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Shifting U.S. Approaches to Eurasia
International Affairs Sep 29, 2025

Shifting U.S. Approaches to Eurasia

The first eight months of Donald Trump’s presidency have seen notable changes in the United States’ (US) foreign policy towards Eurasia. Trump has overhauled regional priorities and shaken up the country’s relationships with allies, partners, and adversaries alike. While the transatlantic alliance is undergoing fundamental ...

Against the Odds: Russia’s Stakes in Closer Engagement with Pakistan
International Affairs Sep 18, 2025

Against the Odds: Russia’s Stakes in Closer Engagement with Pakistan

Since the early 2010s, Russia has greatly expanded its cooperation with Pakistan, venturing into new areas and levels of cooperation and engaging in more frequent consultations. The bilateral ties have been growing despite many inherent challenges, including historical animosity during some periods of the Cold ...

Deterrence, Trade, and Vulnerability: Re-imagining America’s Port-Led Architecture in the Trump Era
International Affairs | US Foreign Policy Sep 17, 2025

Deterrence, Trade, and Vulnerability: Re-imagining America’s Port-Led Architecture in the Trump Era

This paper explores the status and the need for the United States (US) to have a port-led strategy in place. Further, it argues that a strong port-led strategy straddling economic concerns with security imperatives on the back of its vast coastline and unmatched global network ...

From Demographic Dividend to Workforce Readiness: 21st-Century Skills for Viksit Bharat
Developing and Emerging Economies Sep 12, 2025

From Demographic Dividend to Workforce Readiness: 21st-Century Skills for Viksit Bharat

India’s demographic advantage presents a strategic window of opportunity to build a globally competitive and future-ready workforce. This demands that traditional education systems evolve to equip young learners with transferable and job-relevant competencies, commonly referred to as ‘21st-century skills’. Anchored in the context of India’s ...

The Tibetan Quest for Independence: A Historical Overview and an Exploration of the Future
International Affairs Aug 29, 2025

The Tibetan Quest for Independence: A Historical Overview and an Exploration of the Future

The announcement by His Holiness the Dalai Lama of the continuation of the institution of the Dalai Lama, and the sharp reactions from China that followed, have reignited global attention on the Tibetan people’s decades-long struggle for independence. Owing to British self-interest during the Second ...

Enhancing the Security of Dual-Use Chemicals in India
International Affairs Aug 04, 2025

Enhancing the Security of Dual-Use Chemicals in India

The potential misuse of chemical precursors, toxic industrial chemicals, and pharmaceutical-based agents (PBAs) by non-state actors poses a massive threat to national and international chemical security frameworks. There is an urgent need to strengthen the oversight of dual-use chemicals to arrest the frequent use of ...

Russia-North Korea Ties: Tactical Convenience or Strategic Commitment?
International Affairs Jul 31, 2025

Russia-North Korea Ties: Tactical Convenience or Strategic Commitment?

Russia and North Korea signed the Treaty on Comprehensive Partnership in June 2024, signalling the re-establishment of their strategic ties. Following the treaty, a number of tactical developments have occurred, including the deployment of North Korean troops in Russia and Moscow’s support for North Korea’s ...

Forging India-Taiwan Engagement: Theoretical Foundations, Policy Debates, and Pragmatic Pathways
International Affairs Jul 29, 2025

Forging India-Taiwan Engagement: Theoretical Foundations, Policy Debates, and Pragmatic Pathways

As India and Taiwan complete 30 years of informal relations this year, there is scope to deepen cooperation in the domains of trade, technology, digitalisation, and security. This paper offers a framework for India’s engagement with Taiwan, identifies the pillars of their current relationship and ...

The Impact of Trump’s Energy Policy Reset on the UAE’s Transition Agenda
International Affairs Jul 25, 2025

The Impact of Trump’s Energy Policy Reset on the UAE’s Transition Agenda

This paper highlights the likely impact that the Trump energy policy reset may have on Washington’s approach to energy transitions domestically and globally. It seeks to identify any recalibration that this changed approach may have triggered in the long-term agenda of US partners. The paper ...

The European Union A.I. Act 2024: Understanding the Context and Exploring its Future
Artificial Intelligence Jul 22, 2025

The European Union A.I. Act 2024: Understanding the Context and Exploring its Future

The European Union (EU) Artificial Intelligence Act is a landmark regulation capable of propelling the bloc to the forefront of AI governance. Implementing a novel risk-based tiered approach, the Act has the potential to become a policy template for other states aiming to regulate the ...

Contributors

Nilanjan Ghosh

Nilanjan Ghosh

Dr Nilanjan Ghosh heads Development Studies at the Observer Research Foundation (ORF) and serves as the operational and executive head of ORF’s Kolkata Centre. He was the Director of ORF’s Centre for New Economic Diplomacy. With over two decades of ...

Read More + Soumya Bhowmick

Soumya Bhowmick

Dr. Soumya Bhowmick is a Fellow at the Centre for New Economic Diplomacy (CNED) at the Observer Research Foundation (ORF). He completed industry- endorsed Ph.D. studies at BML Munjal University as a SYLFF Research Grantee (Tokyo Foundation), focusing on inclusive ...

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