https://ankitndt.com/ Weekly columns on geopolitics, India's foreign policy and economic diplomacy by Ankit Srivastava, Chief Editor of New Delhi Times. en Mon, 13 Jul 2026 07:54:20 +0000 https://ankitndt.com/images/favicon-192.png https://ankitndt.com/ https://ankitndt.com/articles/lights-coming-on-how-abu-dhabi-powering-forgotten-corners.html https://ankitndt.com/articles/lights-coming-on-how-abu-dhabi-powering-forgotten-corners.html Mon, 13 Jul 2026 07:54:20 +0000 Ankit Srivastava On the edge of N’Djamena, the capital of Chad, there is a solar plant that most of the world has never heard of. From the road it looks like nothing special, just rows of panels shimmering in the heat. But for the quarter of a million homes it now powers, everything has changed. The diesel… https://ankitndt.com/articles/prime-minister-modis-seychelles-visit-a-new-chapter-in-bilateral-relations.html https://ankitndt.com/articles/prime-minister-modis-seychelles-visit-a-new-chapter-in-bilateral-relations.html Mon, 06 Jul 2026 17:35:06 +0000 Ankit Srivastava Seychelles, a small Island country in the Indian Ocean, occupied a significant position in India’s strategic calculus. Since formal diplomatic ties between India and Seychelles were established in in 1976, the India Seychelles relations have been marked by friendship, understanding and cooperation.… https://ankitndt.com/articles/pm-modis-slovakia-visit-signifies-indias-expanding-diplomatic-engagement-with-wi.html https://ankitndt.com/articles/pm-modis-slovakia-visit-signifies-indias-expanding-diplomatic-engagement-with-wi.html Thu, 02 Jul 2026 17:35:44 +0000 Ankit Srivastava On June 15, 2026, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid a state visit to Slovakia. This visit to a CEE (Central and East European) country marks an important chapter in the Indian diplomacy in Europe, and strengthens Indian outreach beyond the traditional Western European partners. Modi’s visit… https://ankitndt.com/articles/copper-ai-age-supply-squeeze.html https://ankitndt.com/articles/copper-ai-age-supply-squeeze.html Thu, 25 Jun 2026 06:53:41 +0000 Ankit Srivastava Oil made the twentieth century. It financed wars, toppled governments, and drew borders we still argue over. The metal that may end up shaping the twenty-first is far less glamorous. Copper doesn’t burn or explode. It gets no cartel summits, no breathless tickers on cable news. Yet without it, none… https://ankitndt.com/articles/india-nordic-relations-elevate-to-green-technology-and-innovation-strategic-part.html https://ankitndt.com/articles/india-nordic-relations-elevate-to-green-technology-and-innovation-strategic-part.html Wed, 03 Jun 2026 11:45:00 +0000 Ankit Srivastava India’s relations with the five Nordic countries – Norway, Sweden, Iceland, Finland, and Denmark – have underwent a significant transformation since 2014 when Narendra Modi became the Prime Minister of India. A significant development occurred in during the 2018 visit of PM Modi to Sweden when the… https://ankitndt.com/articles/quad-reiterates-commitment-for-a-secure-and-stable-indo-pacific.html https://ankitndt.com/articles/quad-reiterates-commitment-for-a-secure-and-stable-indo-pacific.html Tue, 02 Jun 2026 12:45:00 +0000 Ankit Srivastava On May 26, 2026, the 11 th Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting was held in New Delhi in which Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi, and the United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio participated. The meeting was… https://ankitndt.com/articles/india-new-zealand-sign-fta-a-landmark-in-bilateral-relations.html https://ankitndt.com/articles/india-new-zealand-sign-fta-a-landmark-in-bilateral-relations.html Mon, 04 May 2026 13:00:00 +0000 Ankit Srivastava India and New Zealand have written a significant chapter in bilateral relations with the signing of the Free Trade Agreement (FTA). The landmark moment came on April 27, 2026 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi when the Agreement was signed by Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal and New… https://ankitndt.com/articles/from-chips-to-ships-india-south-korea-elevate-a-trusted-partnership-to-futuristi.html https://ankitndt.com/articles/from-chips-to-ships-india-south-korea-elevate-a-trusted-partnership-to-futuristi.html Mon, 04 May 2026 06:00:00 +0000 Ankit Srivastava On April 20, 2026, during a joint press statement with the visiting South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi aptly remarked that India and South Korea are set to elevate a trusted partnership to a futuristic partnership. “From chips to ships, from talent to… https://ankitndt.com/articles/a-renewed-warmth-in-india-bangladesh-relations.html https://ankitndt.com/articles/a-renewed-warmth-in-india-bangladesh-relations.html Fri, 10 Apr 2026 09:30:00 +0000 Ankit Srivastava India’s relations with Bangladesh, which went under a period of strain after the ouster of Sheikh Hasina government and the succeeding interim Bangladesh government, now appear to be back on a cordial track, after the swearing in of Bangladesh Nationalist Party’s Tarique Rahman as the new Prime… https://ankitndt.com/articles/india-ai-impact-summit-champions-a-human-centric-sensitive-global-ai-ecosystem.html https://ankitndt.com/articles/india-ai-impact-summit-champions-a-human-centric-sensitive-global-ai-ecosystem.html Mon, 02 Mar 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Ankit Srivastava India has been emerging as a pioneer in shaping the global discourse on Artificial Intelligence (AI). The recently held India AI Summit at Delhi was the largest in magnitude of its kind ,which brought together national and international decision-makers shaping collective commitments, strengthening… https://ankitndt.com/articles/seychelles-presidents-india-visit-provides-new-impetus-to-india-seychelles-relat.html https://ankitndt.com/articles/seychelles-presidents-india-visit-provides-new-impetus-to-india-seychelles-relat.html Mon, 02 Mar 2026 10:15:00 +0000 Ankit Srivastava Seychelles, a key littoral country in the Indian Ocean, occupies an important strategic calculus in India’s vision MAHASAGAR, an acronym for “Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth. With Seychelles, India has enhanced regional maritime security, anti-piracy patrols, and… https://ankitndt.com/articles/mother-of-all-deals-india-enters-into-historic-fta-with-european-union.html https://ankitndt.com/articles/mother-of-all-deals-india-enters-into-historic-fta-with-european-union.html Wed, 04 Feb 2026 11:45:00 +0000 Ankit Srivastava January 27, 2026 will always be etched as a watershed moment in the relationship between India and the European Union (EU) as it was on this day that both concluded a landmark Free Trade Agreement (FTA), the largest ever trade deal concluded by both sides. The conclusion of the historic FTA was… https://ankitndt.com/articles/brief-visit-but-big-strategic-gains-takeaways-from-uaes-presidents-india-visit.html https://ankitndt.com/articles/brief-visit-but-big-strategic-gains-takeaways-from-uaes-presidents-india-visit.html Wed, 04 Feb 2026 06:00:00 +0000 Ankit Srivastava On January 19, 2026, President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, paid a visit to India that lasted only around approximately three hours but led to further strengthening of the bonds between India and the UAE The UAE President was personally welcomed at the… https://ankitndt.com/articles/water-the-new-currency-of-power-in-a-fragmented-world.html https://ankitndt.com/articles/water-the-new-currency-of-power-in-a-fragmented-world.html Tue, 09 Dec 2025 09:48:00 +0000 Ankit Srivastava In the 20th century, global power revolved around oil. In the 21st century, it will revolve around water . If the last century taught us anything, it’s that oil can shape nations. But look around today, and you’ll notice something shifting quietly beneath the surface. The real power, the real… https://ankitndt.com/articles/g20-south-africa-summit-echoes-the-aspirations-of-the-global-south.html https://ankitndt.com/articles/g20-south-africa-summit-echoes-the-aspirations-of-the-global-south.html Fri, 05 Dec 2025 15:41:52 +0000 Ankit Srivastava The 2025 G20 Summit held in Johannesburg, South Africa from November 22 to November 23 under the Presidency of South Africa, was historic, as it marked the first time that such Summit was held on the African continent. Notably, the last four G20 Summits have now been held under the Presidency of a… https://ankitndt.com/articles/pm-modi-reaffirms-asean-as-a-cornerstone-of-indias-act-east-policy.html https://ankitndt.com/articles/pm-modi-reaffirms-asean-as-a-cornerstone-of-indias-act-east-policy.html Thu, 06 Nov 2025 10:45:00 +0000 Ankit Srivastava During his opening remarks addressed virtually during the 22 nd ASEAN-India Summit held on October 26, 2025, the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, highlighting the significance India accords to the South East Asian organisation in its strategic calculus, remarked: “ India and ASEAN together… https://ankitndt.com/articles/india-mongolia-relations-take-a-strategic-leap-forward.html https://ankitndt.com/articles/india-mongolia-relations-take-a-strategic-leap-forward.html Wed, 05 Nov 2025 11:45:00 +0000 Ankit Srivastava From October 13 to October 16 2025, the President of Mongolia Khurelsukh Ukhnaa undertook a state visit to India. The visit also assumed significance as it marked the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations and the 10th anniversary of the Strategic Partnership between the two… https://ankitndt.com/articles/cepa-building-robust-economic-ties-between-india-and-uae.html https://ankitndt.com/articles/cepa-building-robust-economic-ties-between-india-and-uae.html Tue, 14 Oct 2025 05:30:00 +0000 Ankit Srivastava Following the implementation of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) in May 2022 between India and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the economic ties between the two countries are on an upswing, Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, UAE Minister of Foreign Trade, recently stated India… https://ankitndt.com/articles/uae-national-interest-camel-cloning-biotechnology.html https://ankitndt.com/articles/uae-national-interest-camel-cloning-biotechnology.html Tue, 16 Sep 2025 09:45:39 +0000 Ankit Srivastava Few moments truly capture the spirit of a nation standing at the crossroads of tradition and modernity. On the fourth and fifth days of the Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition (ADIHEX) , I witnessed one such moment. Three peaceful and majestic camels were brought into the… https://ankitndt.com/articles/the-deepening-ties-between-india-and-fiji-2.html https://ankitndt.com/articles/the-deepening-ties-between-india-and-fiji-2.html Sat, 06 Sep 2025 09:45:00 +0000 Ankit Srivastava The visit of Fiji Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka to India from August 24 to August 26 2025- his first ever Indian visit since assuming the office in 2022- has further bolstered the ties between India and Fiji. On August 25, Rabuka met PM Modi at Hyderabad House. In the Indian strategic calculus,…