The Strait of Hormuz crisis and divergent Iran policies have intensified the US–Europe tensions. Europe must use its power to present a united front, which is the only option that will ensure its credibility on the world stage. The pause in conflict offers a window to diversify energy supplies, shape peace efforts, and act collectively to strengthen geopolitical credibility and resilience.

Read more: https://www.orfonline.org/expert-speak/iran-ceasefire-offers-europe-a-chance-to-regroup

Renewed criticism of NATO by Donald Trump signals potential erosion of US commitment. The central question is not simply whether the US will remain within the alliance, but what kind of ally it intends to be?

Read the brief to understant the global repercussions from the uncertain NATO: https://www.orfonline.org/research/trump-vs-nato-a-rift-with-global-repercussions

Isolation from the West has forced Russia to reach out to the Global South, its trade with India on a remarkable rise driven by increased imports primarily of crude oil. This brief examines the current status of and potential for Russian investment in India, identifying areas and mechanisms of economic cooperation alongside existing challenges to promoting bilateral ties.

Read: https://www.orfonline.org/research/mapping-russian-investment-in-india

Following the escalation of Operation Epic Fury and the seismic shifts in Tehran’s leadership, Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Khatibzadeh argues that Iran has been pushed into a corner where diplomatic maneuvering has been replaced by the necessity of survival.

Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mgvC6IZyz6w

A breakdown of talks would likely trigger a resumption of hostilities, pushing up prices and amplifying global inflationary pressures. This brief explores whether incremental diplomacy can arrest a cycle of escalation that has proven remarkably resilient thus far.

Read: https://www.orfonline.org/research/the-structural-challenge-to-us-iran-ceasefire

For Nepal, developing a relationship with China has both economic and strategic dimensions. The deepening of economic ties is also seen as feeding into Kathmandu’s strategic positioning—seeking to reduce reliance on New Delhi and, in turn, hedge its bets between its two neighbours.

Read to learn Nepal's balancing game: https://www.orfonline.org/expert-speak/nepal-s-political-reset-and-the-limits-of-change-in-nepal-china-ties

This report highlights the deep complementarities and converging interests between India and Thailand, and identifies 5 top priorities for both sides—semiconductors; artificial intelligence; automotives; Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs); and tourism.

Read: https://www.orfonline.org/research/india-and-thailand-the-compelling-case-for-a-deeper-compact

Can India meditate? As global power shifts beyond the Cold War binary, can India balance ties with Russia and the US to shape a viable triangular framework in a fluid geopolitical order?

Watch Alexander A. Dynkin, Matthew Foldi, Harsh V Pant and Cary Johnston discuss: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-FoMBfbvRZs

For now, the US-Iran Ceasefire is not an endgame - it is merely the next move in a much longer strategic contest.

Read this brief to understand how this conflict serves as a reminder of the limits of coercion in addressing deeply embedded geopolitical rivalries: https://www.orfonline.org/research/the-us-iran-ceasefire-a-calibrated-pause

Strengthening relations with Malaysia, a key ASEAN member, secures India’s interests and can generate positive effects for India’s engagement with other ASEAN nations, further enhancing its position in the Indo-Pacific. Malaysia’s expanded role in India’s Act East policy supports these objectives.

Read more here: https://www.orfonline.org/expert-speak/malaysia-s-growing-significance-in-india-s-act-east-policy

The closure of the Strait of Hormuz, accompanied by multiple Iranian attacks on QatarEnergy’s Ras Laffan Industrial City, has posed a significant risk to global helium supply.

Read to know how the Iran war has disrupted global Helium supply chain and how it will impact the memory chip manufacturing: https://www.orfonline.org/expert-speak/has-the-iran-war-triggered-another-semiconductor-crisis

Deep Sea Mining could reshape metal markets and geopolitics. India's influence over DSM will not be determined by whether it eventually extracts from the seabed, but by how actively it helps write the rules that govern it.

Read: https://www.orfonline.org/expert-speak/deep-sea-mining-and-ocean-commons-economics-equity-and-the-governance

We are hosting the latest iteration of the Neighbourhood Scope series on 'Bangladesh under BNP: Opportunities and Challenges.'

The recent developments in West Asia have continued to pose several challenges to #Bangladesh’s economy. The panel featuring Nayanima Basu, Rashed Uz Zaman, Sohini Bose, Tariq Karim & Sushant Sareen will discuss the way forward for the newly elected government of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (#BNP) led by Tarique Rahman.

📅 16 April | ⏰ 3:30 PM | 📍 ORF Delhi

Register now👉https://or-f.org/38305

It is important to ensure that students’ digital engagement remains purposeful, structured, and aligned with learning objectives. This requires focusing on how technology is used, supported by governance frameworks that protect and enhance student learning.

Read the analysis: https://www.orfonline.org/expert-speak/students-screens-and-human-capital-formation-in-india

France supports India's multi-alignment with flexible defence deals, from helicopters to submarines, fortifying Indo-Pacific security ties. The real test, however, lies in the implementation of the ambitious strategic partnership agenda that has been outlined during President Emmanuel Macron’s visit to India in February:

https://www.orfonline.org/research/the-india-france-defence-connect

Are allies under pressure?
As Trump 2.0 mixes tariffs with reduced focus on Asian allies, how are Indo-Pacific partners rethinking security, supply chains and reliance on the US amid China’s expanding influence?

Watch Christopher B. Johnstone, Lisa Singh, Tomoyuki Yoshida and Cary Johnston discuss: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fbvjb3Vn0Ss

Framed as South–South solidarity, GGI strategies are gradually displacing Western paradigms and challenging institutional transparency. This brief argues that the China’s Global Governance Initiatives transforms soft power into ‘invisible sharp edges’ within a narrative war to cement Pax Sinica.

Read to know more: https://www.orfonline.org/research/china-s-global-governance-initiatives-diplomacy-intelligence-convergence

The US-Iran conflict is not simply a dispute over policy specifics; it is a manifestation of deeper geopolitical and ideological divides. Until there is a willingness on both sides to reassess core assumptions and explore genuinely reciprocal frameworks, such negotiations will continue to falter.

Read to know more: https://www.orfonline.org/research/islamabad-breakdown-trump-and-the-iranian-paradox

This brief explores how the US–Israel–Iran war is shaping People’s Liberation Army doctrine: the saturaturaion warfare, drone tactics and trade chokepoint crisis.

Know more: https://www.orfonline.org/research/chinese-lessons-from-the-war-in-the-middle-east

The US is driven by an excessive use of force doctrine, while for Iran, it is a question of ideology, resistance, regime survival and pride rolled into one. Both Iran and the US headed to the talks with maximalist demands, making an off-ramp look impossible.

Read this brief to explore the structural failure of Iran-US peace: https://www.orfonline.org/research/the-structural-failure-of-the-iran-us-islamabad-talks

India must pursue AI sovereignty—targeting key layers like semiconductors, compute, and models—balancing autonomy with global collaboration. Done right, this approach can translate into both economic and geopolitical leverage, positioning India as a credible ‘third way’ in AI.

Read more: https://www.orfonline.org/expert-speak/a-strategic-approach-towards-ai-sovereignty