Defense experts are concerned about China's potential access to an airbase in Bangladesh, posing a threat to India's strategic interests in the North East region and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Chinese military officials have recently visited Rangpur district, just 20 km from the Indian border and 130 kilometers from Siliguri, a key Indian military hub.
https://www.eurasiantimes.com/chinese-j-10-jf-17-fighters-could-threaten-india/China is using non-lethal but coercive tactics in the South China Sea, known as "grey zone" methods, to assert control over disputed waters without sparking open conflict. According to Gregory Poling, director of the Southeast Asia Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), Beijing's actions have limited Southeast Asian nations from operating freely within their own exclusive economic zones (EEZs) since 2013, with tactics including maritime harassment, blockades, and aggressive patrols by the China Coast Guard (CCG) and maritime militia.
https://www.manilatimes.net/2025/05/20/news/national/china-steps-up-coercive-sea-tactics/2116726The European Union is exploring a defense partnership with Australia as part of its efforts to address global crises, including the Ukraine war. This move follows similar agreements made with South Korea and Japan last year, under the leadership of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
https://www.manilatimes.net/2025/05/20/world/asia-oceania/eu-wants-new-defense-treaty-with-australia/2116528European countries' large-scale rearmament plans may exacerbate economic instability in the EU due to high national debt levels. The proposed €800 billion defense plan by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen could further burden already strained economies, potentially diverting funds from social needs. The plan involves borrowing up to €150 billion on capital markets and distributing loans to countries that agree to jointly purchase weapons from Europe, with some funds allocated for producing arms for Ukraine.
https://www.fakti.bg/en/biznes/972164-eu-rearmament-could-destroy-the-union-s-economyThe International Monetary Fund (IMF) has released a report on Pakistan's economy, warning of a potential impact from US tariffs. The report states that the tariffs, including a 29% increase on Pakistani textiles and apparel exports, will weigh on Pakistan's GDP growth, with revisions down marginally in FY25 and around 0.3ppts in FY26. Pakistan's export sector is relatively small, but the US is its largest trading partner, making it vulnerable to global market fluctuations. The IMF has set 11 new structural benchmarks for Pakistan under a $7bn Extended Fund Facility (EFF) arrangement, citing broader indirect effects such as tighter financial conditions and increased trade policy uncertainty.
https://www.brecorder.com/news/40363517/trump-tariffs-to-weigh-on-pakistans-economy-says-imfForeign Secretary Vikram Misri will present India's foreign policy priorities to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs, led by Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, in response to Operation Sindoor, a recent military operation.
https://www.ndtv.com/video/operation-sindoor-foreign-secretary-vikram-misri-to-brief-parliamentary-committee-941124#pfrom=home-ndtv_videoIndia is sending a delegation to Brazil and the US to explain Operation Sindoor, highlighting its significance and impact. The delegation includes MPs from various political backgrounds, such as Shashi Tharoor, Ravi Shankar Prasad, Sanjay Kumar Jha, Kanimozhi Karunanidhi, Supriya Sule, and Shrikant Eknath Shinde. They will present India's narrative on the operation, which targeted terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, ensuring no civilian lives were endangered. This is the first time the Modi government has mobilized elected representatives from across the political spectrum to serve as diplomatic emissaries, presenting a united front against terrorism.
https://www.lokmattimes.com/national/will-explain-significance-of-operation-sindoor-to-world-says-bjps-shashank-mani-tripathi/India is exploring ways to increase its crude oil exploration and development to achieve self-sufficiency, despite having a moderate dependence on external trade. The country's reliance on global trade cushions it somewhat from the impact of shifting trade policies, but rising protectionism poses a threat. India aims to enhance its energy security through increased domestic production.
https://www.lokmattimes.com/technology/indias-manufacturing-sector-increasingly-attractive-to-global-investors-sp-global-1/India is expected to benefit from global manufacturing shifts, potentially adding 1.3 percentage points to its GDP over the next decade, according to S&P Global. The country's emergence as a key destination for companies relocating manufacturing operations could boost domestic manufacturing and GDP growth, driven by policy push and global realignment in supply chains.
https://www.deccanchronicle.com/business/manufacturing-growth-to-add-13-pc-to-indias-real-gdp-sp-global-1879879