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Saturday, January 3, 2026
TopicBRI

Topic: BRI

China’s BRI is unprofitable, and still irresistible to India’s neighbours

India’s best bet is to leverage countries’ desire to diversify their investment partners.

India needs a clear Balochistan strategy. ‘Enemy of my enemy’ approach won’t work

Confronting only secular insurgents in Pakistan, while overlooking jihadist groups operating from Iran, will do little to change the broader strategic equilibrium. History underlines this point.

India hits out at CPEC’s expansion, calls Afghanistan’s inclusion ‘unacceptable’

In May, Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi met with his Chinese & Pakistani counterparts in Beijing, marking the restart of China-Afghanistan-Pakistan trilateral diplomacy.

Playing Bangladesh against India suits China. It will cost Dhaka in the long run

The key question is no longer whether China will increase its influence in Bangladesh, but how quickly and to what extent.

What $7 bn ‘minerals-for-infra’ pact with China could mean for Democratic Republic of Congo

Ties are ‘extractive’ given vast cobalt reserves in DRC and China’s bid to leverage its ability to fund infra in one of world’s least developed countries, says analyst.

Nepal to sign BRI implementation plan with China? Foreign Minister likely to visit Beijing next week

After 4 yrs of negotiations on investment modalities, local reports suggest Nepal Foreign Minister Narayan Kaji Shrestha will sign agreement on his China visit & a draft is almost ready.

Modi govt did for India-Greece ties what others didn’t in 40 years

The upgrade in Delhi-Athens ties could help in the full utilisation of Greece’s strategic location as a gateway to Europe for India and the Gulf countries.

Maldives & China ‘upgrade’ ties, ink 20 key agreements on tech, BRI & more during Muizzu visit

Agreements signed during Maldivian President Muizzu’s maiden visit to China covered areas of tourism, disaster risk reduction, agriculture, housing & blue economy cooperation.

Why BRI isn’t taking off in Nepal—China’s mixed signals, PM Dahal’s second thoughts

Six years on, it seems that the Nepal govt has understood the basic fact of BRI—it's essentially about taking loans from Chinese banks and repaying the amount in due time.

As Italy withdraws from BRI after 4 yrs, a look at whether it benefited from China’s initiative

Italy has reportedly notified China of its intention to exit Belt & Road Initiative. Since joining initiative in 2019, the move has been criticised by Italian politicians like PM Meloni.

On Camera

The Supreme Court is losing its credibility. It should frighten us all—Maneka Gandhi

The dogs will survive whatever orders are passed. But institutions are more fragile than we imagine. Once lost, the trust they embody takes generations to rebuild.

India’s urban co-op banks are turning the page—crisis to cautious revival, one metric at a time

With bad loans shrinking & capital buffers stronger, urban co-op banks’ new umbrella body NUCFDC is now prioritising rollout of digital transformation.

Greece looking at TATA’s WhAP infantry combat vehicle for army procurement

If deal goes through, Greece will be 2nd foreign country to procure vehicle. Morocco was first; TATA Group has set up manufacturing unit there with minimum 30 percent indigenous content.

A year-end Mea Culpa in National Interest—The Army-Islam combo doesn’t kill democracy

Many of you might think I got something so wrong in National Interest pieces written this year. I might disagree! But some deserve a Mea Culpa. I’d deal with the most recent this week.