For decades, the geopolitical narrative between India and Nepal was dominated by a traditional, friction-ridden pattern of interactions. Diplomatic discourse frequently hit roadblocks over sensitive issues, such as complex border disputes, revisions to historical treaties, and Kathmandu’s anxieties regarding economic overdependence on New Delhi. These disputes regularly fuelled political rhetoric and stalled deeper bilateral integration. However, beneath the radar of standard

As India’s ‘Act East’ converges with Thailand’s ‘Act West’, the Northeast is evolving from a distant frontier into the strategic hinge connecting the Bay of Bengal, ASEAN and the wider Indo-Pacific economy. The geopolitical landscape of the Indo-Pacific is witnessing a structural convergence where India’s long-standing ‘Act East’ policy directly aligns with Thailand’s strategic ‘Act West’ reorientation. Historically viewed as separate diplomatic trajectories, these two framew