Prashant Shukla

A New Reality for Countries Receiving US Support: The Risk of Compromised Sovereignty in the Age of Trump's Policies As the world navigates a rapidly evolving geopolitical landscape, countries traditionally relying on the United States for military, economic, and diplomatic support grapple with a new and unsettling reality, the risk of compromising their sovereignty in exchange for continued American aid. The case of Ukraine, caught in a high stakes negotiation with the Trump administration over a controversial minerals deal, offers a striking example of this dilemma. However, it is not alone. Across the globe, countries dependent on US support are now facing increasingly harsh terms, forcing them to weigh the immediate benefits of aid against the long-term erosion of their national autonomy. Under the Trump administration, US foreign policy has shifted from traditional alliances and mutual benefits towards a transactional approach driven by economic interests and geopolitical calc...

  India's economic ascent is facing a critical test. After registering an impressive 8.2% GDP growth in the fiscal year 2023–24, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has revised its projection for 2024–25 downward to 6.6%, a marked drop from the earlier estimate of 7.2%. Manufacturing growth has slowed to 2.2% in the third quarter of 2024, down sharply from 7% a year prior, while private investment has shown signs of stagnation. Though India continues to outperform most major economies, its recent loss of momentum, exacerbated by internal weaknesses and an increasingly volatile global trade environment, signals a decisive moment for its $4 trillion economy. India's Position in the Global Economic Landscape To understand India's trajectory, it is helpful to compare it with four other leading economies: Vietnam, the United States, China, and Ireland. Each exhibits distinct growth dynamics.  With a projected GDP growth of 6.8% in 2025, Vietnam has emerged as a formidable competitor...

  L-R Ambassador Kevin Kelly, Tánaiste Simon Harris, Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar   and Ambassador Akhilesh Mishra  From 6 to 7 March 2025, India's External Affairs Minister, Dr Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, officially visited Ireland. This visit, distinguished by diplomatic meetings, academic engagements, and strategic discussions, underscored the evolving global partnerships in a rapidly shifting geopolitical landscape. Despite the historical alliance and mutual support during both nations' freedom struggles, the Ireland-India relationship has not expanded as robustly as anticipated, particularly in contrast to Ireland's increasingly strong ties with China. Diplomacy and Academic Outreach During his stay in Ireland, Dr Jaishankar delivered a lecture entitled India's View of the World at University College Dublin (UCD). This address outlined India's foreign policy vision for a multipolar world and emphasised the significance of cultural, educational, and scient...

ReArm Europe: The Dawn of a New Global Power Dynamic The European Union's newly unveiled "ReArm Europe" plan marks a decisive turning point for the continent's defence, security, and role in shaping the global balance of power. As the EU prepares to mobilise close to €800 billion in defence spending, this historic rearmament drive is set to reshape relationships within the West, recalibrate global alliances, and redefine Europe's place in the emerging world order. Beyond its immediate scope, the plan raises critical questions about Europe's commitment to security, its partnership with the United States, and the strategic consequences for significant powers like India, China and Russia. The ReArm Europe plan comes against the backdrop of mounting geopolitical instability, driven by the ongoing war in Ukraine and rising threats from authoritarian regimes. The EU's decision to dramatically increase its defence spending is as much a response to the immediate c...