Diplomacy & International Relations

The Future Trajectory of Power in Iran (Kamyar Kayvanfar – Observer Research Foundation)

As tensions between Iran and Israel escalate through proxy wars, cyberattacks, and strategic assassinations, with the most recent being direct military attacks, much of...

Tariffs, Trade, and Transformation: India–Africa Rewiring Global Supply Chains (Soumya Bhowmick – Observer Research Foundation)

The global trading order is in flux—upended by rising protectionism, intensifying US–China competition, and the emergence of regional trade and investment blocs. For India,...

Submarines and Strategy: Shaping Deterrence in the Indo-Pacific (Atul Kumar – Observer Research Foundation)

On 14 August 2025, China launched the PNS Mangro, an export variant of its Type 039B Yuan-class submarine, for Pakistan. Built at the Wuchang...

The Japan–Germany Compact (Pratnashree Basu – Observer Research Foundation)

On 18 August 2025, Japan’s Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya hosted Germany’s Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul for the first Japan–Germany Foreign Ministerial Strategic Dialogue in...

Global Development Initiative and Military–Civil Fusion Synergy: China’s Strategy for Global Influence (Col (Dr) DCS Mayal – Observer Research Foundation)

The convergence of Military-Civil Fusion (MCF) and the Global Development Initiative (GDI) can serve as a strategic enabler for China to accelerate its geopolitical...

Indonesian protests a wake up call on policy complacency (East Asia Forum)

Indonesia's steady growth performance over much of the past three decades is now under strain as weak wages, rising costs and limited formal-sector employment...

The China-Russia- North Korea alliance that needs no name (Seong-Hyon Lee – Lowy The Interpreter)

The image of Xi Jinping, Vladimir Putin, and Kim Jong-un standing together at Tiananmen Square was a masterclass in political theatre, a chilling and...

Who is Thailand’s new Prime Minister, Anutin Charnvirakul? (Susannah Patton – ASPI The Strategist)

The rapid demise of two Thai prime ministers in as many years has paved the way for a third: Anutin Charnvirakul, leader of the...

Ukraine’s oil war threatens to leave Russia running on empty (David Kirichenko – ASPI The Strategist)

Ukraine is steadily expanding its campaign against Russia’s oil refineries. Fuel shortages are worsening across the country, with one Russian newspaper warning that the...

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