Global Horizons
Date: July 04, 2025
In this issue, the author examines a range of troubling issues that confront the international community today.
June was a month of frenetic activity for the Trump administration, marked by arbitrary deadlines and unilateral actions which created widespread uncertainty for US allies and undermined trust in US commitments. The US remains by far the world’s most preponderant power, but it is clear that the international strategic and economic order has begun to shift.
The G7 and NATO summits were marked by tepid support for Ukraine, even as Russia’s campaign against Ukraine intensified. Following Israel’s series of aerial attacks on Iranian targets starting June 13, the US bombed Iran’s nuclear facilities on June 22, before imposing a ceasefire between Iran and Israel on June 24. US dominance over West Asia was consolidated. Gaza remained an unmitigated humanitarian nightmare.
President Trump received a hero’s welcome at the NATO summit, where allies agreed to his demand and committed to invest up to 5% of GDP annually on defence and security by 2035.
The month also saw some hedging actions by US allies, with Canada and the EU stepping up their security and defence partnership and the EU Council doubling down on steps to bolster European defence capabilities.
The US tendency to pursue its singular interests irrespective of the impact on allies and partners was also manifest in its relations with India and Japan, albeit on different issues ranging from trade concessions and defence spending to counterterrorism.
A US-brokered peace agreement between the DRC and Rwanda was signed in Washington on June 27, raising hopes for normalcy along their troubled border region. The US will expect to be a major beneficiary in respect of rare earths production.
PM Narendra Modi met his Canadian counterpart on the sidelines of the G7 summit on June 17, with the two leaders paving the way for calibrated and constructive steps to restore stability in bilateral ties.
At the G7 outreach meeting on June 17, PM Modi laid out India’s position on the issues of energy security and emerging challenges in the age of AI, while also strongly warning against double standards towards terrorism for the sake of vested interests.
High level meetings between India and China continued during the month, including on the sidelines of SCO meetings held in China, marking cautious steps towards greater normalcy in bilateral relations.
The author concludes that in the midst of widespread uncertainty and turmoil in international relations, India must secure its interests across the extended neighbourhood, while doubling down on social cohesion and economic development.
To read this issue of Global Horizons, Vol. III, Issue 6, please see the PDF attached.
June was a month of frenetic activity for the Trump administration, marked by arbitrary deadlines and unilateral actions which created widespread uncertainty for US allies and undermined trust in US commitments. The US remains by far the world’s most preponderant power, but it is clear that the international strategic and economic order has begun to shift.
The G7 and NATO summits were marked by tepid support for Ukraine, even as Russia’s campaign against Ukraine intensified. Following Israel’s series of aerial attacks on Iranian targets starting June 13, the US bombed Iran’s nuclear facilities on June 22, before imposing a ceasefire between Iran and Israel on June 24. US dominance over West Asia was consolidated. Gaza remained an unmitigated humanitarian nightmare.
President Trump received a hero’s welcome at the NATO summit, where allies agreed to his demand and committed to invest up to 5% of GDP annually on defence and security by 2035.
The month also saw some hedging actions by US allies, with Canada and the EU stepping up their security and defence partnership and the EU Council doubling down on steps to bolster European defence capabilities.
The US tendency to pursue its singular interests irrespective of the impact on allies and partners was also manifest in its relations with India and Japan, albeit on different issues ranging from trade concessions and defence spending to counterterrorism.
A US-brokered peace agreement between the DRC and Rwanda was signed in Washington on June 27, raising hopes for normalcy along their troubled border region. The US will expect to be a major beneficiary in respect of rare earths production.
PM Narendra Modi met his Canadian counterpart on the sidelines of the G7 summit on June 17, with the two leaders paving the way for calibrated and constructive steps to restore stability in bilateral ties.
At the G7 outreach meeting on June 17, PM Modi laid out India’s position on the issues of energy security and emerging challenges in the age of AI, while also strongly warning against double standards towards terrorism for the sake of vested interests.
High level meetings between India and China continued during the month, including on the sidelines of SCO meetings held in China, marking cautious steps towards greater normalcy in bilateral relations.
The author concludes that in the midst of widespread uncertainty and turmoil in international relations, India must secure its interests across the extended neighbourhood, while doubling down on social cohesion and economic development.
To read this issue of Global Horizons, Vol. III, Issue 6, please see the PDF attached.
