Articles

Neighbourhood News Digest - 10 July 2025

Afghanistan

Islamic Emirate Rejects ICC Arrest Warrants, Cites Double Standards- Tolo News

Following the issuance of arrest warrants for the leader of the Islamic Emirate, Sheikh Hibatullah Akhundzada and Abdul Hakim Haqqani, ....

July 10, 2025 VIF Neighbourhood News Digest , Nepal , Maldives , Iran , Myanmar , Sri Lanka , Afghanistan , Trump , Bhutan , trade , Bangladesh , poverty , tariffs , UN , Chinese investment , Loan , KIA , ICC , Herat , MNDAA , Gelephu International Airport , Maldives - Dominica

India and the BRICS Rio Summit

Dr Pravesh Kumar Gupta, Associate Fellow, VIF Article

Background

Brazil hosted the 17th BRICS Summit in Rio de Janeiro on July 6-7, 2025. The Rio summit was anticipated to be highly promising due to the ongoing poly-crisis around the world, including the Israel-Iran conflict and the Russia-U....

July 08, 2025 International Relations and Diplomacy , Article , Climate Change , trade , investment , Finance , Global health cooperation , Artificial intelligence (AI) governance , Multilateral peace and security architecture , Institutional development

Israel: A Growing Key Economic Partner for India

Dr Alvite Ningthoujam Article

Since the establishment of full diplomatic relations in January 1992, the India-Israel bilateral relationship has been predominantly viewed through the prism of defence cooperation, particularly the arms trade. As a result, economic cooperation began....

June 16, 2025 International Relations and Diplomacy , West Asia , Article , Israel , India , trade , GCC , investment , renewable energy , UAE , FTA , Middle East , I2U2 , IMEC , Regional connectivity

Recalibrating U.S. Foreign Policy: President Trump's May 2025 Gulf Visit and Its Strategic Implications

Dr Joseph N. Sanate, Research Associate, VIF Article

President Donald J. Trump's May 2025 visit to the Gulf states of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) marked a pivotal moment in the United States' (U.S.) foreign policy engagement in West Asia (the Middle East).

June 04, 2025 International Relations and Diplomacy , US , Article , Israel , trade , Qatar , Saudi Arabia , Syria , West Asia , Middle East , American Foreign Policy , United States (U.S.) , Donald J. Trump , United Arab Emirates (UAE) , Economy.

Neighbourhood News Digest - 08 May 2025

Afghanistan

India-Pakistan Tensions Disrupt Afghanistan's Trade Routes, Economy-Tolo News

Fresh tensions between India and Pakistan have posed challenges to Afghanistan’s trade, resulting in the halt of export shipments at r....

May 08, 2025 VIF Neighbourhood News Digest , India , Pakistan , Maldives , Myanmar , Afghanistan , Bhutan , trade , Abdali , Ghavnavi , National Security Advisers , Department of Employment and Entrepreneurship , DEE , Jabchor 2.0 , India-Maldives Defence Pact , Truce Deals , Myanmar-Russia Relations.

India and Europe: A Growing Economic Partnership in a Changing World

Dr Shreya Sinha, Associate Fellow, VIF Article

In a landmark visit to New Delhi last month, the European Commission and the College of Commissioners reinforced the strategic ties between the European Union and India, which led to the resumption of the India-EU Free Trade Agreement negotiations. F....

March 24, 2025 International Relations and Diplomacy , Article , trade , Economic Partnership , India-EU FTA , India-UK FTA , India-EFTA TEPA

Neighborhood News Digest- 24 February 2025

Afghanistan

Afghanistan and Uzbekistan discuss financial cooperation and money transfer solutions- The Khaama Press

Noor Ahmad Agha, the Governor of the Central Bank of Afghanistan under Taliban control, met with Timur Ishmetov,....

February 24, 2025 VIF Neighbourhood News Digest , India , Pakistan , economy , Maldives , Myanmar , Sri Lanka , Afghanistan , Trump , Bhutan , trade , Bangladesh , Imran Khan , Azerbaijan , IMF , UN Human Rights Council , India-Bangladesh , India-Sri Lanka , Myanmar-Russia Relations , US Weapons , Scam Centres , India-Bhutan.

India's Strategic Balancing in Navigating the Arc of Instability and Conflict in the Western Indian Ocean

Dr. Raghvendra Kumar Article

Introduction: Context and Relevance

The magnitude of overlapping and interlinked conflicts in West Asia, Northern, and Eastern Africa makes 2024 one of the most volatile years in the global political landscape, affecting the lives and liv....

February 18, 2025 International Relations and Diplomacy , Article , Africa , trade , India’s foreign policy , energy , Strategic Autonomy , diaspora , Regional Security Dynamics , Arc of Instability , West Asia Conflict , Western Indian Ocean (WIO) Geopolitics , Multi-alignment , and Regional Stability.

Africa Now (01-15 February, 2025)

OVERVIEW

This edition of Africa Now looks into significant developments across the African continent, focusing on security, politics, economy and foreign policy. The continent mourns the passing of Namibia's founding father, Sam Nu....

February 17, 2025 India , China , Russia , Ethiopia , Africa , trade , Egypt , Mauritius , defence cooperation , UK , Crisis , Sudan , UN , Human Rights , Tanzania , VIF Africa Now , Mali , Nigeria , South Africa , India-Africa , Zimbabwe , Zambia , Namibia , DRC , M23 , 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development , India-Algeria , Joint Permanent Commission , CODECO , Botswana , AeroIndia2025

IMEC, a Possibility Put on Hold

Ritwik Prijit Article

Introduction

India’s G20 presidency culminated in an ambitious transcontinental dream when New Delhi hosted the country’s first G20 summit in 2023. True to its theme, Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam or “One Earth One Family One Future�....

January 30, 2025 International Relations and Diplomacy , Article , Israel , India , China , Trump , Europe , trade , West Asia , BRI , Trump administration , India-EU FTA , economic strategy , Quantum Technology , IMEC