Publication

Russia’s Nuclear Energy Diplomacy in Africa

The strategic withdrawal of the United States from key energy initiatives in Africa, including the winding down of Power Africa and reduced support for Just Energy Transition Partnerships, has created a significant vacuum in the continent’s energy diplomacy. This retreat coincides with Africa’s acute energy deficit, where over 600 million people lack electricity access, primarily in sub-Saharan Africa. Russia has capitalised on this gap through its state-owned Rosatom corporation, aggressively expanding nuclear energy partnerships across over 20 African countries. Beyond addressing energy shortages, Russia’s nuclear diplomacy serves as a geopolitical tool to deepen influence, foster long-term dependencies, and secure strategic alliances. While Russia offers comprehensive nuclear infrastructure solutions backed by flexible financing and political support, challenges remain, including financing constraints, institutional capacity gaps, and safety concerns. Despite symbolic agreements and ambitious projects, the long-term success of Russia’s nuclear ambitions in Africa depends on genuine local engagement, transparency, and alignment with the continent’s developmental priorities amid growing competition from China and Western actors.

Samir Bhattacharya |
January-June 2025 |
Africa Trends

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.

Cognitive Warfare: Key Aspects

Cognitive Warfare aims to influence an adversary's cognitive functions, from “peacetime public opinion to wartime decision-making”.

Streamlining Field Evaluation Trials

A composite defence acquisition organisation can help streamline the MoD’s capital procurement processes, including field trial procedures.

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