There is a persistent illusion in international relations that states choose, once and for all, between idealism and realism. The foreign policies of India and the United States both demolish this illusion as these countries speak the language of universal values while simultaneously practising something far older and far less sentimental. Illustration by The Geostrata TWO FRAMEWORKS, ONE WORLD Let’s first explore the world of realism and idealism quickly. Immanuel Kant, in h

The first quarter of 2026 has been marked by a continuum of accelerated geopolitical reset. It has, in various analytical circles, been argued that 2026 may represent a breaking point for the existing order, but this narrative is less about collapse and more about confrontation. While not literally accurate, it fits metaphorically in a world increasingly defined by energy politics, currency leverage, and proxy-driven conflicts. Illustration by The Geostrata However, with two

The Indo-Pacific region has emerged as the world’s new centre of gravity. Hosting nearly half of the world’s population and nearly two-thirds of the world's economy, the region’s stability is now synonymous with global prosperity. For decades, the Pacific region was seen primarily as a zone of economic cooperation, but it has now emerged as a critical theater for great power rivalry. Intensifying competition between the United States and China has transformed the region into

On April 12, 2026, Péter Magyar, the President-elect of Hungary, stood before thousands of hopeful supporters in Budapest and declared that together they had 'liberated Hungary.' The scale of his Tisza party's victory was, undoubtedly, historic. Tisza secured an estimated 138 seats in the 199-seat National Assembly, which means a firm two-thirds constitutional supermajority, ending the sixteen-year tenure of Viktor Orbán's Fidesz party. Illustration by The Geostrata A regime

In September 2015, Saudi and Emirati forces were coordinating airstrikes together over Yemen. In December 2025, Saudi Arabia was bombing ships sent by the UAE. That reversal, one of the most dramatic shifts in Gulf politics in a generation, did not happen because of a single dispute or a single miscalculation. It happened because two countries that once needed each other have spent years building incompatible visions of what the region should look like, and those visions have

The architecture of global finance has rested on two interconnecting pillars for decades: the US dollar and the SWIFT messaging network. SWIFT (Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication) connects over 11,500 institutions in more than 200 countries and handles around 44 million messages a day. It does not move money itself but coordinates the instructions that enable cross-border payments. All while the dollar sits at the centre of this system as the dominant

“As the global dynamics evolve, the neighbourhood around New Delhi has gained momentum to strengthen and modernise its democratic systems.” After the 2022 regime change in Sri Lanka, two other nation-states, Bangladesh and Nepal, have now undergone the same by establishing new governments. This political shift in India's neighbourhood has brought the opportunity for New Delhi to reset its ties and emerge as a more trusted partner in the subcontinent. Illustration by The Geost

For decades, Pakistan maintained its fundamental belief, which held that the Muslim Brotherhood of the Gulf would support Pakistan during any conflict with India over Kashmir. The financial connections to Riyadh, Abu Dhabi, and Doha served as economic lifelines for Islamabad. The Gulf states functioned as moral protectors in Islamabad's strategic vision. The Gulf would support the ummah when the moment arrived. The moment arrived, but the Gulf states did not respond. Illustra

On 12 April 2026, Hungary, for the first time in sixteen long years, welcomed a new government to the seat of power. In a watershed moment in Hungarian politics, around 79.5% of Hungary’s electorate turned out to vote in a monumental exercise of democracy. Viktor Orbán, the man who had dominated the seat of power since 2010, was defeated by Peter Magyar by a landslide margin of 138-55. Illustration by The Geostrata This change in governments is not a mere change in ruling par

“There are no permanent friends or allies, only permanent interests.” This quote by Lord Palmerston significantly underlines the fragile nature of relationships in the geopolitical arena, which is increasingly becoming more dynamic and complex in structure. The approach of one size fits all has become obsolete, and nations are embracing a more fluid framework in their pursuit of diplomatic outreach. Illustration by The Geostrata The 27-country European Union is the U.S.’s la

The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) operates a highly calibrated strategic signalling apparatus. Recent showcases of solid fuel intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) and tactical delivery systems are not propaganda; they are calculated manoeuvres to fracture the US-South Korea security architecture. Despite comprehensive Western sanctions, Pyongyang bypasses isolation through a robust strategic axis with Moscow and Beijing to accelerate the transfer of dual

According to the conventional narrative of human history, citizenship was a sacred, unbreakable tie that combined ancestry, birthright, and common cultural heritage. Your country chose you, frequently by pure happenstance of where you were born. The high-altitude lounges of Dubai, Singapore, and Zurich, however, are writing a different story in the twenty-first century. Illustration by The Geostrata Citizenship is now a diverse asset class rather than a fate. Small countries

Why empathy, identity, and collective behaviour shape the future of diplomacy “Behind every handshake and policy lies something subtler, the sociology of human behaviour.” Every summit hall, joint statement, and diplomatic gesture carries more than strategic intent; it carries emotion, memory, and meaning. While diplomacy is often framed as the language of power and national interest, the forces that sustain trust, legitimacy, and influence are deeply social. Illustration by

Security and strategy have been the guiding principles in today’s geopolitical scenario. The ASEAN, or Association of Southeast Asian Nations, has been at the forefront of ensuring a secure and stable world. At the core of it lies a critical region, the Indo-Pacific. The Indo-Pacific has been witnessing an evolving nature of geopolitics and is significant for regional groupings like ASEAN and QUAD. Illustration by The Geostrata The QUAD, comprising the United States, India, A

Secession, the separation of a territory from an established state, is one of the most disruptive moments in international politics. If accompanied by conflict, the relations between the two sides are unsurprisingly complex and turbulent. The new country attempts to define itself in opposition to the state from which it broke away. While the parent state, as the original state is called, may harbour feelings of resentment and humiliation. Illustration by The Geostrata When co

Syria has experienced a shift in power with new actors emerging. The larger shift comes from how global powers view ongoing events in the country. Ahmed al-Sharaa came to power in Syria as part of a dramatic political transition. In addition to signaling the end of Syria's previous leadership, his ascent has drawn attention from all over the world due to his remarkable personal development of Ahmed al Sharaa, from being an al-Qaeda militant commander to a Syrian ‘revoluti

With the establishment of formal bilateral ties in 1951, both India and Myanmar have faced multiple crests and troughs in maintaining a steady balance of geopolitical interests, sailing through various coups, tension struggles and internal strife. India and Myanmar share a particularly sour relationship, wherein the effects of internal turbulence are seen on the emotional, social and economic aspects of the other. These include border tensions, immigrant management issues, re

In the magnificent world of diplomacy, nations speak the language of friendship and trust, followed by the treaties, agreements, or pacts that promise solidarity, resilience, and cooperation. These pacts are signed and agreed upon in a spirit of warmth and confidence, marked by gestures of goodwill, photographs, and cordial handshakes; however, the dark truth lies deep in the shifting interests of nations. Illustration by The Geostrata History reveals the colder side of thes

‘The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without even fighting’- Sun Tzu, The Art of War. The Asian dragon and its growing relevance in global affairs have persistently dictated the geopolitical sphere and shaped global policies. From dominating global supply chains to an established hegemony in rare earth resources, China is no longer just an active player in a rapidly evolving global order, emerging at the helm of affairs. Illustration by The Geostrata As the geopol

It is a challenging time to be a US ally. America is withdrawing from its role as system administrator in favour of becoming just another self-interested great power. To make matters worse, an informal alliance of China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea, called the “Axis of Evil” by Western officials, is emerging. Illustration by The Geostrata The region most anxious about these developments is the Indo-Pacific, the new theatre of great power competition. For Asia, Donald Tru