Nihar K Kulkarni

Researcher on the geopolitics of Indo-Pacific, 🇮🇳's foreign policy & national security !!

Reposts are not necessarily an endorsement.

[Sidhant Sibal @sidhant]

BREAKING

Ebola outbreak: Fourth India–Africa Forum Summit postponed

[The Hindu @the_hindu]

In this interview with The Hindu’s Suhasini Haidar on the sidelines of the third India-Nordic Summit, Iceland Prime Minister Kristrun Frostadottir discusses the evolving relationship between India and the Nordic countries, focusing on trade, geopolitical differences, and labour migration.

@suhasinih

[Narendra Modi @narendramodi]

The talks with Prime Minister Meloni were excellent. Her commitment to furthering the India-Italy friendship is commendable. Bilateral ties between our nations have advanced significantly in sectors like trade, space, technology and more. In order to further deepen linkages, we have elevated our ties to a Special Strategic Partnership.

@GiorgiaMeloni

[Nihar K Kulkarni @niharkulkarni2]

❤️🌺

[Giorgia Meloni @GiorgiaMeloni]

Welcome to Rome, my friend! 🇮🇹🇮🇳

[Nihar K Kulkarni @niharkulkarni2]

❤️✌️

[Narendra Modi @narendramodi]

Upon landing in Rome, had the opportunity to meet Prime Minister Meloni over dinner followed by a visit to the iconic Colosseum. We exchanged perspectives on a wide range of subjects. Looking forward to our talks today, where we will continue the conversation on how to boost the India-Italy friendship.

@GiorgiaMeloni

[Dr. Brahma Chellaney @Chellaney]

Trump’s Iran War: A Strategic Failure on All Fronts

The cessation of hostilities against Iran marks a strategic defeat for Trump, underscoring how little his war of aggression actually achieved.

First, it failed in its central aim: regime change. Instead, it has consolidated the Iranian regime’s grip on power, giving new life to a government that had been under strain.

Second, the Strait of Hormuz — open before the war — is now subject to “regulated passage” under Iranian coordination. What Trump demanded as an unconditional reopening has instead evolved into a tacit recognition of Tehran’s authority, with Iran poised to levy transit fees much like Egypt does in the Suez Canal.

Third, the war's international economic costs are vast and enduring. Damage to energy infrastructure across the Gulf and Iran will reverberate globally, making this war arguably the most economically disruptive in decades.

Fourth, the war deepened America’s geopolitical isolation. Trump’s public frustration with NATO allies, as well as partners like Australia, Japan and South Korea, only underscored the lack of international backing for a war that had no basis in international law. Meanwhile, Gulf Arab states have been left to absorb both physical damage and reputational fallout.

Fifth, the war has eroded not just Trump’s credibility, but that of the United States itself.

Finally, it has fractured Trump’s domestic political base at a critical moment ahead of the midterms.

This was a war that weakened America, rescued Iran’s theocratic regime and left Trump with little to show but wreckage.

[Randhir Jaiswal @MEAIndia]

Statement on the recent development in West Asia ⬇️

🔗 https://t.co/WwFCi4kXHg

[Shehbaz Sharif @CMShehbaz]

I had a warm and substantive conversation with President Masoud Pezeshkian of Iran, this afternoon.

I conveyed my deep appreciation for the wisdom and sagacity of the Iranian leadership in accepting Pakistan’s offer to host peace talks in Islamabad later this week to work jointly for the return of peace to the region.

President Pezeshkian reaffirmed Iran’s participation in the upcoming negotiations and expressed appreciation for Pakistan’s efforts, while conveying his best wishes for the people of Pakistan.

Pakistan remains committed to working closely with all its friends and partners to advance peace and stability in the region and beyond.

@drpezeshkian

[Ursula von der Leyen @vonderleyen]

I welcome the two-week ceasefire the US and Iran agreed last night. It brings much-needed de-escalation.

I thank Pakistan for its mediation.

Now it is crucial that negotiations for an enduring solution to this conflict continue.

We will continue coordinating with our partners to this end.

[Seyed Abbas Araghchi @araghchi]

Statement on behalf of the Supreme National Security Council of the Islamic Republic of Iran:

[The White House @WhiteHouse]

🚨 President Donald J. Trump makes a statement on Iran:

[Ryan Grim @ryangrim]

Oh, this is unbelievable. The edit history on this tweet shows that Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif originally copied and pasted everything he was sent, including:

"*Draft - Pakistan's PM Message on X*"

Now, obviously, Sharif's own staff don't call him "Pakistan's PM," they would just call him prime minister. The U.S. and Israel, of course, would call him "Pakistan's PM."

Would be funny if the fate of the world wasn't hanging in the balance.

[Randhir Jaiswal @MEAIndia]

Advisory in view of the rapidly evolving situation in Iran ⬇️

🔗 https://t.co/wyWOCzDfsZ

[IDU @defencealerts]

JD VANCE THREATENS TO USE NUCLEAR WEAPONS ON #IRAN !
“We have tools in our toolkit that we so far haven’t decided to use. Trump will use them if #Iranians don’t change their course"

[Nihar K Kulkarni @niharkulkarni2]

Secondly, the most fascinating part is, when you compare and analyse his arguments with contemporary ongoing conflicts in the Middle East/West Asia and in Europe, and draws your own assumptions and hypothesis. 📚📖📝

[Nihar K Kulkarni @niharkulkarni2]

What a great pleasure reading @MearsheimerJ's article "War and International Politics", published in 2025. As always, his articles provide a clarity on international politics and especially the (pessimistic) nature of the great power politics.

[Nihar K Kulkarni @niharkulkarni2]

However, that's an imperative that can't be ignored. As we have entered in a multipolar world order, it has instigated the great power politics, once again. And that's what makes reading this paper absolutely timely and "compulsory".

[Shiv Aroor @ShivAroor]

Maroof Raza is no more.

Was a friend and mentor. Fought a long battle with cancer. Will be missed by all in the national security space where he was a pioneering reporter/writer who bridged the gap between practitioner and the public.

Travel well, Maroof.

[Patryk Kugiel @PKugiel]

EU-India partnership has long grown in the shadow of the 🇮🇳🇺🇸 rapprochement, where 🇺🇸 shown what it acceptable and desirable in 🇪🇺🇮🇳 relations.

The time has come to step outside the 🇺🇸 shadow and open a new chapter in EU-India ties.

More see:
https://t.co/98NpAqrXAz

[Dr. S. Jaishankar @DrSJaishankar]

Pleased to interact with the Ambassadors from EU countries today.

Spoke to them about the current state of the world with volatility and instability as the new normal.

Made a case for stronger 🇮🇳-🇪🇺 relations that will:

➡️ Derisk the world economy by cooperating on resilient supply chains;

➡️ Reassure the international community by providing public goods like HADR, anti-piracy operations, development projects etc.

➡️ Stabilise the global order through stronger trade, mobility and security partnership.

Look forward to the visit of @eucopresident Antonio Costa and European Commission President @vonderleyen to India for Republic Day celebrations.

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