Editorial: Empowered Global South – India’s Aspirations and Contributions
Global South refers to countries that are described as “developing”, “less developed” or “underdeveloped”, many of these are in Southern Hemisphere, largely in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean. They are poorer, have higher levels of income inequality and suffer lower life expectancy and harsher living conditions than countries in “Global North” — richer nations located mostly in North America and Europe. The term “Global South” is not geographical. Global South’s two largest countries – China and India – lie entirely in Northern Hemisphere. Global South countries share common history of colonialism, economic dependency, and socio-political struggles and face substantial developmental challenges. Global South concept transcends geographical boundaries; it encapsulates critique of global inequalities, power imbalances, highlighting shared experiences of underdevelopment, colonial exploitation, and ongoing struggles for economic and political autonomy. Socially, these countries face substantial disparities in wealth distribution, educational attainment, and access to healthcare. Politically, many Global South nations contend with challenges related to governance, corruption, and internal conflicts, with autocratic regimes complicating their development trajectories. This framework is crucial for understanding contemporary global dynamics, particularly in terms of trade, economic policies, and diplomatic relations Read More
Geo-Economic Cooperation in India–South Korea Relations
India and South Korea have become significant stakeholders in the Indo-Pacific’s developing geo-economic architecture. Despite two decades of relations, the two countries have advanced beyond classic diplomatic relations and are in closer contact on trade, industrial cooperation, investment, technology exchanges, and new issues like supply chain management. South Korea’s advanced technological and industrial base works for India’s large domestic economy, yet the potential for partnership remains unfulfilled. This paper probes the structural opportunities, long-standing constraints, and strategic pathways of the two countries’ geo-economic cooperation. There is a high strategic convergence, but the profound economic integration requires institutional reforms, regulatory convergence, digital innovation, and financing facilities. Read More
BRICS Role in Counter Terrorism and its Impact on Security
The meeting of the BRICS counter-terrorism working group took place on June 5 in Brasilia, where they discussed a new mechanism to deal with growing terrorism using new internet technologies. Brazil and Ethiopia are leading when it comes to imparting education related to counter terrorism. Recently, BRICS have condemned the Phalgam terror attack or terrorism in all forms, happened in Jammu and Kashmir, showcasing BRICS active role in keeping up with its goals or objectives. BRICS primarily comprises of eleven member states, including Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Saudi Arabia , Egypt , the UAE , Ethiopia , Indonesia, and Iran. The BRICS Counter Terrorism Working group is divided into five subgroups, each with its own agenda of activities and thematic areas like de-radicalisation, improper use of the internet for terrorist activities, terrorism financing, and capacity building for the combat of terrorism. BRICS plays a very significant role in the 21st century, fostering cooperation among member nations to combat terrorism and related threats. This paper highlights BRICS' role in counter terrorism, considering the growing menace of terrorism in India and other countries within the BRICS grouping. Considering this, the paper highlights initiatives taken by BRICS as a bloc to keep up with the cause to combat terrorism. Keywords -BRICS, Terrorism, BRICS counter terrorism working group, UNSC. Read More
Analysing the Iranian Nuclear Programme, the Lacunae in Multilateral Arrangements and the need to Strengthen Disarmament Frameworks
Operations Rising Lion and Midnight Hammer, conducted by the Israeli and American armed forces respectively in 2025 and Operation Epic Fury which occurred in 2026 have placed the Iranian nuclear enrichment program at the forefront of security and non-proliferation discourse globally. This endeavour, which finds its origins in the civilian nuclear cooperation extended to Shah ruled Iran, an NPT signatory, was militarised in the aftermath of the Islamic Revolution of 1979. The Iran-Iraq war of the 1980s, as also the Gulf War served as catalysts for the nuclear mythmakers in the Islamic Republic. This coincided with the transnational proliferation network run by Pakistani nuclear scientist AQ Khan, resulting in the transfer of critical technology to the Iranians. The discovery of undeclared enrichment facilities in 2002 was followed by extensive IAEA inspections and UNSC resolutions with the latter resulting in the imposition of a strict sanctions regime and a consequent decline in oil revenues and the freezing of assets. The JCPOA signed in 2015 between Iran and the P5+EU, the subsequent withdrawal of the USA in 2018, reimposition of snapback sanctions, Iranian progress in the enrichment process and the alleged denial of access to IAEA inspectors culminated in the operations conducted in 2025 and 2026. In this light, the research aims to analyze the frailties inherent in multilateral frameworks like the JCPOA and the NPT, focusing on vulnerabilities due to their weak enforcement mechanisms which precipitated this crisis. Examining the relative decline in the relevance of these arrangements, resulting from an erosion of multilateralism in today’s era and the necessity to strengthen them is of paramount importance. The paper will be driven through a qualitative, analytical and interpretative method of secondary research relying upon verified sources like reports from international bodies, established think tanks, research papers, etc. Read More
China’s Military Purges and its Strategic and Operational Relevance
As China PLA is scheduled to observe its centenary next year, it will be important to note the recent purges in the PLA hierarchy raising question over its combat efficiency. It’s important to note the existing status quo of the Civil military relations and the impact on the operational and strategic impact that PLA will have. The recent purges of senior PLA officers by Xi Jinping are unprecedented in the history of the PLA. The Chinese Communist Party’s Central Military Commission (CMC), which oversees China’s armed forces, has been organizationally decapitated. Of the six generals named to the CMC in 2022, only one remains. This will be a precursor for the existing strategic dilemma that China’s Western Theatre Command will face in view of a renewed clash with India or if it has faced the dilemma of invading Taiwan in the years to come. From the perspective of operational effectiveness, the purges in the PLA will hinder the newly created Theatre Commands and as an extension will have great significance to the development of joint operations capability. Read More
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Erosion of the Rules- Based International Order: Transition to a Law of Power
Although the term "Rules-Based International Order " (RBIO) has gained prominence in the post-Cold War era, its foundation was laid in the 1945 UN Charter. The RBIO was intended to function within a rule-of-law framework, but the system has eroded under the structural realities of the Westphalian nation-state system. In the absence of a common “Leviathan”, equal sovereigns began to prioritise national interest over international law and morality, leading to intensified great-power rivalry. Read More
Maritime Connectivity and Security in the Indo-Pacific 2.0
Maritime connectivity is the lifeline of the world economy. The region accounts for over 60% of global GDP. The Indo-Pacific contains the Sea Lanes of Communication (SLOCs) and maritime choke points that are extremely crucial to the world, such as the Strait of Malacca. Over 80% of the world’s trade takes place via international transport of goods and services via shipping routes (UNCTAD, 2025)i. In this background, let us study how China’s assertive actions in the South China Sea (SCS) have further compounded challenges to maritime connectivity and security, making the evolution toward an Indo-Pacific framework, which is now known as 'Indo-Pacific 2.0'. What is Indo-Pacific 2.0? How China’s assertive behaviour was viewed by other actors, like QUAD, and South Korea. Read More
Critical Minerals in India - Import Dependency to Strategic Autonomy, National Security and Defence Preparedness
Achieving goals of Viksit Bharat will require secure and resilient access to critical minerals as they form backbone of sectors such as renewable energy, electric mobility, digital infrastructure and defence manufacturing. India’s critical minerals landscape is shaped by its heavy reliance on imports, targeted international partnerships and emerging export ambitions, especially in context of green energy transition, advanced manufacturing and national security. India is dependent on other countries for critical minerals. Critical minerals represent both the strategic vulnerability and a significant opportunity for India. A comprehensive critical mineral strategy, encompassing building strong institutions, incentivisation innovation and forging global partnerships, can turn India’s vulnerabilities into strengths, diversify its resource base, and lead the global minerals economy. The coming decade must be India’s exploration and innovation revolution, a decisive leap from dependency to leadership. Read More
India's Engagement with Taliban 2.O led Afghanistan
History has repeated itself and this time it seems forever. Taliban usurped power in Afghanistan in August 2021 leading to flight of people, worsening humanitarian crisis at all levels and giving space to terrorist groups to use Afghanistan as their launchpad. This threatened the entire world, particularly India. Read More
