The BRICS organization forms a powerful platform for international cooperation based on the exchange of shared national interests that continues to endorse the non-Western order, against the existing multilateral financial institutions and underlying traditional Westphalian doctrines.

This article examines the 2022 Russia-Ukraine conflict and its implications for the Baltic states. In the wake of July 11, 2023, the NATO summit was held in Lithuania with the participation of U.S. President Joe Biden. The summit occurred amid tensions between Russia and Ukraine and provided an opportunity for the East European nations of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania to assert their positions on international platforms. Thus, the Baltic states serve as a transformed stage for the strategic alliance among the EU allies and NATO in opposition to Russia. Russia disclosed a list of unfriendly countries and territories, which includes the Baltic states. The war between Russia and Ukraine poses a security threat to the Baltic states, given their close geographical proximity and location as a junction between East and West. However, the Baltic states receive high-level military drills and special training for their nation-level armed forces as NATO member countries. Subsequently, the Russia-Ukraine conflict has multiple implications for the Baltic states. Thus, the paper argues that the Russia-Ukraine military escalation has strong geopolitical, economic, socio-cultural, and security disruptions over the Baltic states.

This paper is an analysis of the Ukraine crisis in 2014 evolving to 2022 as the prelude to the Russia-Ukraine fullfledged war that started in February 2022. The escalating conflict between Russia and Ukraine has reverberated beyond their borders, with the active involvement of key international actors such as the European Union (EU), the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), and the United States (US) in the conflict zone. Notably, the President of Russia, Vladimir Putin, visited the Kherson and Luhansk regions, further exacerbating tensions in the area. Preceding these events, Russia organized a referendum on 20 September in Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson, wherein enthusiasm for joining the Russian Federation was expressed. These developments are perceived as manifestations of Russia’s dissatisfaction with Ukraine’s political decisions. The conflict’s initiation in 2022 can be attributed to Ukraine’s aspirations to align itself with NATO and the EU, which sparked Russia’s aggressive actions. Despite Ukraine’s efforts to regain control of Crimea and restore its sovereignty, exemplified by the formation of the Crimea Platform at its first Summit in 2021 with the backing of the EU and NATO, the situation has escalated into a full-scale war. By examining the sequence of events and the underlying geopolitical dynamics, this paper aims to shed light on the complexities of the Russia-Ukraine conflict and its shift into a catastrophic war. The findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the interplay between political decisions, regional ambitions, and the global ramifications of military aggression in contemporary international conflicts.

India's foreign policy has moved swiftly from its traditional approach toward Israel and Palestine. This new phase has initiated a de-hyphenation approach to deal with India's bilateral relations with Palestine and Israel. This study outlines the developments in Israel-India relations, considering the changes in Indian foreign policy approach to the Palestine factor and the initiation of de-hyphenation policy.

This paper examines the Ukraine-Russia border tensions in 2021, West-Russia geopolitical rivalry over Ukraine, and its implications for the region's stability, security, and peace. The recent Russian military build-up at Ukraine's pro-Russian Donbas border, followed by invasion and the Russophobic response of US, North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), European Union (EU), and Ukraine have attracted international attention.