From left, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif sign a trilateral defence agreement in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, on Aug. 7, 2026. (Saudi Press Agency via AP) (Saudi Press Agency via AP)

A new ‘NATO of the East?’ Why the Mecca pact isn’t quite what it seems

The Mecca agreeement is best understood as a form of strategic insurance for three governments seeking greater protection and political influence beyond traditional American guarantees.
RCMP Commissioner Mike Duheme speaks during a news conference at RCMP National Headquarters in Ottawa on Oct. 14, 2024, about allegations against the Indian government. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang

Latest Canada‑India diplomatic tensions are another serious obstacle to an improved relationship

Without a shared understanding of the pro-Khalistan issue between Canada and India, the relationship between the two countries is likely to remain strained.
Supporters of Muttahida Qaumi Movement of Pakistan — a secular, socially liberal political party in Pakistan — attend an election campaign rally in Karachi, Pakistan on Jan. 21, 2024, ahead of the country’s Feb. 8 elections. (AP Photo/Fareed Khan)

As Pakistani election looms, the military maintains its grip on the country’s politics

Sustained political stability in Pakistan is imperative but remains elusive until the military restrains itself within its constitutional role and refrains from unwarranted interference in politics.
President Joe Biden speaks with India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the White House in Washington D.C. on June 23, 2023. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Alleged assassination plot against Sikh separatist could hamper India‑U.S. relations

Reports of an alleged Indian plot to assassinate a Sikh separatist in the United States could undermine India-U.S. relations and both country’s efforts to counter China’s growing influence.
U.S. President Joe Biden greets China’s President Xi Jinping in Woodside, Calif., prior to their meeting at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation conference. (Doug Mills/The New York Times via AP, Pool)

What Joe Biden’s meeting with Xi Jinping means for geopolitical tensions

Relations between the U.S. and China have been particularly tense for the last few years. Can one summit between Joe Biden and Xi Jinping significantly improve relations?
Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, left, walks past Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi as they take part in a wreath-laying ceremony at Raj Ghat, Mahatma Gandhi’s cremation site, during the G20 Summit in New Delhi on Sept. 10, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

Justin Trudeau’s India accusation complicates western efforts to rein in China

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s allegations that India was involved in the murder of a Canadian citizen complicates efforts by Canada and its allies to woo India to counter-balance Chinese might.

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