IndianRepublic.in

India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Wednesday described the India-Japan partnership as a “strategic and stabilising force” in the Indo-Pacific. He warned that the region faces an increasingly complex challenge in maintaining openness and order. File Photo: EAM Jaishankar Speaking at the 8th India-Japan Indo-Pacific Forum, Jaishankar used blunt language to outline the stakes: the geopolitical churn, technological disruption, and weaponised interdependence shaping new alignments.  Against this backdrop, he said, the India-Japan compact has gained “greater value than ever before” -- both in anchoring regional security and driving global economic resilience. The forum, jointly hosted by the Delhi Policy Group and the Japan Institute of International Affairs, comes months after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s August visit to Tokyo, where both sides unveiled a ten-year roadmap with eight priority pillars and a targeted Japanese investment of 10 trillion yen.  Jaishank...

Amid rising geopolitical tensions and a protracted war in Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin has confirmed the successful test of the Burevestnik nuclear-powered cruise missile  -- a weapon Moscow claims has unlimited range and unprecedented strike capabilities. Speaking at a frontline military command centre, Putin said that the test flight of the missile -- officially codenamed “Burevestnik” (Storm Petrel) -- was completed on October 21 and demonstrated “the reliability of Russia’s nuclear deterrent.” Image Source: MFA Russia “For the first time,” Putin said, “a successful multi-hour flight was conducted with a nuclear propulsion system. The missile covered over 14,000 kilometres -- and that is not the limit.” The Burevestnik is part of Russia’s next-generation strategic weapons program, first announced in 2018, and designed to bypass U.S. missile defence systems by flying at low altitudes and altering course mid-flight.  Unlike conventional missiles, it is po...

In a sharply worded address delivered in New Delhi,  India's Foreign Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar  openly challenged the credibility of the UN system, calling out its structural dysfunction, selective morality, and strategic irrelevance in the face of global crises. “All is not well with the United Nations,” Jaishankar said flatly. The statement, delivered in a room of diplomats, UN officials, and members of the press, cut through the ceremonial tone of the day and forced attention onto the UN’s internal contradictions.  File Photo Source: EAM Jaishankar At the core of his critique: a Security Council frozen in time, and a multilateral order that speaks the language of equality while practising exclusion. Jaishankar focused his most searing remarks on the UN’s inaction in the face of terrorism. “What does it do to the credibility of multilateralism,” he asked, “when a sitting Security Council member openly protects the very organisation that claims responsibility for a ba...

The war in Ukraine entered a new and alarming phase this week as Russian drone and missile strikes targeted railway infrastructure and passenger trains in Ukraine’s northern Sumy region , leaving dozens wounded , at least one civilian dead , and entire towns without power . Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko, visiting the region on President Zelensky’s instructions, confirmed that electricity remains cut off across much of the area following repeated Russian strikes.  Image Source: Mahmood Khan on X Meanwhile, the Ukrainian railway company Ukrzaliznytsia is scrambling to reroute trains, deploy generators , and protect civilian routes from further attacks. The most devastating attack struck Shostka railway station, where two trains—a local commuter and a Kyiv-bound service—were hit in a coordinated drone assault, according to official statements.  The second strike came during evacuation efforts, leading Ukrainian officials to accuse Russia of deliberately targeting ...

U.S. President Donald J. Trump has issued his most forceful warning yet over the ongoing war in Gaza, demanding that Hamas accept a sweeping ceasefire deal by Sunday 6 PM (Washington D.C. time) or face what he described as “all HELL, like no one has ever seen before.” Trump, Netanyahu Pitch Ceasefire Plan to End Gaza Conflict; Via: Netanyahu Trump said more than 25,000 Hamas fighters have already been killed , and claimed the remaining militants are “surrounded and militarily trapped,” warning that they will be “hunted down and killed” if the proposed peace deal is rejected. Inside Trump’s ultimatum is the ambitious Trump-Netanyahu ceasefire plan--a sweeping diplomatic framework unveiled earlier this week that aims to end two years of relentless violence with a hostage exchange, disarmament of Hamas, and the complete reconstruction of Gaza under international supervision. The Plan: High Stakes, Deep Fault Lines The Trump-Netanyahu proposal is the most detailed peace framework s...

An alarming breach of NATO airspace has reportedly unfolded as 15 unidentified drones were spotted flying over Belgium’s Elsenborn military base before crossing into German territory , according to Belgian broadcaster VRT NWS .  The drones—whose origin and operators remain unknown —were detected around 1:45 a.m. local time , and the incident has triggered urgent investigations by Belgian and German defense agencies. Drones were spotted flying over Elsenborn military area in Belgium. via: OSINT Global This latest incident marks a new escalation in hybrid threats facing Europe , with both military installations and civilian infrastructure increasingly targeted by mysterious drone incursions , often suspected to be Russian-linked intelligence probes or intimidation tactics , though no direct evidence has emerged yet . Dual Incidents in Belgian and German Airspace According to VRT NWS, a Belgian test aircraft operating in the area confirmed the presence of the drones, which flew ...

In one of his most expansive and ideologically pointed speeches in recent years, Russian President Vladimir Putin declared the collapse of the Western-led global order and outlined Russia’s blueprint for a “ multipolar ” world rooted in civilizational sovereignty, regional balance, and resistance to NATO's expansionism.  Image of Russian Prez Putin via Sputnik on X Speaking at the Valdai Discussion Club in Sochi on October 2, 2025, the Russian leader issued direct warnings to Europe and the United States, while doubling down on his justification for the war in Ukraine. In a speech lasting nearly two hours, Putin painted the current global landscape as irreversibly transformed. He asserted that attempts to impose “Western hegemony” have not only failed but triggered a systemic shift--replacing unipolarity with a fragmented, fast-moving, and contested multipolar world.  “There is no power, nor will there ever be one, capable of ruling the world,” Putin said, declaring the era ...

A sharp ideological and geopolitical clash has emerged in Europe as Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and his Polish counterpart Donald Tusk lock horns over the war in Ukraine.  The rhetorical sparring--fueled by conflicting national interests, wartime diplomacy, and EU-wide decisions--has revealed deep fissures in the European Union’s stance on the Russia-Ukraine war. Image Source: visegrad24 Orbán, known for his staunchly nationalist and often contrarian position within the EU, took to social media from the European summit in Copenhagen to declare that “outright pro-war proposals” were being tabled.  He accused Brussels of plotting to funnel more funds into Ukraine, fast-track its EU accession, and intensify energy sanctions against Russia--all moves Hungary rejects as contrary to its national interest. “We will hold our ground,” Orbán warned, casting his position as a stand for peace, not passivity. “Brussels has chosen a strategy of wearing Russia down through en...

The Trump-Netanyahu plan to end the Gaza war is the most comprehensive ceasefire framework proposed in two years of bloodshed. Framed as a “turning point” for the Middle East, it outlines a path toward an immediate halt in fighting, a hostage exchange, disarmament of Hamas, and full-scale reconstruction of the devastated Gaza Strip.  Image Source: White House At its heart lies a promise: Gaza will be “deradicalized” and rebuilt--militarily neutral, economically integrated, and governed under international oversight. But behind this sweeping ambition lie questions of justice, legitimacy, and accountability. Under the 21-point proposal, Hamas must return all Israeli hostages, living and deceased, within 72 hours of Israel accepting the deal. In exchange, Israel would release 1,950 Palestinian detainees, including children and women.  Hostilities would be suspended, Israeli forces would withdraw to an agreed line, and a process of phased disengagement would begin.  Hamas me...

In a high-stakes meeting at the White House, U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu revealed a joint proposal aimed at ending the devastating war in Gaza.  Their 21-point plan outlines an immediate ceasefire, the withdrawal of Israeli forces to a pre-agreed line, and the transformation of Gaza into a “deradicalized terror-free zone.”  Image Source: Benjamin Netanyahu The initiative also includes promises to rebuild Gaza and allow the free movement of those who wish to leave or return. Trump opened the press conference by thanking Netanyahu and highlighting their past cooperation on Middle East policy.  He praised the leaders of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the UAE, Indonesia, and Pakistan for their support in the diplomatic process, and emphasized his confidence in securing a peace deal.  Netanyahu, walking a tightrope between international pressure and domestic political fragility, nodded in agreement. But beneath the optics, tensio...

Moldova’s 2025 parliamentary election has emerged as one of the most consequential in its post-Soviet history. With voters choosing a new 101-member legislature, the contest has become a high-stakes battle between pro-European reformists and pro-Russian opposition blocs—underscored by mounting evidence of foreign interference, disinformation campaigns, and attempts to sway public sentiment and electoral outcomes through illicit means. Moldova could lose everything the country has gained: Maia Sandu At the center of the race is the ruling pro-European Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS), led by Igor Grosu, which is seeking to retain its parliamentary majority.  Its main challengers include the Patriotic Electoral Bloc (BEP), led by former president Igor Dodon, and the Alternative Bloc, fronted by Chișinău mayor Ion Ceban.  Independent observers note that the election result could determine whether Moldova maintains its trajectory toward European Union integration or pivot...

India and the Central American Integration System (SICA) reaffirmed their shared development vision in New York on the sidelines of UNGA80, with External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar calling for deeper cooperation across digital payments, climate resilience, renewable energy, and public health.  India-SICA Foreign Minister’s Meeting Co-chairing the India-SICA Foreign Ministers' Meeting with Panama’s Foreign Minister Javier Martínez-Acha, Jaishankar positioned India’s outreach as both practical and strategic, focused on turning political goodwill into economic and technological outcomes. Speaking candidly about common challenges such as poverty alleviation, post-pandemic recovery, and climate disruptions, Jaishankar said India sees SICA as a key partner in South-South cooperation and stressed that countries in both regions can tackle shared challenges more effectively by doing so together.  He pointed to the momentum built during the 2023 political dialogue in Panama Cit...

When Chinese President Xi Jinping addressed the UN Climate Summit via video on September 24, it was a carefully calibrated intervention in a climate regime under strain--where global ambition lags, multilateral trust is fraying, and the North-South divide is once again becoming a fault line. Image Via: Mao Ning Marking ten years since the Paris Agreement, Xi’s speech   struck familiar chords of solidarity and green optimism, but embedded within it were clear strategic signals: China wants to be seen as the steward of global climate leadership , even as it subtly shifts the burden back onto the developed world. Ambitious Yet Calculated Targets Xi’s new Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) aim to: Cut net greenhouse gas emissions by 7–10% from peak levels by 2035. Raise non-fossil fuel energy share to over 30%. Expand wind and solar capacity to 3,600 gigawatts — six times the 2020 baseline. Scale up forest stock volume to over 24 billion cubic meters. Mak...

Under mounting international scrutiny and a sharp escalation in cross-border military actions, Russia deepened its diplomatic push at the United Nations General Assembly in New York.  Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov held back-to-back meetings with nearly two dozen counterparts, from Africa to Latin America, positioning Moscow as a reliable partner for the Global South amid a widening rift with the West.  File Photo: Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov The messaging came as NATO states issued fresh warnings over Russian drones, missiles and fighter jets violating airspace across Eastern Europe, and Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy publicly warned Kremlin officials to “know where the bomb shelters are.” In a bilateral meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Lavrov claimed Russia remained open to negotiations on Ukraine and reiterated Moscow’s interest in building on the outcomes of the Trump-Putin Alaska summit.  The Russian side accused Kyiv and unna...

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned Kremlin leaders to “know where the bomb shelters are” in an escalation of rhetoric, as Moscow deepens its military provocations against NATO and the war in Ukraine enters its fourth year.  The comments came shortly after his address to the United Nations General Assembly, and amid fresh airspace violations across Europe attributed to Russian fighter jets and drones. File Photo: Dmitry Medvedev In an interview with Axios , Zelenskyy said he had received permission from U.S. President Donald Trump to target Russian energy and infrastructure assets, and had also requested a specific weapons system from Washington that he believes could force Russian President Vladimir Putin to the negotiating table.  He declined to specify the system, but said: “They have to know that we in Ukraine, each day, we will answer. If they attack us, we will answer them.” The warning provoked a direct and incendiary response from former Russian Pres...