1_new0809c Courtesy:
10 October 2024

Unfolding Geopolitics, Episode 14 | India’s outreach in South Asia

BY

The past week has been eventful for India’s Neighbourhood First policy, with the External Affairs Minister’s visit to Sri Lanka and the state visit of the President of Maldives to India. Rajiv Bhatia, Distinguished Fellow, Foreign Policy Studies, Gateway House and Amit Bhandari, Senior Fellow, Energy, Investments and Connectivity, Gateway House, analyse India’s regional outreach and recent economic and political changes in the subcontinent.

Screenshot 2024-08-08 123844 Courtesy:
8 August 2024

Subcontinental upheaval

BY

Sheikh Hasina’s recent ouster as the Prime Minister has highlighted the deep fissures in Bangladeshi society and pushed the subcontinent into political turbulence. Amb. Rajiv Bhatia, Distinguished Fellow for Foreign Policy Studies, Gateway House, speaks about the political, economic, and security implications the crisis in Bangladesh has for Indian foreign policy and geopolitics in the neighbourhood and beyond.

handbook Courtesy:
27 June 2024

The Routledge Handbook of South Asia: Region, Security and Connectivity

BY

The authors convincingly analyse the bewildering diversity, size and scale of the challenges of South Asia in a volume that is a rare treasure for those interested in deciphering the history, ethnic identities, colonial legacy, political economy, environmental risks, and geopolitical dynamics of the region.

SA trade Courtesy: Hindustan Times
15 February 2024

South Asia’s trade architecture matters

BY

South Asia requires resilient and cost-effective regional supply chains. This can be achieved through Indian investment, fostering local linkages while reducing dependency on Chinese financing of regional partners. A new approach enhances India's regional influence, creating a win-win scenario for the entire South Asian neighbourhood in a changing global landscape.

nawaz-modi-saarc-reuters Courtesy: The Wire
9 January 2024

India and South Asia: what to expect in 2024

BY

The more India enjoys cooperative relations with its neighbours, the greater its ability to exert influence in the world. Meanwhile, neighbours looking at India with a reasonable mindset may internalise that cooperating with the world’s fifth largest economy is clearly in their interest.

idsa speech Courtesy: T20 India
30 January 2023

14th South Asia Conference – Think20@G20: Towards a Resilient South Asia

BY

On 17-18 January, 2023, Rajiv Bhatia, Distinguished Fellow, Foreign Policy Studies Programme, Gateway House participated in the 14th South Asia Conference on the theme “Think20@G20: Towards a Resilient South Asia” hosted by Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses in New Delhi. Amb. Bhatia suggests that in due course, BIMSTEC should be given the status of a permanent guest in G20.

bimstec 2022 Courtesy: BIMSTEC
31 March 2022

BIMSTEC steps forward

BY

BIMSTEC is of special importance to India as it is a crucial link between the Neighbourhood First and Act East policies. This almost 25 year old multilateral can contribute to the Indo-Pacific region by addressing challenges in strategic areas of regional connectivity, security cooperation, free trade, and geoeconomic ties with external partners.

Nepal's role in Asia through SAARC and BIMSTEC Courtesy: Khabarhub
7 October 2021

Nepal’s role in Asia through SAARC and BIMSTEC

BY

On 6 October 2021, Ambassador Rajiv Bhatia, Distinguished Fellow, Foreign Policy Studies Programme, spoke to Dr. Pramod Jaiswal, Strategic Affairs Editor at Khabarhub on the role of Nepal in BIMSTEC and SAARC, in an analysis of the 17th BIMSTEC ministerial meetings. He also highlighted the role of SAARC and BIMSTEC in countering Chinese influence in the region.

SAARC and BIMSTEC Courtesy: Nepal Institute for International Cooperation and Engagement
1 July 2021

Revitalizing SAARC and BIMSTEC

BY

On 27 June 2021, Ambassador Rajiv Bhatia, Distinguished Fellow, Gateway House, chaired a session on Revitalizing SAARC and BIMSTEC. This was part of the Global Conclave 2021, hosted by the Nepal Institute for International Cooperation and Engagement (NIICE), Kathmandu. Bhatia spoke about the present state, past trajectory and future challenges and opportunities for regional and sub-regional cooperation through SAARC and BIMSTEC.

42555677410_4bbbd59769_c Courtesy: MEA/Flickr
27 February 2020

BIMSTEC or SAARC?

BY

South Asia’s speedy economic development depends on the level of integration between countries in the region. The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) and the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) have lost their momentum. But both platforms have their uses and can be revived creatively