The relationship between India and ASEAN goes way far, beyond trade and strategy, rooted in centuries of cultural exchanges and shared heritage. India and ASEAN both recognise and underscore the importance of people-to-people diplomacy, and how it is becoming an important element of state-led initiatives as both regions continue to negotiate a multipolar world. India-ASEAN relations are often narrated through a simplified filter: India is seen as a counterbalance to U.S. inte

India’s multi‑vector foreign policy in 2025  reflects a refined combination of adaptability and strategic depth in an increasingly complex world. In this new order, India carefully balances among the United States, China, and Russia while maintaining its strong influence within its South Asian neighbourhood. Illustration by The Geostrata The identified strategy, based on the belief in strategic autonomy, allows New Delhi to maneuver in unforeseen crises and take opportunities

Today, power is not simply quantified in terms of military or economic power, but it increasingly resides in the ability to shape knowledge and guide societal perceptions toward an understanding of reality. At every point on our planet, states and networks are using advanced tactics to drive public perception, well beyond the raw propaganda of yesteryear. Illustration by The Geostrata But rather than trying to prove one argument, these operations seek to push the larger conv

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

Every smartphone you tap, e very glass window you look through , and every road you drive or walk on has one common, silent but irreplaceable ingredient: sand. The world uses more than 50 billion tonnes of sand a year , the equivalent of building a wall 27 meters high and wide, surrounding the entire planet! Far from being an infinite source, high-purity silica sand is not a trivial and plentiful resource. Illustration by The Geostrata Rather, it's purified into silicon, wh

“The winds of change are with us now.” When U.S. President George H.W. Bush spoke these words in 1991, he expressed hope for a " new world order ." The Cold War was about to end, and the ideological hostility between Moscow and Washington was receding. This seemed to suggest that a much more cooperative international security system might be possible, one in which nuclear dangers could be contained through ambitious arms control measures .  Illustration by The Geostrata With

‘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

Strategic deterrence in the modern era has advanced well beyond single-warhead missiles. Today, nations rely on technologies that ensure credible retaliation, increase survivability, and complicate interception. The Multiple Independently Targetable Reentry Vehicle (MIRV) technology is particularly important among these developments. One missile with MIRV capability can launch multiple warheads, each directed toward a distinct target. Illustration by The Geostrata A "bus" or

A brave new world. A highly tabooed energy source. A scourge for some, a holy grail for others - Nuclear power. Can the latest nuclear advancements be deliverance for humanity or a doom ?  Advanced nuclear technology reactors with power capacity of about 300 MW(e)per unit, Small Modular Reactors  constitute about one third of the generating capacity of conventional ones. This innovation in nuclear technology is also sometimes referred to as ‘mini-nukes’ Illustration by The G

Geopolitics enthusiasts, we smell the brewing of the New World Order, and yes, of course, it does involve China, but here is a slight twist to it. The Big Three or the Asian Tigers, whatever you would like to call them, are gaining significant traction, primarily due to their proactive effort to safeguard regional and economic stability. But the larger question remains: is this convergence limited to strengthening the regional order, or does it extend to challenging America’s

Under the multifaceted networks of economic safety, cross-connections that exceed traditional supply-chain models can be found in complex geotechnical, technological, and financial networks  that redesign the business at a distant level. Illustration by The Geostrata Mapping these constellations of conflict and the relative permanence of ProKin, researchers shed light on the interdependence and dependence of risk and opportunity inherent in interlinkages of semiconductor sup

Imagine a time when the Romans believed in “ Roma Aeterna”, an empire eternal, invincible and destined to last forever. Today, what remains of that grandeur is a viral TikTok trend. The British Empire, once so vast that the sun never set, is now reduced to nostalgic relics like the royal family, gilded castles, and colonial territorial disputes. Illustration by The Geostrata This is history’s brutal lesson: Power is Transient. According to Modelski and Thompson’s Long Cycle T

A map drawn as far back as 1947 in Pre-Communist China has, today, become the source of global concerns that are only increasing as China establishes itself close to the helm of contemporary geopolitics. Illustration by The Geostrata Such is the story of origins of the 9-dash line  which initially started out with 11 dashes, only for China to give the Gulf of Tonkin to Vietnam hence, forfeiting two dashes. The South China Sea is visualised by China such that it asserts “histo

The People's Republic of China, founded in 1949, has always had a thirst for power and dominance. In the beginning, while it was protecting and conquering lands, it left the coasts unguarded. A brutal mistake to commit. Illustration by The Geostrata It was only in the late 1970s that Deng Xiaoping's reforms transformed the coast into China’s economic engine. Exports and the presence of ports tied China’s survival to maritime security. Yet, by the 1990s, clashes in the South C

Sometimes, one decision can alter the entire course of destiny. For Jammu and Kashmir, that decision came on 26 October 1947. On this day, Maharaja Hari Singh, the ruler of the princely state, signed the Instrument of Accession, choosing to join India that is Bharat, Kashmir’s home, its own civilisation. Illustration by The Geostrata The decision was made during immense external aggression at the hands of Pakistan. Within days of independence, Pakistan activated Operation Gul

The United States continues to maintain an extensive military presence in West Asia, which represents one of the most enduring features of post-Cold War geopolitics. Many analysts describe the American military presence in West Asia as a stabilizing influence. However, its actual effects have proven more complex than traditional narratives suggest. Illustration by The Geostrata US leaders from both Republican and Democratic administrations have used military capabilities to p

In the 19th century, the “Great Game” was the strategic competition between the British Empire and Tsarist Russia over the domination of Central Asia. This historic competition is resurfacing in a modern form, with new players, new tools, and billions of dollars at stake. Central Asia, which had long been viewed as a geopolitical backwater, has emerged as a critical front line in the contest for supremacy among great powers. Illustration by The Geostrata Today, China, Russia,

The clouds of tension are looming large, and we see a storm stirring up. Now, before scratching your head, wondering what storm we are talking about and who is stirring what, let us make things clear. Illustration by The Geostrata A new chapter in US-China ties has begun, defined by increasingly hostile discourse, reciprocal sanctions, and limited people-to-people interaction. Additionally, if the current string of tensions continue, the prospect of a long-term strategic riva

The analysis of psychological profiling of world leaders, or for that matter, any individual, cannot be fulfilled without mentioning ‘The Father of Psychology’, Sigmund Freud. In 1932, in a letter from Albert Einstein to Sigmund Freud, under the title “Why War?” Einstein asked several crucial questions pertaining to the present world stratum.  Illustration by The Geostrata One of them is “ Is it possible to control man's mental evolution to make him proof against the psychos

Critical minerals   are present on the nodules of major minerals, holding immense industrial and manufacturing potential for companies, countries, and economies alike. The contemporary discourse on critical minerals is highly dependent on the prevailing socio-economic developments and disparities, largely defined by technological advancements. Illustration by The Geostrata Though there may be different classifications of which mineral is critical, nevertheless, they are vital