South Asia Chat

President-elect Donald Trump is set to take office as the 47th President of the United States of America in January 2025. Donald Trump’s second term in office is poised to be a continuation of his first term where US’s pre-2017 free trade principles and approach to economic policies is expected to undergo vast changes. As the world waits to see the real effects take root, in today’s episode of South Asia Chat, Ms. Divya Murali, Research Associate at ISAS chats with Dr Amitendu Palit, Senior Research Fellow and Research Lead (Trade and Economics), ISAS-NUS to unpack the implications of Trump 2.0 trade and economic policies that could impact the world and the region.

The recent COP29 conference brought climate finance to the forefront of international climate diplomacy, with key outcomes such as the adoption of the New Collective Quantified Goal on Climate Finance and the new $300 billion target. However, these developments have sparked contention, particularly highlighting the diverging perspectives between developed and developing countries. Additionally, the re-election of Donald Trump, whose rhetoric has historically opposed climate action, adds another layer of complexity to the ongoing discussions on climate action and finance. To unpack these recent developments in climate finance, Mr Saeeduddin Faridi, Research Analyst, ISAS, is in conversation with Dr Gautam Jain, Senior Research Scholar, Center on Global Energy Policy, School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA), Columbia University.

This episode of South Asia Chat delves into the political polarisation in Pakistan which has emerged since the incarceration of former Prime Minister Imran Khan. The discussion focuses on the ongoing protests led by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, which culminated in violent clashes with security forces on 24 November 2024. Mr Muhammad Saad Ul Haque, Research Analyst, Institute of South Asian Studies, National University of Singapore, in conversation with Dr Zahid Ahmed, Associate Professor, National Defence College, Abu Dhabi, explores the broader implications of these events, highlighting issues of governance, accountability, and the role of public dissent in Pakistan's evolving democracy.

In April 2024, India delivered three BrahMos missile batteries to the Philippines as part of a US$375 (S$510 million) million deal, making the Philippines the first export customer of the India-Russia joint venture. This highlights India’s growing role in defence technology exports, with BrahMos embodying the ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ vision. The deal strengthens India-Philippines ties amid rising tensions with China, especially after the 2020 border clashes and South China Sea disputes and reflects increasing India-ASEAN defence cooperation. As India aims to be a key defence exporter, challenges remain in maintaining BrahMos’ competitive edge in the regional arms market. Mriganika Singh Tanwar, Research Analyst, ISAS, speaks with Dr Rajeswari Pillai Rajagopalan,  Resident Senior Fellow, Australian Strategic Policy Institute, Canberra, Australia, on India’s defence diplomacy in Southeast Asia, the BrahMos deal, and its regional security impact.

 

India-China relations have recently seen a positive change as the two countries have successfully disengaged in Depsang and Demchok areas. To further discuss what these developments mean for both countries, Dr Sidharth Raimedhi, Fellow at the Centre for Strategic and Defence Research (CSDR), New Delhi speaks with Ms. Devyani Chaturvedi, Research Analyst at ISAS. 

Donald Trump’s recent re-election marks a pivotal moment for India-US relations, with his administration likely to influence trade, immigration, and great power dynamics in ways that will have lasting impacts on India. In this episode of South Asia Chat, Kanika Kaur, Research Analyst at ISAS, is joined by Professor C Raja Mohan, Visiting Research Professor and leading commentator on Indian foreign policy, to discuss what Trump’s second term means for India. They explore the prospects of heightened tariffs on Indian exports, Trump’s stringent immigration policies affecting skilled Indian professionals, and the shifting power balance with China and Russia.

India-Canada relations have taken a sharp turn in recent months, following Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's 2023 allegations of Indian government involvement in the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar. This led to Canada’s request in October 2024 for the removal of diplomatic immunity for six Indian diplomats, sparking a diplomatic standoff. In this episode of South Asia Chat, Raghaw Khattri, Research Analyst at ISAS, speaks with Professor C Raja Mohan, Visiting Research Professor at ISAS and renowned foreign policy expert. They discuss the unfolding tensions, the impact on bilateral relations, and the broader implications for India’s international diplomacy and domestic politics.

In this episode, Mriganika Singh Tanwar, Research Analyst at ISAS-NUS, speaks with Dr Athaulla Rasheed, former diplomat and foreign service officer with the Maldives Ministry of Foreign Affairs. They discuss the key dynamics of India-Maldives relations, focusing on President Muizzu's official visit to India (6-10 October 2024) aimed at mending bilateral ties and resolving diplomatic misunderstandings. The conversation explores the evolving relationship between the two South Asian nations and what the future may hold.

The power sector in Pakistan has remained a priority for each successive government and yet it remains in a state of crisis. It continues to be plagued by issues such as frequent power outages, transmission and distribution losses, high subsidies and limited infrastructure. In this episode Saeeduddin Faridi, Research Analyst, ISAS-NUS, is in conversation with Dr Ijlal Naqvi, Associate Professor of Sociology, Singapore Management University, to discuss these challenges and the emerging landscape of the sector. The discussion draws on issues such as governance challenges, the tensions between the federal state and provinces, the emerging green transition, and the recent growth of solar power.

Haryana's assembly polls are scheduled for 5 October 2024, marking the first direct political battle between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress, since the Lok Sabha election earlier this year. In this episode of South Asia Chat, ISAS Research Analyst Raghaw Khattri is in conversation with Dr Satendra Kumar, Senior Researcher at the Institute of Asian and Oriental Studies, University of Zurich, to delve into the complexities of the election campaign. They discuss the BJP's setbacks in Haryana's 2024 General Elections, the intriguing alliances shaping up, key election issues like the Minimum Support Price (MSP) and unemployment, and how the entrance of athletes like Vinesh Phogat might influence voter dynamics. Dr Kumar offers his expert analysis on these topics, including the role of caste and rebel MLAs in shaping the political landscape ahead.