As global power structures continue to shift toward multipolarity, the India–Russia relationship remains a critical pillar in Eurasian geopolitics and an increasingly important factor in shaping the strategic balance across the Global South.
The India-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), signed in 2022, marks a significant transformation in the trajectory of bilateral relations between India and the United Arab Emirates. Moving beyond the traditional framework of energy dependence and diaspora-driven engagement, CEPA has institutionalised a broader framework of economic cooperation centred on trade expansion, investment facilitation, strategic connectivity, and geo-economic partnership.
The drumbeats of conflict in the Middle East, specifically the looming specter of strikes involving Iran, have sent a predictable but no less jarring tremor through global markets. As fuel shortages manifest from the local pumps of East Africa to the industrial hubs of Europe, the world is reminded of the fragile tether connecting global peace to economic survival.
For three decades, a 315-meter ghost has haunted the canyons of the Far-West. The Pancheshwar Multipurpose Project (PMP), the centerpiece of the 1996 Mahakali Treaty, was promised as a “Project of the Century” that would transform Nepal into an energy powerhouse.
While rare earth minerals have become essential for future growth, it’s distribution across the world is not even. It becomes more challenging for countries to make a balance when major powers like China holds almost 80% of its share.
At a time when global trade tensions are escalating in Taiwan and the AI threat is overshadowing the world, the USA’s tilt in the Eastern Hemisphere points toward China’s growing global impact. The Iran-US war has surely caused a dent in China’s economic progress, but ideologically and politically it has gained an upper hand.
As BRICS countries seek to enhance institutional and legal cooperation among economies of the Global South, India hosted the third meeting of the BRICS Justice Ministers in Ahmedabad on May 21 and 22, 2026, with a growing focus on alternative dispute resolution mechanisms as a cornerstone for supporting investment and economic stability.
As global multilateralism faces growing strain and major international institutions encounter challenges, regional cooperation frameworks such as BIMSTEC are gaining renewed relevance. Bringing together seven countries of the Bay of Bengal region, BIMSTEC provides a focused platform to address shared developmental and security challenges through efficient consensus-building and practical cooperation. Anchored in the BIMSTEC Bangkok Vision 2030, the grouping is steadily strengthening institutional mechanisms and expanding collaboration across key sectors including trade, connectivity, energy, disaster management, and security, positioning itself as an important bridge between South Asia and Southeast Asia.
The Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in New Delhi highlighted the growing strategic importance of Indo-Pacific cooperation amid rising geopolitical tensions and economic uncertainty. With a strong emphasis on maritime security, resilient supply chains, and regional connectivity, Japan emerged as a leading voice advocating deeper strategic coordination and a “Free and Open Indo-Pacific” vision among democratic partners.
The 3rd India–Nordic Summit held in Oslo (May 19–20, 2026) marked a significant step in strengthening cooperation between India and Nordic countries. Prime Minister Narendra Modi held bilateral discussions with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo, and Iceland Prime Minister Kristrún Frostadóttir, focusing on green energy, innovation, digital technologies, and the blue economy. The summit also underscored a shared commitment to elevating India–Nordic relations into a Green Technology and Innovation Strategic Partnership aimed at advancing sustainable development and climate-focused global collaboration.
