President Trump’s tariffs have reinforced the importance of BRICS as a platform for collective bargaining and the pursuit of alternative institutional frameworks.
Political violence in the US has increased in recent times, with Charlie Kirk’s killing the latest instance of rising extremism in the US body politic.
A new Executive Order signed by US President Donald Trump on 24 April 2025 calls for enabling US access to vast reserves of mineral resources on the deep seabed space.
President Donald Trump’s transactional approach to alliance burden sharing has resulted in US alliance partners increasing their contributions for collective defence requirements.
The unravelling race for tech supremacy, as a microcosm of the macro trade war between US and China, can be depicted as Tech Race 2.0. In some ways, this is akin to the Space Race that unfolded between the US and the erstwhile USSR in the 1950s and 1960s, which eventually turned in favour of the US, given its fundamentals being firmly grounded in democracy, freedom of speech and robust innovation and business ecosystems. Since China shares some of the key elements that the Soviet Union had, it is likely that history can be repeated provided the US is fully aware of the challenges emanating from China and takes necessary steps by investing in the state-of-the-art technologies. The implications of the US losing the race could be far-reaching not only for the US, but also for the entire global order built on the liberal principles and values. The same is applicable for India since it shares a border with China and the border conflict continues to persist. Therefore, it is imperative to save the global community from the dangers of authoritarian leaders and countries winning the race.
The strategic partnership between India and the United States has increasingly focussed on joint Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) efforts in the Indian Ocean Region. Cemented by India’s 2016 designation as a ‘Major Defence Partner’, this collaboration now includes joint military exercises, port visits and disaster relief missions. Given the Indo- Pacific region’s importance due to its population and key shipping routes, improved military interoperability and logistical coordination are crucial for tackling climate-related disasters. India’s strong HADR capabilities and capacity-building, along with the strategic support of the United States, have enhanced their bilateral and multilateral cooperation, vital for addressing regional challenges and maintaining stability in the Indo-Pacific.
