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By:

Rajiv Shah

22 September 2025 at 8:32:23 pm

New Alliances, New Pressures, New Fault Lines

To its west, old relationships in the Gulf are acquiring new strategic and military dimensions. Across the Atlantic, Washington is increasingly using tariffs as an instrument of foreign policy. At the same time, India holds the BRICS presidency in 2026 and prepares to host its summit when the grouping is being watched in the West as a potential challenge to the American-dominated global financial order. Individually, these developments may appear unrelated. Put together, they reveal a larger...

New Alliances, New Pressures, New Fault Lines

To its west, old relationships in the Gulf are acquiring new strategic and military dimensions. Across the Atlantic, Washington is increasingly using tariffs as an instrument of foreign policy. At the same time, India holds the BRICS presidency in 2026 and prepares to host its summit when the grouping is being watched in the West as a potential challenge to the American-dominated global financial order. Individually, these developments may appear unrelated. Put together, they reveal a larger geopolitical churn in which alliances, energy, trade, currencies and economic coercion are becoming interconnected. India finds itself almost at its centre. The emerging Saudi Arabia–Türkiye–Pakistan security equation deserves particular attention. Saudi Arabia brings enormous financial and energy influence; Türkiye possesses considerable military strength, NATO experience and an expanding defence industry; Pakistan brings a large military establishment and nuclear capability with the open support of Washington. Any arrangement containing a collective-defence commitment naturally acquires significance beyond ordinary diplomatic cooperation. Alongside it, another strategic convergence has gradually developed among India, Israel and the UAE. It would be incorrect to describe this as a formal military alliance. Yet geopolitics does not operate through defence treaties alone. India's extensive defence and technology relationship with Israel, its rapidly expanding economic and strategic partnership with the UAE, and the UAE-Israel relationship following the Abraham Accords have created considerable common ground. I2U2—bringing together India, Israel, the UAE and the United States—added another institutional dimension. Thus, without necessarily becoming opposing military camps, two interesting strategic formations are visible across West Asia: Saudi Arabia–Türkiye–Pakistan and the looser India–UAE–Israel convergence. Balancing Challenge India faces a similar balancing challenge. The Gulf is not a distant geopolitical theatre for New Delhi. Nearly nine million Indians live and work there. India's energy security, investments, trade and remittance flows are closely connected with the region. The proposed India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor also requires relative stability across this geography. Polarisation in West Asia can therefore rapidly become an Indian economic and strategic problem. There is another question Indian planners cannot ignore. If a future India-Pakistan confrontation escalates, how would any collective-defence commitment involving Pakistan be interpreted by Saudi Arabia and Türkiye? It would be alarmist to assume that either country would automatically enter a conflict against India. Saudi Arabia, in particular, has substantial economic and strategic interests in maintaining good relations with New Delhi. Nevertheless, defence planners are paid to examine possibilities before they become crises. While these equations develop in India's neighbourhood, economic pressure is emerging from Washington. The US Senate has voted 86–11 for legislation intended to increase pressure on Russia by targeting major purchasers of Russian energy. The measure could authorise tariffs reaching 100 per cent against goods from countries continuing large-scale purchases of Russian oil and gas, with India among those potentially exposed. China is powerful enough to shrug off similar challenges from the West." However this does not mean that America has already imposed a 100 per cent tariff on India. Further legislative steps remain necessary, and presidential waiver provisions are important. But the overwhelming Senate vote carries a political message that New Delhi cannot dismiss. Tariffs are no longer merely tools of trade protection; they have become instruments of geopolitical coercion. Washington's argument is understandable: revenues from Russian petroleum help sustain Moscow's economy during the Ukraine war, and reducing those revenues increases pressure on Russia. But in that case what about European countries who too were/are customers of Russian oil? India's question is equally legitimate: who should determine where India purchases the energy required by more than 1.4 billion people? If Russian crude remains commercially advantageous and helps contain domestic energy costs, New Delhi cannot reasonably be expected to make every energy decision according to another country's geopolitical priorities. Strategic partnership cannot become strategic obedience. This is where BRICS enters the larger picture. India holds the BRICS presidency in 2026 and will host its leaders at an unusually sensitive moment. BRICS is no longer merely the original grouping of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. Its expansion has considerably increased its demographic, energy and geopolitical weight. More importantly, discussions around BRICS increasingly touch a sensitive nerve in Washington: alternative payment mechanisms, local-currency trade, development finance and the possibility of gradually reducing dependence upon the dollar-dominated international financial system. The BRICS Summit this time is poised to take some decisive steps which may affect western interests especially US. (The writer is an advocate, legal, geopolitical and public policy analyst. Views personal.)

A Global Creative Connect

The WAVES paves the way for international creative collaboration

Bollywood actors Shah Rukh Khan and Deepika Padukone during a session at the first World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit (WAVES) in Mumbai on Thursday. Pic: PTI
Bollywood actors Shah Rukh Khan and Deepika Padukone during a session at the first World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit (WAVES) in Mumbai on Thursday. Pic: PTI

Mumbai: The roads in Mumbai’s Bandra Kurla Complex were bathed in hues of pink with banners announcing the first-of-its-kind WAVES summit. But inside the power-packed halls of the swanky Jio Convention Centre, the theme was all about the ‘orange economy’—an industry that encompasses the creative fields such as gaming, films, music and animation which is seen as a powerful tool of economic and cultural growth. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who inaugurated the high-profile World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit (WAVES), emphasised that the summit was indeed an actual ‘wave’ symbolising creativity and global connections that could channelise the energy of the Indian youth constructively.


During his impactful hour-long speech to an audience brimming with ministers from several countries, India’s leading industrialists and members of the Indian film fraternity and young gamers, Modi dipped into Indian mythology and history while appealing to the youth with emphasis on animation and gaming.


The Prime Minister stressed on numbers, catchy slogans and statements and showed the immense potential the industry holds—the global animation industry, he said, is worth $430 million and is set to double within the next 10 years. India, with its huge young population, stands at the crossroads of building a prosperous orange economy.


Rich heritage

Modi drew from India’s rich cinematic and cultural heritage. The first ever feature film, Harishchandra, was made on this day, 112 years ago. He harked back to the contribution of India’s literary and cinematic giants from the poet Kalidas to Guru Dutt and Raj Kapoor. Indian cinema, he said, has reached the corners of the world. But while hailing the work of the maestros, Modi acknowledged the numerous stories, folklore and musical traditions of every little corner of the country. Music and dance, he said, was patronised by none other than the Gods in Hindu religion and the lullaby, set to tune, is the mother’s first interaction with her child. “Just as a mother weaves dreams for her child through poetry and music, artistes weave together the collective dreams of an era,” he said. Modi’s speech stressed on India’s powerful storytelling tradition and heritage of languages, dialects, folklore and music.


The speech wasn’t all about heritage and nostalgia. While positioning India as a creative hub for other nations to turn their attention to, Modi emphasised on the all-encompassing nature of the land that has welcomed and assimilated various cultural identities. He appealed to the youth—be it a podcaster, musician, gamer or filmmaker from any part of the country, to join this new revolution that could boost the Indian economy.


Hailing the WAVES as the “beginning of the orange economy”, Modi proudly said that Indian films release in more than 100 countries and people watch Indian content with subtitles in their own languages. The Indian OTT industry has seen a 10-fold growth in recent years. Relying on catchy slogans to drive home the point, Modi said that while screens are becoming “micro”, the message is “mega” and while the screen size may be shrinking with OTT and games, the scope in the field is infinite.


Global exhibitors

The summit has exhibitors from around the world, a Bharat Pavilion which will showcase the creative talent and opportunities across India, panel discussions and talks which will unfold over the next four days.

WAVES, which is likely to see more than 10000 delegates is likely to be a transformative platform for India’s creative industries by facilitating international collaborations and business while dipping into our country’s rich cultural tapestry.


Create in India Challenges

Thirty-two challenges and competitions saw more than one lakh participants from 60 countries of which 800 finalists have been selected


Three key challenges will see their finale during WAVES


Wah Ustad: A nationwide competition for young vocalists, it provides a platform to classical, semi classical and Sufi singing talent.


Make the World Wear Khadi: A call to global advertising and marketing professionals to design campaigns promoting and position Khadi as an international brand through innovative advertising


Resonate: The EDM Challenge: Organized by the Indian Music Association (IMA) along with the I and B Ministry, this challenge invites global artists to showcase their talent in Electronic Dance Music (EDM) production.


I'm going to tell myself I have done pretty well: Deepika

As someone who moved to Mumbai when she was just 18, Bollywood star Deepika Padukone says she has done quite well for herself by creating a space in the world of entertainment.


The 39-year-old actor joined superstar Shah Rukh Khan for a session, titled "The Journey: From Outsider To Ruler", at the inaugural WAVES Summit on Thursday here.


"Today when I look back at the journey... For an 18-year-old to move to a big city... It was a big decision to make. Those little things, having to navigate life with trial and error. Overall, when I look back I say not bad, well done.


"I am actually going to tell myself I have done pretty well. You don't really sit back and look at the journey. I don't celebrate the moments too much. I look at things in a straightforward way," said Deepika, who started out as a model before making her acting debut with 2007's "Om Shanti Om" opposite Shah Rukh.


In her "me time", the "Padmaavat" star said she focuses on everyday things like running her house.


"There's a study where all the mail comes... I sort out all of it... Cleaning the kitchen, checking vegetable stock for the week, laundry...  I don't know any other way. Maybe because I started out this way. I didn't have a big house earlier. I didn't have house help," she added.


Shah Rukh, who also starred with Deepika in movies such as "Happy New Year", "Chennai Express", "Pathaan" and "Jawan", praised the actor, saying she will be a great mother to Dua, her daughter with actor-husband Ranveer Singh.


"The role she is going to play the best, is that of a mother, to Dua. She is really going to be a wonderful mom," he said.


Deepika called the inaugural World Audio Visual & Entertainment Summit (WAVES) "a timely event".


"The way this has come together, it was high time. India being the centre of it (cinema and entertainment) is the right time. It's the coming together of AI, tech, and storytelling," she added.


I don't indulge in overworking, overthinking: Shah Rukh Khan

When he is not working, he is in a meditative state, superstar Shah Rukh Khan said on Thursday at the inaugural day of the WAVES summit here.


Addressing a session on 'The Journey: From Outsider to Ruler' at the event, which is billed as a platform to position India as a global hub for media, entertainment and digital innovation, he also batted for more theatres and less expensive tickets in India.


"I still believe the call of the day is a lot more theatres, small theatres in small towns, cheaper theatres so that we can show more films to people in every corner of the country," Shah Rukh said.


He expressed the hope that with the WAVES summit, shooting processes should become easier "not only for Indians but also for people coming from outside".


"I don't indulge in overworking, overthinking. When I am not on the sets, I don't do anything. I am in a meditative state," the superstar said in a fireside chat with director friend Karan Johar and Deepika Padukone, his co-star on many movies.


The actor, one of the biggest superstars in Hindi cinema, said when he was young, he was "brash" but also gutsy.


"I believe when I was brash, overconfident, reckless, and a lot more stupid. I'm happy I was like this otherwise I wouldn't have chosen the path I did with such wonderful people. I was a little gutsy also. Thank you, young Shah Rukh Khan for being so cool," he said. 

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