The imposition of sanctions, continuing wars and the rise of new geopolitical blocs seeking to move away from western economic dependence, have prompted talk of ‘de-dollarisation,’ switching from the U.S. dollar as a currency of trade and reserves. Surjit Bhalla, well-known economist and India’s former representative at the International Monetary Fund, discusses the logic behind de-dollarisation and the key indicators of its sustainability or demise.

Has China peaked? India's leading China expert and Adjunct Distinguished Fellow for National Security and China Studies at Gateway House, Lt. Gen. S.L. Narasimhan discusses China's economy, the sustainability of Chinese global influence, the future of U.S.-China relations, and what this means for India. China, he says, will continue to be a shaping force in geopolitics, and the India-China relationship will continue to be one of interdependence.

Former President Trump and incumbent President Biden have emerged as frontrunners in the ongoing U.S. primaries. While the former faces several legal hurdles, the latter has been criticised for his response to the crises in Israel and Ukraine and the strategic contest with China. Neelam Deo, co-founder, Gateway House, speaks with Purvi Patel, International Affairs Fellow, Council on Foreign Relations, about the electoral race, legal challenges to Trump's candidature, and what India can expect from another Trump presidency.

Recent attacks on commercial shipping vessels in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden by the Houthis have led to increased costs and global trade disruptions, and drawn the Indian Ocean into the ongoing conflict in West Asia. Most at risk are Indian seamen, who comprise the officer and saillor class of these vessels. Michael Pinto, former Secretary, Ministry of Shipping, Government of India, speaks with us about ensuring maritime security and safe passage.

Maldives’ President Mohammed Muizzu’s desire to have an independent foreign policy has steered it away from India and closer to China. It has added a new dimension to the strategic contestation in the Indian Ocean. Rajiv Bhatia, Distinguished Fellow, Foreign Policy Studies, shares his insights on the Maldives’ strategic importance in the region, the ‘India Out’ campaign, and the way forward for Indian diplomacy in South Asia.

Venezuela's claim to the Essequibo region of neighbouring Guyana has focused world attention on yet another colonial-era border dispute. With elections coming up, the declining Venezuelan economy laying claim to newly-discovered rich oil and mineral deposits in Guyana has some traction. For Guyana, the claim to its land is non-negotiable as this developing country looks forward to accessing its own wealth. Purvi Patel, Visiting Fellow at Gateway House and Latin America expert, offers her insight.

The expansion of BRICS and the military coups in West Africa have brought to the fore long-suppressed intensities and tensions in the world order. Developed and developing words are in a moment of transition, with middle powers like India playing key balancing roles. Amb. Neelam Deo speaks with us on Unfolding Geopolitics, a new podcast series which observes and explains current and emerging geopolitical and foreign policy trends across the world.

PM Modi’s State visit to the U.S. was marked by over a hundred agreements in emerging technologies, trade and investment. Manjeet Kripalani, Executive Director, Gateway House, spoke with Atul Keshap, President, U.S.-India Business Council, on the future of the India-US bilateral and thier multilateral relationships through the Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technologies (iCET) and the Quad.

Brazil's Lula da Silva and Argentinian Alberto Fernández are strengthening bilateral ties. Argentina is Brazil's largest trading partner, and the two countries are in discussion around the introduction of a common currency. In this podcast, Argentinian Consul General Mr. Guillermo Eduardo Devoto in conversation with Amit Bhandari, Senior Fellow, Energy, Investment & Connectivity, Gateway House, discuss the significance of a common currency for economic integration in South America.

The last week of September was eventful for Russia. The partial-mobilisation was underway, the referendum of Russian-speaking regions in Ukraine took place, President Putin made a significant speech and the Nord Stream pipelines were damaged. Amit Bhandari, Energy Fellow, Gateway House, was in Moscow during this time. In this podcast, he offers his impressions of Moscow after the sanctions, compared with the city he saw before the Russia-Ukraine conflict