Courtesy: Business Standard
The advent of the pro-oil Donald Trump in the U.S. and the strong pushback by developing countries to the unsatisfactory COP29 proposals, has opened opportunities for India in the energy sector. Instead of investing in overseas oil facilities, India will be better served as a financial investor in listed companies in large economies. This approach will help forge closer ties with strategic partners.
Courtesy: Atlantic Council
Xi Jinping’s visit to South America to attend the APEC and G20 meetings had multiple goals. To inaugurate a new gateway for China in Peru’s Chancay port, sign three dozen cooperation agreements with Brazil, and make nice with the continent’s nations from Chile to the Honduras. Did it succeed in expanding China’s influence in the region? Most certainly, yes.
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At a time of high geo-political tensions, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia can play a calming role as it mediates between the U.S., Israel, and Iran. It is enabled by its own diplomacy, moving to strengthen ties with Iran, with the Gulf nations slowly coalescing on issues. For the first time, it is being done without the U.S. as interlocutor.
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Domestic concerns regarding the cost of living, immigration and crime were the key issues that brought about change in the U.S. Presidential elections. Taranjit Singh Sandhu, former Indian ambassador to the U.S., discusses the election outcome and its geopolitical implications, the potential economic and political trajectory of a Trump presidency, and the future of the India-U.S. bilateral.
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On October 31, Adani Power halved the electricity supply to Bangladesh, owing to outstanding dues. Bangladesh’s already weak economy has become worse under the new regime, with the country running short of funds to pay for imports of fuel and electricity.
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Prime Minister Modi’s state visit to Nigeria on November 16-17 marks the first leg of his transcontinental diplomatic tour and offers a valuable opportunity to advance cooperation with Africa and the Global South. The trip, aimed at deepening cooperation in trade, investment and defence, signaled India’s recognition of Nigeria’s significance as Africa’s regional and continental powerhouse.
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Since their swearing-in in September this year, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s cabinet of three has been campaigning for long-term economic and political reform. To make these major changes and put Sri Lanka back on the growth path, they will now need to win a majority in the Parliamentary elections to be held on November 14.
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Gateway House presents a timeline that highlights the cross-border dynamics between Myanmar and India’s northeast. Myanmar’s military coup and breakdown of authority have aggravated existing local problems related to population displacement, border security, competition for resources and ethnic tensions. Now India must engage more directly with the entities that control land along its borders, and the local communities who know it best.
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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has secured his political survival since October 7 by managing his key constituencies – domestic and in the U.S. – and doubling down on his war strategy. Now he is making another calculated risk – to ensure a non-nuclear Iran, and thereby his continued political positioning.
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Zambia celebrated 60 years of independence last week. The African nation's position at the crossroads of eastern central and southern Africa and unbroken democratic rule makes it a vital strategic partner for India in the continent. The country’s vibrant political institutions and abundant natural resources indicate opportunities in the energy, mining, and tourism sectors that can revitalize a historically cordial relationship between India and Zambia.