A transatlantic charter of Afghanistan

The South Asia Center is the hub for the Atlantic Council’s analysis of the political, social, geographical, and cultural diversity of the region. ​At the intersection of South Asia and its geopolitics, SAC cultivates dialogue to shape policy and forge ties between the region and the global community.

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All In-Depth Research and Reports

Issue Brief

Aug 8, 2018

Outside-the-Box Sino-Indian and Indo-Russian cooperation on Afghanistan

By Omar Samad and Bharath Gopalaswamy

Recent Sino-Indian and Indo-Russian informal agreements to undertake joint projects in Afghanistan mark a geographical paradigm shift in the strategic ambitions of the region’s largest stakeholders.

Afghanistan China

Issue Brief

Aug 8, 2018

Outside-the-Box Sino-Indian and Indo-Russian cooperation on Afghanistan

By Omar Samad and Bharath Gopalaswamy

Recent Sino-Indian and Indo-Russian informal agreements to undertake joint projects in Afghanistan mark a geographical paradigm shift in the strategic ambitions of the region’s largest stakeholders.

Afghanistan China

Report

Apr 6, 2018

India’s quest for fighter jets: Make in India vs. Make America Great Again

By Bharath Gopalaswamy

Working in tandem with India to improve its capacity to play a stronger role in the region and uphold the existing liberal order, would be a critical stride for US grand strategy.

Defense Industry Defense Policy

Issue Brief

Feb 13, 2018

Unlocking US-India trade

By Hon. Paula Stern

The Trump administration’s vision of an Indo-Pacific where democracy and open seas can flourish, needs sharpening. India can aid in the optimization of this objective by using bilateral and sectoral lenses to find where the they can best cooperate in order to offset bellicose incursions in the region from aggressive foreign powers. An agreement that […]

India Trade and tariffs

Issue Brief

Feb 13, 2018

Unlocking US-India trade

By Hon. Paula Stern

An agreement that focuses just on the technical sector minimizes the risks of a broader bilateral accord and opens the door for the geostrategic cooperation that India seeks.

India Trade and tariffs

Report

Nov 15, 2017

Asia in the “Second Nuclear Age”

By Gaurav Kampani and Bharath Gopalaswamy

It is now a truism among foreign and defense policy practitioners that the post Cold War nuclear buildup in the India Pacific region constitutes the drawn of the “second nuclear age.” From the 1990s onward, China’s decision to stir out of its strategic languor and modernize its nuclear arsenal, along with the resolve of India […]

Nuclear Deterrence Nuclear Nonproliferation

Issue Brief

Jun 22, 2017

Transforming India from a balancing to leading power

By Manish Tewari and Bharath Gopalaswamy

“It is vital for American interests in Asia to have India as an economic and strategic ally,” writes Bharath Gopalaswamy and former Minister Manish Tewari in “Transforming India from a Balancing to Leading Power,” a new brief from the Atlantic Council’s South Asia Center. In the brief, the authors present policy recommendations for US policy […]

China India

Issue Brief

Jun 22, 2017

Transforming India from a balancing to leading power

By Bharath Gopalaswamy, Manish Tewari

In the brief, the authors present policy recommendations for US policy makers as a newly assertive India seeks to assume a leading role in Asia.

China India
The 18th SAARC Summit

Issue Brief

Apr 26, 2016

Cooperation in South Asia: The case for redefining alliances

By MANJARI CHATTERJEE MILLER AND BHARATH GOPALASWAMY

Political mistrust in the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) is high and this, in turn, has historically led to shortsighted economic policies and disjointed coordination. As India asserts itself as a global economic player, its leadership, specifically in SAARC, may lead to the political successes necessary to ensure broader connectivity and cooperation in […]

Politics & Diplomacy South Asia
President Ghani

Issue Brief

Oct 14, 2015

Afghanistan and US security

By South Asia Center

It is the core purpose of the Atlantic Council to foster bipartisan support for policies that promote the security of the United States and the transatlantic community. The signatories of this piece have either served in Afghanistan, been involved in the formation of US policy in government, or otherwise devoted considerable time to Afghan affairs. […]

Afghanistan Conflict