Samir Bhattacharya

Southern Asia

Contributor at Freelance

Associate Fellow #ORF. Research scholar #JNU. Foreign Policy Enthusiast. Animal lover. Commited to excellence.

Articles

As India and Pakistan eye each other, this superpower eyes the whole map

3 weeks ago | dailytelegraph.co.nz | Samir Bhattacharya

Beijing’s close ties with Islamabad give it a level of influence over dealings with Delhi. The recent terrorist attack in India’s Pahalgam on April 22, 2025, which originated in Pakistan and resulted in the death of 26, mostly Hindu, civilians, has triggered another wave of heightened tensions between New Delhi and Islamabad.
Angola Eyes India in Countering China’s Influence

4 weeks ago | or-f.org | Samir Bhattacharya

Image Source: Getty Angolan President João Lourenço’s first state visit to India, from May 1 to 4, 2025, coinciding with the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations, marked a historic milestone in bilateral ties. It was the first visit by an Angolan head of state to India in nearly four decades, underscoring the growing strategic significance India holds for Angola, especially at a time when the country is actively diversifying its external partnerships and reassessing its overreliance on China.
Conflicts in Africa : Why Sudan remains trapped in prolonged civil war

1 month ago | or-f.org | Samir Bhattacharya

After weeks of fierce fighting, Sudan’s army has announced that it has pushed the rival paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) out of the capital Khartoum. But the Northeast African nation continues to reel from the prolonged conflict that began in April 2023. Since its outbreak, the ongoing civil war in Sudan has evolved into what is widely regarded as the most severe displacement crisis in modern history.
Beijing’s global vision takes shape in Africa

1 month ago | johnmenadue.com | Samir Bhattacharya

Mao Zedong once famously declared that “political power grows out of the barrel of a gun”. But almost a century later, China realises that triumphing in an increasingly multipolar world also requires shaping public opinion. Accordingly, Beijing is rearranging its foreign policy outlook – especially in Africa. Whether countering human rights criticism or isolating Taiwan, China’s goal is to wage a new form of warfare – the strategic contest for hearts and minds.
Nigeria-South Africa Mineral Partnership: A Strategic Chapter in Africa’s Resource Development

1 month ago | or-f.org | Samir Bhattacharya

The Nigeria-South Africa minerals pact charts a new course for African-led industrialisation, regional integration, and strategic control over the continent’s natural resourcesImage Source: Getty In a landmark move poised to reshape the African mining landscape, Nigeria and South Africa have entered a mining cooperation agreement.
Nigeria-South Africa Mineral Partnership: A Strategic Chapter in Africa’s Resource Development

1 month ago | orfonline.org | Samir Bhattacharya

The Nigeria-South Africa minerals pact charts a new course for African-led industrialisation, regional integration, and strategic control over the continent’s natural resourcesImage Source: Getty In a landmark move poised to reshape the African mining landscape, Nigeria and South Africa have entered a mining cooperation agreement.
Beijing’s global vision takes shape in Africa

1 month ago | or-f.org | Samir Bhattacharya

Mao Zedong once famously declared that ‘political power grows out of the barrel of a gun’. But almost a century later, China realises that triumphing in an increasingly multipolar world also requires shaping public opinion. Accordingly, Beijing is rearranging its foreign policy outlook — especially in Africa. Whether countering human rights criticism or isolating Taiwan, China’s goal is to wage a new form of warfare — the strategic contest for hearts and minds.
Beijing’s global vision takes shape in Africa

1 month ago | eastasiaforum.org | Samir Bhattacharya

Mao Zedong once famously declared that ‘political power grows out of the barrel of a gun’. But almost a century later, China realises that triumphing in an increasingly multipolar world also requires shaping public opinion. Accordingly, Beijing is rearranging its foreign policy outlook — especially in Africa. Whether countering human rights criticism or isolating Taiwan, China’s goal is to wage a new form of warfare — the strategic contest for hearts and minds.
Truce or trap? India’s calculated calm with Pakistan

1 month ago | dailytelegraph.co.nz | Samir Bhattacharya

Following four days of intense hostilities, India and Pakistan reached an agreement for a ceasefire. However, in light of Pakistan’s historical pattern of violating ceasefire agreements, there remains little belief in India that this cessation of hostilities will endure. The concern is not whether a breach will occur, but rather when.
Conflicts in Africa | Sahel’s strategic drift towards Russia

1 month ago | or-f.org | Samir Bhattacharya

While US President Donald Trump’s tariffs are resetting the global trading order, Africa is recalibrating its alliance with the West to move closer to Russia. In recent years, the Sahel region experienced deterioration in the security situation caused by the dwindling presence of the US and France. Capitalising in this shift, Russia has expanded its influence with the countries in the Sahel – the vast expanse south of the Sahara Desert.