ISDP Voices

The United Kingdom has been exploring viable options to partner with like-minded countries as part of its Indo-Pacific Strategy. With the introduction of ‘Tilt to the Indo-Pacific’ in September 2021 under the Boris Johnson Administration, the UK has flagged its interests in the region as part of its post-Brexit foreign policy. The UK’s main interests in the […]

Taiwan’s 2024 presidential election is fast approaching, with its citizens scheduled to go to the polls on January 13. Following several twists and turns in the past few months, the playing field looks to be set with candidates and their respective running mates having formally applied for candidacy. Irrespective of the final outcome, developments ahead […]

The year 2023 has seen significant developments for Finland on the global stage, setting a benchmark for going forward in 2024, a year that also starts with the Presidential elections.  Finland’s foreign and security policy has faced “a historic turn”, as highlighted by Finland’s President, Sauli Niinistö in his New Year’s speech on January 1 itself. Russia’s […]

The objective of providing Universal Health Coverage (UHC) for 1 billion people as set by the Triple Billion target may not to be accomplished by 2025. This estimate is a cause of concern as it indicates that many people still struggle to access quality and affordable primary healthcare. The current context of COVID-19, conflicts, climate […]

The global arms trade is a highly intricate and competitive landscape, where countries strive to secure lucrative defense contracts with nations seeking to bolster their military capabilities. In this complex web of arms exports and imports, India has emerged as a significant player. As one of the world’s leading arms importers, India’s quest for military […]

The Chinese stance on the October 7 Hamas attack reflects a diplomatic balancing act by Beijing. After getting the rotating presidency of the United Nations Security Council, China’s permanent representative to the United Nations (UN), Zhang Jun reiterated the need to establish an immediate ceasefire between Israel and Palestine. Earlier, Russia and China had vetoed […]

Thailand has yet to fully recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. The tourism-dependent economy shaken by severe border restrictions saw arrivals slowing to a near standstill. When borders began to open in 2021, the Kingdom saw just over 106,000 foreign tourists, a drop from 6.7 million in 2020. At its apex, Thailand drew as many as […]

The Islamic terrorist organization Hamas carried out a large-scale and brutal terrorist attack on Israel on October 7. On the surface, this attack was not a response to the West’s counter-China strategy. But there is indeed a strong possibility that there was a connection. I will explain the connection below, identifying the impact on the […]

This year on September 9-10, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had the crucial task of hosting the leaders (at least most) of the world’s developed and developing nations for the 18th G20 Summit, marking a first for India. The G20 is a forum accounting for over 80 percent of the world’s economic output, 75 percent […]

The rise of China in the international system and the emerging U.S.-China strategic rivalry have affected a large section of the globe, including international institutions and businesses. The European Union (EU) is no exception. Europe is at a critical juncture due to its close strategic and economic ties with the U.S., and, China being its […]