Forging Strategic Bonds: India’s Expanding Defence Footprint in North Africa India has increasingly become a key defence partner for North African nations like Egypt, Morocco, and Algeria, with significant potential for defence industry collaboration and arms exports. The North African region presents a strategic opportunity for India to expand its defence diplomacy and strengthen ties with the African continent. This article explores how India aligns with North African countries' defence modernisation goals and industrial cooperation efforts. Given North Africa's position as a gateway to Europe and Africa, fostering strong economic and defence ties could enhance India's regional influence through arms trade, industry partnerships, and capacity-building initiatives. Shayesta Nishat Ahmed | January-June 2025 | Africa Trends
Türkiye and the PKK: Disarmament and the Path Ahead The July 2025 Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) disarmament process is widely regarded as the most credible opportunity to bring the armed struggle, initiated in 1984, to a definitive end. Abhishek Yadav | | Issue Brief
Cognitive Warfare: Key Aspects Cognitive Warfare aims to influence an adversary's cognitive functions, from “peacetime public opinion to wartime decision-making”. Sukhbir Kaur Minhas | | Issue Brief
Streamlining Field Evaluation Trials A composite defence acquisition organisation can help streamline the MoD’s capital procurement processes, including field trial procedures. Amit Cowshish | | IDSA Comments
China–Afghanistan Relations: Hope, Hype and More Publisher: Pentagon Press China has been a part of the Afghan maze, but landlocked Afghanistan seemed to have factored either marginally or episodically in its geopolitical quests in the past decades. While the role of certain regional actors in Afghanistan has been far widely debated and analysed, China’s role, particularly the nature and scope of its bilateral interactions and engagements with various Afghan regimes in Kabul, from Zahir Shah to the Taliban, has remained comparatively understudied. This book is a modest effort in that direction. ISBN: 978-81-991162-4-5, Price: ₹ 1295/- E-copy available Vishal Chandra | | Book
The Rafale Marine Deal: Adding Strategic Depth to India–France Ties The Rafale-Marine deal between India and France marks a significant milestone in deepening strategic ties with a key Indo-Pacific partner. Shayesta Nishat Ahmed | | Issue Brief
Japan’s Official Security Assistance (OSA) Policy towards Southeast Asia Japan’s evolving OSA policy fosters regional stability through innovative, constitutionally compliant security partnerships. Simran Walia | | Issue Brief
The 12-Day War: Cyber Frontlines between Israel and Iran The Islamic Republic struggled to protect its critical infrastructure, whereas Israel emerged largely unscathed in the cyber domain during the 12-Day War. Rohit Kumar Sharma | | IDSA Comments
Charting India–Maldives Relations under Muizzu Even with a recalibration in India–Maldives relations, Maldives’ engagement with China or other countries like Turkey is not likely to decrease. Gulbin Sultana | | Issue Brief
Israel–Iran War: From Asymmetric Deterrence to Direct Military Confrontation To confront the long-term Israeli campaign aimed at dismantling its military capabilities, Iran will likely seek to increase the resilience of its forces. Deepika Saraswat | | Issue Brief
