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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.)

Cape Verde: Dreams Realised on Global Stage

In the vast tapestry of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, few stories shine as brightly as that of Cape Verde, the Blue Sharks. A nation of just over half a million souls, scattered across ten volcanic islands in the


Atlantic, this archipelago has etched its name into football immortality. Not as champions in the traditional sense, but as beacons of hope, resilience, and the unyielding power of belief. Their debut tournament was not merely participation—it was a masterclass in defying odds, proving that size is no barrier to greatness.


Qualifying ahead of football titans like Cameroon in CAF Group D was already a triumph. With seven wins, two draws, and just one defeat in ten matches, Cape Verde secured top spot and their ticket to the expanded 48-team finals. For a country celebrating its 50th anniversary of independence, this achievement symbolized more than sporting success; it was a declaration of national pride and unity. The "11th island"—their vibrant diaspora across Europe and beyond—poured heart and soul into supporting the team, turning every match into a collective roar from the islands to the mainland.


From the opening whistle in Group H, Cape Verde announced their arrival with authority and grace. Holding European champions Spain to a goalless draw, with veteran goalkeeper Vozinha producing heroic saves at age 40, ignited imaginations worldwide. Then came a thrilling 2-2 stalemate against two-time champions Uruguay, where Cape Verde scored their first-ever World Cup goals and showed no fear against pedigree opponents. A hard-fought 0-0 draw with Saudi Arabia sealed progression to the knockout rounds—unbeaten in the group stage. They became the smallest nation ever to reach the last 32, a record that underscores the magnitude of their feat.


The round of 32 clash against defending champions Argentina in Miami was destined to be legendary. Facing Lionel Messi and a star-studded side, few gave the Blue Sharks a chance. Yet, they delivered a performance for the ages. Trailing early, Cape Verde equalized not once but twice—Duarte's strike and Sidny Lopes Cabral's stunning wonder goal sending the stadium into delirium and forcing extra time. They pushed the mighty Albiceleste to the brink, only falling 3-2 after 120 grueling minutes. Messi himself praised their fight, swapping shirts and consoling players like Vozinha. In defeat, Cape Verde won something far greater: global admiration and a permanent place in World Cup lore.


What makes this run so profoundly inspirational is its deeper meaning. Cape Verde embodies the essence of football as the beautiful game—a sport where passion, tactical discipline, and collective spirit can level the playing field against financial powerhouses. Their players, many with roots in the diaspora, balanced club careers with national duty, training on modest facilities yet competing with world-class intensity. Coach and staff fostered a family atmosphere, turning limited resources into an unstoppable force of will. For the youth of Cape Verde and aspiring athletes across small nations, this tournament sends a resounding message: Dare to dream. Your islands may be small, your population modest, but your heart and talent know no bounds. Every save by Vozinha, every surging run, every goal celebrated with island fervor reminded us that underdogs don't just write fairy tales—they live them.


As the 2026 World Cup continues, Cape Verde returns home as heroes. Their journey ends not in sorrow but in celebration. They leave behind unforgettable moments: the pride of a nation united, the respect of football giants, and proof that belief can carry you to extra time against the best. The Blue Sharks have inspired a generation, elevated African football's diversity, and shown the world that true victory lies in the courage to compete.


Cape Verde, your performance was more than football—it was poetry in motion, a symphony of hope. You made billions believe in the impossible. The islands echo with pride today, and tomorrow's dreamers will walk taller because of you. Onward, Blue Sharks. Your legacy is eternal.


(The writer is a senior journalist based in Mumbai.)

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