The fourth Japan–India–Africa Business Forum, which took place in Tokyo on 26 February 2025, explored opportunities to collaborate in supporting Africa’s sustainable economic growth and development.[1] The forum was initiated in 2007 as a platform for enhancing business and economic ties between Japan, India and African countries. The forum aims to foster…

For the fifth time since the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) was founded in 1967, Malaysia took over as chairman of the organisation on 1 January 2025.[i] ASEAN’s 2025 theme will be ‘Inclusivity and Sustainability’.[ii] During its chairship, Malaysia seeks to promote digital transformation and further strengthen intra-ASEAN as well as extra-regional trade. The first ASEAN–Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)…

The India–Russia bilateral partnership can be propelled further by exploiting opportunities for cooperation in Russia’s Far East in energy, ship-building, aviation, tourism among other sectors. India needs to continue to pursue its relations with Russia from its strategic and national security perspective rather than from their Western/European geopolitical frameworks …

The ‘Pivot to Asia’, the strategic rebalance announced by President Barack Obama in 2011 and early 2012, marked a significant shift in US foreign policy priorities from the Middle East to the Asia-Pacific. While speaking at the Australian Parliament in November 2011, Obama stated that as a Pacific nation, “the United States will play a larger and long-term role in shaping this region and its future, by upholding core principles and in close partnership with our allies and friends. ” …