Harsh V Pant

Learnings from the Ukraine battlefield for armed forces

There are six key takeaways for India from the Russia-Ukraine conflict. The Indian armed services, especially the Indian Army, has its task cut out.

The armed forces must invest in armour, missile and artillery capabilities and apply emerging technologies not as substitutes but as enablers of these firepower-intensive capabilities. (AP)

opinion

Published on Mar 21, 2023 07:35 PM IST

ByHarsh V Pant, Kartik Bommakanti

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Stronger India-Italy ties can transform the Indo-Pacific

At the heart of Italy’s Indo-Pacific vision lies the understanding of this region as the neighbourhood of its strategic Mediterranean Sea.

An initial assessment of Italian PM Giorgia Meloni’s visit seems to indicate a radical and positive change for the region in Italy’s Indo-Pacific policy. As New Delhi often hoped, a further like-minded partner is appearing in the region. (PIB Photo)

opinion

Updated on Mar 04, 2023 07:07 PM IST

ByHarsh V Pant and Mauro Bonavita

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How Russia’s Ukraine offensive can impact India’s G20 presidency

There can be no debate that India’s much-vaunted strategic autonomy is being challenged by the Russian misadventure in Ukraine

Even as India’s G20 presidency has gathered pace, there are signs that the Ukraine war is reaching a flashpoint, with Moscow preparing for a fresh offensive to mark the first anniversary of its invasion. (AFP)

opinion

Updated on Feb 19, 2023 08:32 PM IST

ByHarsh V Pant

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India unshackled from Pakistan is good news

A mix of marginalisation, mobilisation and militarisation has helped Delhi take away a key facet of Pakistan’s outreach, allowing India to be more ambitious on the regional and global stage

The more India has ignored Pakistan, the shriller has been the response from the Pakistani leadership. But the results of the Indian policy response are evident in Delhi making new space in the global hierarchy. (Shutterstock)

opinion

Updated on Feb 01, 2023 08:03 AM IST

ByHarsh V Pant

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Andaman and Nicobar can lift India’s maritime capacity

The strategic location of these islands demands New Delhi’s full attention as it can open new vistas for India’s maritime strategy

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh at Indira Point during his visit to Andaman & Nicobar Islands, January 6. (PTI) (PTI)

opinion

Updated on Jan 16, 2023 01:12 PM IST

ByHarsh V Pant and Sohini Bose

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What 2023 holds for India’s foreign policy

The Ukraine war threw unexpected geopolitical tests at India in 2022, and Delhi handled it deftly. But challenges from China persist, and if the war drags on, India’s new multi-alignment strategy will face the stress test in the new year

At a time when multilateralism is facing a crisis of credibility, all eyes are on New Delhi’s G20 leadership to provide a road map for some of the key challenges facing the world (AFP)

opinion

Updated on Dec 28, 2022 08:01 PM IST

ByHarsh V Pant

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Berlin bats for closer ties. Delhi must reciprocate

As Germany makes an important outreach to India, New Delhi will carefully watch how Berlin deals with its economic entanglement with China.

External affairs minister S Jaishankar meets German foreign minister Annalena Baerbock in New Delhi (Außenministerin Annalena Baerbo)

opinion

Updated on Dec 12, 2022 08:48 PM IST

ByHarsh V Pant

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China is challenging India in the Indian Ocean Region

This has been a longstanding policy of China, but more recently, Beijing has been perturbed by New Delhi’s proactive push in China’s periphery along the wider Indo-Pacific. Beijing is attempting to portray itself as the new leader in the emerging multipolar world

n November 21, the Communist Party of China’s China International Development Cooperation Agency launched its first-ever Indian Ocean Region Forum. The latest development indicates Beijing’s keenness to institutionalise its influence in IOR and challenge India’s status quo in its backyard. (Shutterstock)

opinion

Updated on Dec 02, 2022 08:55 PM IST

ByHarsh V Pant and Aditya Gowdara Shivamurthy

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What do the young think of India’s foreign policy?

The young respondents of The ORF Foreign Policy Survey displayed a sophisticated understanding of India’s foreign policy and the evolving world order

Despite India’s rising stakes in the new world order, young people attached strategic importance to India’s neighbourhood. (Shutterstock)

opinion

Published on Nov 12, 2022 08:33 PM IST

ByHarsh V Pant, Aditya Gowdara Shivamurthy

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Don’t have unrealistic demands from Sunak

The bilateral relationship is growing due to a newfound convergence in their strategic orientation. Let’s not burden Sunak with unrealistic expectations.

With his cabinet formation, Sunak tried to provide a sense of stability by bringing various factions together. He continued with three key cabinet positions from the Truss administration — Jeremy Hunt as chancellor, James Cleverly as foreign secretary and Ben Wallace as defence secretary — ensuring much-needed continuity in policymaking. (Bloomberg)

opinion

Updated on Oct 30, 2022 07:28 PM IST

ByHarsh V Pant

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Xi’s Taiwan policy has a message for the world

Xi has sounded the bugle that Taiwan will continue to be the most important fault line in his global engagement. The rest of the world, including India, must assess the implications of this development with a degree of seriousness

China's President Xi Jinping gives a speech during the opening session of the 20th Chinese Communist Party's Congress at the Great Hall of the People, Beijing, October 16, 2022 (AFP)

opinion

Published on Oct 17, 2022 08:19 PM IST

ByHarsh V Pant

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India is at the heart of global governance shifts

At a time of unprecedented global flux, new structures of global governance will emerge and India is at the heart of most of these. This is a transformative moment in global politics, and in Indian foreign policy aspirations.

Jaishankar showcased India’s multilateral record at the UN by highlighting its term as a member of the Security Council this year where it focused on issues such as maritime security, peacekeeping and counterterrorism. (ANI)

opinion

Published on Sep 29, 2022 06:42 PM IST

ByHarsh V Pant

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Delhi-Dhaka ties have entered a new golden age

The robust India-Bangladesh ties has helped India to claim its links with East and Southeast Asia and ensure its role as a key interlocutor in the Indo-Pacific strategic architecture. Dhaka should be willing to go the extra mile to help Bangladesh achieve its true potential

ilateral ties are doing well and are on a strong footing. But beyond MoUs and pacts, there is genuine warmth for Sheikh Hasina in India across segments and that was reflected in her outreach engagements. Her investment in India has been significant and paid off despite some in her country deriding her as a ‘proxy of India’ (PTI)

opinion

Updated on Sep 09, 2022 07:43 PM IST

ByHarsh V Pant

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Ukraine war: The global order is being reshaped

A new era of great power politics is playing out among Russia, China, and the United States as the conflict in Ukraine drags on. India will have to make tough choices

In recent days, the focus has shifted to Europe’s biggest nuclear power plant, Zaporizhzhia, where shelling by the two sides has fuelled fears of a potential nuclear disaster. (Reuters)

opinion

Published on Aug 28, 2022 07:43 PM IST

ByHarsh V Pant

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Taiwan: Beijing’s growing belligerence is a warning

The message to countries in East and Southeast Asia, as well as India, is clear: Be ready for Beijing’s military intimidation if its unilateral alterations in the status quo are resisted.

And so, the pressure on Taiwan has been ramped up by imposing economic sanctions, launching missiles over the island and military drills that simulated an attack on Taiwan and its forces. (Reuters)

opinion

Published on Aug 11, 2022 08:28 PM IST

ByHarsh V Pant

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S Asia is in a flux. India must show leadership

New Delhi’s leadership during the Covid-19 crisis has generated a new sense of expectation and the multiple crises brewing in the neighbourhood should also be seen as an opportunity to project an India that takes its regional responsibilities with the seriousness they deserve

Amid this rising regional turmoil, India has a tough task ahead. It has to first ensure that its economic fundamentals remain strong, and it continues to remain on an upward growth trajectory. (Sonu Mehta/HT PHOTO)

opinion

Updated on Jul 29, 2022 08:33 PM IST

ByHarsh V Pant

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Abe leaves behind a formidable legacy

The former PM’s vision was focused on reaffirming Japan’s place in the world. He revitalised the economy, fought hard to reverse the nation’s pacifist stance and gave the world the construct of the Indo-Pacific

There are few capitals that will miss Abe’s steady hand more than New Delhi. While a number of his predecessors pushed for closer ties with India, Abe placed New Delhi at the heart of Japan’s strategy for Asia and the Indo-Pacific. New Delhi and Tokyo upgraded the status of their bilateral partnership and articulated a joint vision for the future of the region (PTI)

opinion

Updated on Jul 10, 2022 08:59 PM IST

ByHarsh V Pant and Shashank Mattoo

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The G7 is one part of India’s pursuit of a multipolar world

At a time when the world order is intensely polarised, India remains one of the few nations which can engage with both the G-7 and BRICS in a matter of days with élan.

This summit saw leaders achieve seeming unity on the Russia-Ukraine issue, but it’s unclear how long it will last. (File Photos)

opinion

Published on Jun 29, 2022 08:22 PM IST

ByHarsh V Pant

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Afghanistan: India must make its presence felt

Greater engagement with the Taliban will create new possibilities for India as other regional players such as China, Russia and Iran look for ways to step up their engagement

A vendor pushes a wheelbarrow loaded with melons at a market in Kabul on June 15, 2022 (AFP)

opinion

Updated on Jun 16, 2022 09:00 PM IST

ByHarsh V Pant

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Beyond summits, Quad must deliver quickly

It seized the moment to create a front against China. But long-term sustenance will depend on timeliness of delivery

Quad is a coalition of four like-minded nations with ‘trust’ being the operative variable that not only converges on a range of issues, but also has the capability to convert their aspirations into operational realities. (Reuters)

opinion

Published on May 26, 2022 06:40 PM IST

ByHarsh V Pant

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Why is the West wooing New Delhi?

The West, often used to a pontificating India of the past, today hears an Indian voice that is capable of articulating a narrative of a responsible stakeholder that is firmly steeped in its own ethos

Prime Minister Narendra Modi greets the members of the Indian community in Copenhagen, Denmark. Prime Minister of Denmark Mette Frederiksen is also seen (PTI)

opinion

Updated on May 04, 2022 10:29 PM IST

ByHarsh V Pant

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2+2 meet: Delhi and DC are seeking new opportunities

India and the US have underscored their commitment to continue to build on the momentum of recent years and not lose sight of the larger strategic picture

(From left to right) Defence minister Rajnath Singh, external affairs minister S Jaishankar, US secretary of state Antony Blinken and US defence secretary Lloyd Austin, in Washington. (PTI)

opinion

Updated on Apr 14, 2022 06:09 PM IST

ByHarsh V Pant

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Wang visit: Beijing is not reassessing its India policy

It’s still about targeting India’s vulnerabilities — be it making common cause with Pakistan on Kashmir or with the Taliban in Afghanistan.

Wang Yi’s visit would seem curious only to those who have no understanding of how China operates.

opinion

Updated on Mar 29, 2022 08:09 PM IST

ByHarsh V Pant

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Delhi must review ties with Moscow

The Ukraine war shows India-Russia ties lack breadth, the Russia-China axis will grow more, and India’s relations with the West will rise. India must acknowledge these shifts to deal with the new order better

The Ukrainians are fighting back hard under President Volodymyr Zelensky’s inspiring leadership but they must be wondering if the lure of the West was a chimera that needed a more realistic appraisal (AFP)

opinion

Updated on Mar 16, 2022 08:18 PM IST

ByHarsh V Pant

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India must think of reconfiguring its ties with Russia

Through its actions in Ukraine, Russia has challenged the global order in fundamental ways and India’s foreign policy won’t be immune from its reverberations

India has been trying its best to keep Russia in good humour but the structural realities of the global order are ensuring that Russia and India are drifting apart. The foundations of the partnership are weakening by the day. (Sonu Mehta/HT PHOTO)

opinion

Published on Feb 25, 2022 06:48 PM IST

ByHarsh V Pant

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Indo-Pacific: How India is countering China

S Jaishankar’s visit to the Philippines from the Quad summit also showcased India’s willingness to more proactively shape the strategic contours of the Indo-Pacific

External affairs minister S Jaishankar’s visit to the Philippines from the Quad summit also showcased India’s willingness to more proactively shape the strategic contours of the Indo-Pacific. (ANI)

opinion

Updated on Feb 16, 2022 07:07 PM IST

ByHarsh V Pant

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Biden is flailing. And it can affect India-US ties

America needs a strong India in the Indo-Pacific as a partner. And India, too, needs an America that can sort its internal challenges to be able to pay attention to strategic realities

This domestic vulnerability of Biden is making a hash of his foreign policy agenda. His adversaries have got the measure of him and they have found him wanting. (Bloomberg)

opinion

Updated on Feb 02, 2022 08:07 PM IST

ByHarsh V Pant

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The US-Russia tango, and the Indo-Pacific

Stability in Russia-US ties will alleviate pressure on India at a time when the rise of China has changed the geopolitical calculus for the Indo-Pacific

Through its recent diplomatic moves, Moscow is hinting that it wants to move out of the looming shadow of China, and accommodation with the West might go a long way in realigning Russian foreign policy priorities (AP)

opinion

Updated on Jan 06, 2022 08:05 PM IST

ByHarsh V Pant

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Delhi-Dhaka: A model for the neighbourhood

The relationship has its roots in history, but both States have ensured continuous engagement, crucial for contemporary South Asian relations

Connectivity has been a vital aspect of the relations. Both States have perceived it as a means to promote mutual economic growth and counter China’s growing assertiveness (Mohd Zakir/HT PHOTO)

opinion

Updated on Dec 20, 2021 08:09 PM IST

ByHarsh V Pant and Aditya Gowdara Shivamurthy

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Amid great power competition, what Delhi and Moscow mean to each other

As it balances China’s rise and builds a strategic partnership with the US, India would like to invest in a stable relationship with Russia

For Russia, maintaining strong ties with India is important to signal to China that Beijing is not the only game in town (Sonu Mehta/HT PHOTO)

opinion

Updated on Dec 05, 2021 08:32 PM IST

ByHarsh V Pant

Close Story

Harsh V Pant

There are six key takeaways for India from the Russia-Ukraine conflict. The Indian armed services, especially the Indian Army, has its task cut out.

At the heart of Italy’s Indo-Pacific vision lies the understanding of this region as the neighbourhood of its strategic Mediterranean Sea.

There can be no debate that India’s much-vaunted strategic autonomy is being challenged by the Russian misadventure in Ukraine

A mix of marginalisation, mobilisation and militarisation has helped Delhi take away a key facet of Pakistan’s outreach, allowing India to be more ambitious on the regional and global stage

The strategic location of these islands demands New Delhi’s full attention as it can open new vistas for India’s maritime strategy

The Ukraine war threw unexpected geopolitical tests at India in 2022, and Delhi handled it deftly. But challenges from China persist, and if the war drags on, India’s new multi-alignment strategy will face the stress test in the new year

As Germany makes an important outreach to India, New Delhi will carefully watch how Berlin deals with its economic entanglement with China.

This has been a longstanding policy of China, but more recently, Beijing has been perturbed by New Delhi’s proactive push in China’s periphery along the wider Indo-Pacific. Beijing is attempting to portray itself as the new leader in the emerging multipolar world

The young respondents of The ORF Foreign Policy Survey displayed a sophisticated understanding of India’s foreign policy and the evolving world order

The bilateral relationship is growing due to a newfound convergence in their strategic orientation. Let’s not burden Sunak with unrealistic expectations.

Xi has sounded the bugle that Taiwan will continue to be the most important fault line in his global engagement. The rest of the world, including India, must assess the implications of this development with a degree of seriousness

At a time of unprecedented global flux, new structures of global governance will emerge and India is at the heart of most of these. This is a transformative moment in global politics, and in Indian foreign policy aspirations.

The robust India-Bangladesh ties has helped India to claim its links with East and Southeast Asia and ensure its role as a key interlocutor in the Indo-Pacific strategic architecture. Dhaka should be willing to go the extra mile to help Bangladesh achieve its true potential

A new era of great power politics is playing out among Russia, China, and the United States as the conflict in Ukraine drags on. India will have to make tough choices

The message to countries in East and Southeast Asia, as well as India, is clear: Be ready for Beijing’s military intimidation if its unilateral alterations in the status quo are resisted.

New Delhi’s leadership during the Covid-19 crisis has generated a new sense of expectation and the multiple crises brewing in the neighbourhood should also be seen as an opportunity to project an India that takes its regional responsibilities with the seriousness they deserve

The former PM’s vision was focused on reaffirming Japan’s place in the world. He revitalised the economy, fought hard to reverse the nation’s pacifist stance and gave the world the construct of the Indo-Pacific

At a time when the world order is intensely polarised, India remains one of the few nations which can engage with both the G-7 and BRICS in a matter of days with élan.

Greater engagement with the Taliban will create new possibilities for India as other regional players such as China, Russia and Iran look for ways to step up their engagement

It seized the moment to create a front against China. But long-term sustenance will depend on timeliness of delivery

The West, often used to a pontificating India of the past, today hears an Indian voice that is capable of articulating a narrative of a responsible stakeholder that is firmly steeped in its own ethos

India and the US have underscored their commitment to continue to build on the momentum of recent years and not lose sight of the larger strategic picture

It’s still about targeting India’s vulnerabilities — be it making common cause with Pakistan on Kashmir or with the Taliban in Afghanistan.

The Ukraine war shows India-Russia ties lack breadth, the Russia-China axis will grow more, and India’s relations with the West will rise. India must acknowledge these shifts to deal with the new order better

Through its actions in Ukraine, Russia has challenged the global order in fundamental ways and India’s foreign policy won’t be immune from its reverberations

S Jaishankar’s visit to the Philippines from the Quad summit also showcased India’s willingness to more proactively shape the strategic contours of the Indo-Pacific

America needs a strong India in the Indo-Pacific as a partner. And India, too, needs an America that can sort its internal challenges to be able to pay attention to strategic realities

Stability in Russia-US ties will alleviate pressure on India at a time when the rise of China has changed the geopolitical calculus for the Indo-Pacific

The relationship has its roots in history, but both States have ensured continuous engagement, crucial for contemporary South Asian relations

As it balances China’s rise and builds a strategic partnership with the US, India would like to invest in a stable relationship with Russia

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