How can Indian multilateral Initiatives such as Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure have impact in the countries that need it the most? How can they expand ambition and create international norms and standards? Staying relevant is key. Important discussion with vibrant colleagues. Anindita Sinh

CSEP blog on BIMSTEC and security cooperation in the Bay of Bengal, authored by Constantino Xavier and Dhruv Banerjee, is now online! Read the full blog: csep.org/blog/bimstec-a…

Good policy primer by Aditya Gowdara Shivamurthy on India’s stakes ahead of presidential election in Sri Lanka. Anura Dissanayake’s Delhi visit last year an example of how India hedges its bets — rather than putting all its eggs into one basket as per some mythologies. orfonline.org/research/sri-l…

Important introspection by Malancha Chakrabarty: no India-Africa summit in nine years, since 2015. Meanwhile, other Africa summits by: China (2021, 2024), Türkiye (2021), EU (2022), United States (2022), Japan (2022, 2025), Russia (2023). orfonline.org/expert-speak/i…

On India-China, "it is time for a reset" and for that "you must keep political channels open and communicate to each other ...diplomatic and military channels no substitute for high level, pure political dialogue." Amb. Shivshankar Menon in our recent chat on India's futures:

Ashoka University Ranjit Rae Karthik Nachiappan Kate Sullivan de Estrada Kira Huju Rahul Sagar Avinash Paliwal अविनाश पालीवाल Syed Akbaruddin Rudra C Dr. S. Jaishankar Shivshankar Menon Hardeep Singh Puri Ruchi Ghanashyam Ajay Bisaria Nicolas Blarel Amrita Narlikar Rohan Mukherjee Navdeep Suri Khushi پدما And a note on gender and other factors in decision-making which we must raise continued awareness about:

#Opinion | Constantino Xavier and Lucas Daley explore the growing role of Russia in India's regional strategy, highlighting the implications of recent developments and the broader impact on South Asia. Read more: hindustantimes.com/opinion/a-new-…

Such a telling map. For Transformation Index, the political West is on another planet. Exclusive focus on “developing” world still in “transition” & “transformation” reflects a teleological bias: The democratic West is beyond scrutiny, at the end of history. And the rest must catch up?

Sounds like Yao Wen is introduced as ambassador of “royal China”? Jamaat literally rolling out the royal and red carpet for Beijing in hope of maximising its future bargaining power with New Delhi. Interesting times in Dhaka… Yet nothing surprising in the boilerplate statement

First international flight to link Port Blair (Andaman & Nicobar) to Malaysia. India's #ActEast is reconnecting the country's periphery with and across the Bay of Bengal. Slow but steady shift from insulation to regional connectivity & interdependence. thehindu.com/news/national/…

"economic interdependence resulting from connectivity projects means that it has become increasing costly for the neighbours to exclude New Delhi ... from their developmental plans" On India-Bangladesh border trade after Aug. 5, read this by Riya Sinha: lowyinstitute.org/the-interprete…

PM Modi planned to be in Bangkok today for the 6th #BIMSTEC summit, postponed by Thailand. Reality check: In 10 years (2014-24), the BIMSTEC Secretariat has had directors deputed from India for a total of 3.5 years, even less than tiny Bhutan: 5 years. #commitment #capacity