Trump-Xi meeting: What it means for India in the G-2 world
As Trump’s trade-driven strategy begins to reorder the region, Delhi must re-examine long-held assumptions about American purpose, Chinese ambition, and the strategic space available to middle powers such as India
C Raja Mohan writes | Trump’s visit to Asia: Flux in US-China ties has consequences for Asian nations
Many worry Trump might sacrifice Taiwan or other Asian interests for a deal with China. Yet, signs from Trump’s Asia tour suggest continuity as well as adjustment
C Raja Mohan writes: Xi, Putin and transhumanism: Who wants to live forever?
Slowing ageing and extending healthy lifespans could transform societies, producing older but more active populations. The social consequences of longevity research could be profound
C Raja Mohan writes: China’s parade, Asia’s divide
Modi’s decision to skip China’s military pageant days after SCO speaks of impracticality of Eurasian coalition
Recasting India’s Air Defence Architecture: Countering the Drone and Swarm Threat
This report argues that India’s traditional air defence (AD) architecture—reliant on expensive, centralized missile systems—is becoming obsolete against the proliferating threat of low-cost, autonomous drone swarms. The May 2025 “Operation Sindoor” crisis exposed a critical “cost asymmetry”: expending million-dollar interceptors against disposable $2,000 FPV drones is economically unsustainable, allowing adversaries to easily exhaust India’s magazine depth.
The New Cold War and Changing Regional Orders
The roundtable discussion will examine how shifting geopolitics—from the Trump–Xi accord to Middle Eastern realignments and a possible Russia–Ukraine ceasefire—are reshaping India’s strategic environment. It will assess implications for ASEAN, Gulf energy, IMEC, and how India balances BRICS+ ambitions with practical security and supply-chain partnerships like the Quad.