By Shanthie Mariet D’SOUZA, PhD, founder & president, Mantraya Institute for Strategic Studies (MISS)

Over the past few months, a process of normalization in the China-India bilateral has taken off.
Relations between nations can be fragile. Contingent upon internal and external factors – interests and compulsions – sour relations can turn into mutually beneficial partnerships. At the same time, harmonious relations that held out promises for the future can go awry. India is undergoing such a phase of transformation and rebalancing. Donald Trump’s United States, with the imposition of 50 percent tariffs, appears to have scaled down its interest in India as a checkmate to China’s assertive foreign policy in the Indo-Pacific, endangering the Quad. China, also bruised by Trump’s tariff policy, is sensing an opportunity to not just mend ties with India, but also try creating a Beijing-Moscow-New Delhi alliance. In light of these shifts, New Delhi’s much-avowed policy of strategic autonomy is undergoing a reorientation of sorts – swinging from a tilt toward the U.S. to one that is veering toward Beijing, albeit with a continued hope that Washington may realize its mistake and change tracks. READ MORE

• September 8, 2025

Here are the key events on day 1,273 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.

• August 20, 2025

The White House has reiterated President Donald Trump’s remarks that US troops will not be deployed to Ukraine as part of any security guarantees under a peace deal with Russia. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the US may instead provide coordination and air support.

• August 20, 2025

Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov says discussing Ukraine security issues without Russia is a ‘road to nowhere’.

• August 20, 2025

Iran’s FM sceptical about resuming talks with the US, says Iran cannot break ties with UN nuclear watchdog.

• August 20, 2025

The White House has reiterated President Donald Trump’s remarks that US troops will not be deployed to Ukraine as part of any security guarantees under a peace deal with Russia. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the US may instead provide coordination and air support.

• August 20, 2025

The UK is ready to ‘increase pressure’ on Russia over its continuing war on Ukraine, says Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

• August 14, 2025

Russia controls about 20 percent of Ukraine’s territory and wants full control of four eastern and southern regions.

• August 14, 2025