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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.)

Brave Soldiers and the Brave Women Behind Them

Bravery isn’t just born — it’s built through discipline, resilience, and duty. But even deeper runs the quiet courage of the women who stand behind our soldiers.

Colonel Sofiya Quresh and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh
Colonel Sofiya Quresh and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh

Recently, the nation has witnessed fear, tension, and anguish. Anxiety lingers over the continuous firing, shelling, and ceasefire violations by Pakistan at the border. Our brave armed forces, who responded with strength and precision successfully intercepted missiles aimed at 15 Indian cities. Their courage is deeply commendable, and we remain forever indebted to them for risking their lives to protect ours. Their valour is beyond words — a sacrifice we honour with gratitude and respect.


Are soldiers born brave?

Bravery is a combination of both natural and developed characteristics. While each soldier is inherently courageous, military training, discipline, and instilling a strong sense of duty enhance their innate courage, which enables them to be highly receptive to challenges.


The training includes physical and mental conditioning to combat difficult situations, along with "duty comes first" over anything developed. Here’s a look at the essential traits that define a soldier’s preparedness and performance:

  • Resilience: The ability to recover from setbacks and maintain a positive outlook in adverse situations.

  • Focus and Concentration: The skill of staying sharp and executing missions with precision, even under intense stress.

  • Adaptability: Soldiers must adjust swiftly to unpredictable conditions, from shifting terrains to volatile weather.

  • Self-control: Emotional regulation is critical to making sound, timely decisions during high-stakes operations.

  • Persistence: A soldier's grit and perseverance push them to meet objectives despite numerous challenges.

  • Conquering Fear: Training instils the strength to overcome fear of injury or death in pursuit of mission success.

  • Teamwork: The armed forces thrive on collective learning and mutual support, fostering unity, inspiration, and strength.


The High Price of Duty

While their courage is visible, the personal cost borne by soldiers is often unseen. Their sacrifices go far beyond the battlefield.

  • Constant Physical Risk: Soldiers face life-threatening danger in combat zones and high-risk deployments.

  • Harsh Conditions: From scorching deserts to icy outposts, they endure extreme climates with limited resources and no room for complaint.

  • Mental and Emotional Strain: Continuous exposure to danger, trauma, and loss takes a deep toll on mental health, often leading to anxiety, PTSD, and other challenges.

  • Social Isolation: Long deployments leave little time for personal life, leading to isolation from society and friends.

  • Separation from Family: Extended absences mean missing out on birthdays, anniversaries, and major life moments — sacrifices made silently for the nation.


Brave women behind brave soldiers

Women play a vital role in a soldier’s life — as mothers, wives, and family members — contributing to his well-being and, in turn, to national security. Their strength sustains the spirit of service.


A soldier’s mother is a warrior herself, showing immense courage by sending her son to serve the nation. She instils bravery and patriotism from the very beginning, knowing the risks yet embracing them with pride. She is truly a brave heart who deserves our deepest respect.


The wife, too, shoulders multiple roles, managing the home front with quiet strength. Despite anxiety and long separations, she remains resilient, waiting, hoping, and holding the family together. Her unwavering spirit makes her a pillar of support, embodying courage and sacrifice.


Support extended by women is never-ending, but to summarise, here are a few:

Managing the Home Front

Women take primary charge of the household, ensuring the family’s needs are met while their sons or partners serve the nation. Their steady presence keeps life running smoothly in the soldier’s absence.


Providing Mental Strength

They offer deep understanding, immense patience, and unwavering emotional support — a source of strength that uplifts morale during testing times.


Love and Trust

Their unconditional love and steadfast trust help maintain a strong emotional bond. This connection brings both comfort and a shared sense of purpose, fuelling resilience and unity on both sides.

Here are a few ways to show gratitude to our bravehearts:

We as citizens can show gratitude to our soldiers and their families not just by acknowledging or appreciating their sacrifices but by an act of kindness in the form of various contributions, like raising funds to assist with their children's education or family health care, or we can even associate and get involved with organisations that take care of all these needs of their families.


If we ever get an opportunity to make a difference in their lives, we are truly blessed.


It's a powerful gratitude. This act of kindness will resonate with our inner selves and help ignite benevolence.


Alongside this, we should teach our children the essence of patriotism and enlighten them with the stories of our real heroes, which will help shape their lives in a larger way to be perceptive.


We salute the bravehearts, the strength and courage of brave women behind the scenes who play such powerful roles in national security and our peaceful life.


Jai Hind!


(The author is a tutor based in Thane.)

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