?
Aarathi Srinivasan
Climate Change: The Economy of the Indian Ocean Region in 2020
Prathiksha Ravi
Israel and the Middle East: The New Alliance Plans in 2020
Padmini Anilkumar
Middle East: The Return of Russia in 2020
Abigail Miriam Fernandez
Sudan and Algeria: Road to Democracy in 2020
Lakshmi V Menon
Syria: ISIS Decline, US Retreat and the Return of Russia in 2020
Harini Madhusudan
The US-China Trade Dispute: Towards further disruptions in 2020
Parikshith Pradeep
The US under Donald Trump: The Fall of an Empire in 2020
Vivek Mishra
After Soleimani assassination: Options for the US
Sukanya Bali
Iran, Iraq and the US: Who wants what?
Aparupa Bhattacherjee
Old problems to persist with no solutions in the near term
Aashiyana Adhikari
Indian and Chinese investments in Nepal: Managing asymmetry
Shailesh Nayak | Director, National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS)
Blue Economy and India: An Introduction
Abigail Miriam Fernandez
North Africa in 2019: A year of protests, with some positive results
Sukanya Bali
Hong Kong in 2019: China's New Achilles Heel
Harini Madhusudan
The US-China Trade Dispute in 2019: Towards a thaw in 2020?
Parikshith Pradeep
The US in 2019: Trump rollsout a template for a global American retreat
Rashmi Ramesh
The Arctic Littorals: Iceland and Greenland
Harini Madhusudan
The Polar Silk Route: China's ambitious search in the Arctic
GP Team
Syria: Who wants what?
Harini Madhusudan
Violence in Hong Kong: Will the protests end?
Rashmi Ramesh
Is Catalonia Spain’s Hong Kong?
D. Suba Chandran
Why an Arctic foray is essential for India
Parikshith Pradeep
Russia's Polar Military Edge
Nidhi Dalal
Protests rock Chile, Bolivia and Haiti
Aparupa Bhattacherjee
Will prosecuting Suu Kyi resolve the Rohingya problem?
Lakshman Chakravarthy N & Rashmi Ramesh
Climate Change: Four Actors, No Action
Sukanya Bali
Brexit: Preparing for the Worst Case
Lakshman Chakravarthy N
5G: A Primer
Rashmi Ramesh
From Okjökull to OK: Death of a Glacier in Iceland
Sukanya Bali
Challenges before Boris Johnson
Parikshith Pradeep
The Hong Kong Protests: Who wants what
Harini Madhusudan
The Hong Kong Protests: Re-defining mass mobilization
Aparupa Bhattacherjee
ASEAN Outlook on the Indo Pacific: Worth all the Hype?
Mahesh Bhatta
Monsoons first, Floods next and the Blame Games follow
Titsala Sangtam
Counting Citizens: Manipur charts its own NRC
Vivek Mishra
Can Hedging be India’s Strategy?
Lakshmi V Menon
Amidst the US-Iran standoff, Saudi Arabia should be cautious
Seetha Lakshmi Dinesh Iyer
For Russia, it was big power projection
Harini Madhusudan
For China, it was trade and a temporary truce
Abigail Miriam Fernandez
For Japan, it was commerce and climate change
Sourina Bej
For the US, it was trade, tariff and talks
Titsala Sangtam
Iran, US and the Nuclear deal: Europe in the middle?
Aparupa Bhattacherjee
Modi's Colombo Visit: Four issues to watch
Raakhavee Ramesh
Higher than the Himalayas: Pakistan and China
Abigail Miriam Fernandez
Across the Himalayas: Nepal and China
Mahath Mangal
The Russian Resurgence: Is the US supremacy waning?
Mahath Mangal
San Francisco wants to ban, Kashgar wants to expand
Jerin George
Espionage or Investigative Journalism?
Abigail Miriam Fernandez
The Huawei Controversy: Five things you need to know
Mahath Mangal
Why the world needs to look at Yemen
Abigail Miriam Fernandez
The Central Asia Connector
Harini Madhusudan
An Under-represented East Asia
Seetha Lakshmi Dinesh Iyer
Africa Embraces the Belt and Road
Sourina Bej
It’s Europe vs EU on China
Abigail Miriam Fernandez
Sudan: Between Democracy and another military rule
Seetha Lakshmi Dinesh Iyer
Responses and Inspiring Lessons
Aparupa Bhattacherjee
Thailand: Between Elections and Instability
Sourina Bej
Two Sessions in 2019: Four Takeaways
Lakshmi V Menon
The End of ISIS Caliphate?
Harini Madhusudan
For China, its a sigh of relief
Aparupa Bhattacherjee
For Vietnam, its a big deal
Seetha Lakshmi Dinesh Iyer
For Japan, No Deal is Good Deal
Sourina Bej
For South Korea, a costly disappointment
Harini Madhusudan
No deal is better, but isn't it bad?
Aparupa Bhattacherjee
The Other Conflict in Rakhine State
Seetha Lakshmi Dinesh Iyer
Yemen: Will Sa'nna fall?
Harini Madhusudan
Sinicizing the Minorities
GP Team
US, South Korea and Thailand
Lakshmi V Menon
The Qatar Blockade: Eighteen Months Later
GP Team
Yemen, Venezuela and US-China
Sourina Bej
Maghreb: What makes al Shahab Resilient?
Harini Madhusudan
US-China Trade War: No Clear Winners
Abhishrut Singh
Trump’s Shutdown: Five Things to Know
Aparupa Bhattacherjee
Myanmar: Will 2019 be better for the Rohingya?
D. Suba Chandran
Bangladesh: The Burden of Electoral History
Seetha Lakshmi Dinesh Iyer
US and China: Between Confrontation and Competition
Mahesh Bhatta | Centre for South Asian Studies, Kathmandu
Nepal
Nasima Khatoon | Research Associate, ISSSP, NIAS
The Maldives
Harini Madhusudan | Research Associate, ISSSP, NIAS
India
Sourina Bej | Research Associate, ISSSP, NIAS
Bangladesh
Seetha Lakshmi Dinesh Iyer | Research Associate, ISSSP, NIAS
Afghanistan
Harini Madhusudan
China and Japan: Renewing relations at the right time
Sourina Bej
The INF Treaty: US withdraws to balance China?
Harini Madhusudan
The Khashoggi Killing: Unanswered Questions
Lakshmi V Menon
US and Israel: Trump's Deal of the Century
Nasima Khatoon
The New Maldives: Advantage India?
Harini Madhusudhan
To NAFTA or Not: Trump, Mexico and Canada
Aparupa Bhattacherjee
Malaysia’s China Moment: The Mahathir Gamble
Sourina Bej
BIMSTEC: A Bay of Good Hope?
Young Scholars Debate
India, Imran Khan and Indo-Pak Relations
Siddhatti Mehta
Does Brexit mean Brexit?
Oishee Majumdar
Factsheet: China’s Investments in Africa
Aparupa Bhattacherjee
The 8888 Uprising: Thirty Years Later
Harini Madhusudhan
The Tariff War: 'Stick of Hegemony' vs Vital Interests
Druta Bhatt
FactSheet: Shangri La Dialogue 2018
Rahul Arockiaraj
Immigrants as the “Other”: The Social and Economic Factors in the US
Divyabharathi E
Is Trump-Putin Summit a setback for the US?
Apoorva Sudhakar
India and Bangladesh: The Long Haul
Divyabharathi E
Quad as an alternative to the BRI: Three Main Challenges
Oishee Majumdar
FactSheet: India-Bangladesh Relations
D. Suba Chandran
Trump meets Putin; will it cost NATO?
Sourina Bej
Trump and the NATO: One Block, Different Views
Gayan Gowramma KC
Now, the United States withdraws from the UNHRC
Siddhatti Mehta
Will China be able to sustain its Dominance?
Aparupa Bhattacherjee
Myanmar: Why won't they do anything for the Rohingya?
Harini Madhusudan
The Idea of an US Space Force: Strategic Calculations
Apoorva Sudhakar
Afghan Peace: Reality or Illusion?
Hely Desai
Looking beyond Trump: Is the US declining?
Manushi Kapadia
Is China using its soft power to become superpower?
Lakshmi. V. Menon
Middle East: Has Russia chosen Israel over Iran?
Miti Shah
G7: Why Trump wants Russia in?
Hely Desai
FactSheet: G7 Summit
Siddhatti Mehta
The Panmunjom Declaration: “Tip of the Iceberg”
Druta Bhatt
Iran N-Deal and the Trans-Atlantic Divide
Manushi Kapadia
US and China: Towards a Trade War
Miti Shah
Palestine: US triggers new tensions
Divyabharathi E
The "Indo-Pacific Command": What's in the name?
Harini Madhusudan
Trump’s Tariff Strategy: Targetting Adversaries and Allies
Hely Desai
Trump-Kim Summit: Three Likely Outcomes
Apoorva Sudhakar
The Lebanon Pawn: Will it change after elections?
Lakshmi V Menon
Israel, the Game Changer?
Samreen Wani
Deciphering Turkey's External Push
Divyabharathi E
China and Russia: The New Alignments
Ann Maria Shibu
Can India afford to lose Maldives to China?
Dhruv Ashok
Why Maldives is important to China?
Lakshmi V Menon
ISIS and the Yazidi victims: Why the World should stand up?
Harini Madhusudan
US- China Tariff Face-off : Five questions
Jamyang Dolma
Why is Free Tibet important for India
Divyabharathi E
Arctic: The Strategic Significance
Lakshmi V Menon
Do we need the Quad?
Samreen Wani
Why Trump’s Iran exit is a big mistake?
Jamyang Dolma
Inter Korean Summit: Will it work?
Dhruv Ashok
The Fishermen Issue between India and Sri Lanka
Apoorva Sudhakar
Bangladesh's Economy: Decoding a Success Story
Ann Maria Shibu
Why India should not pull out of the Indus water treaty?
Divyabharathi E