Strategic & Defence Analysis

Advanced analysis of military strategy, operational art, hybrid warfare, emerging domains, and historical conflict studies shaping modern warfare theory and practice.

From a strategic perspective, the Strait of Hormuz is a geopolitical weapon that can affect the future balance of power, international markets, and the outcome of conflicts

Why the Strait of Hormuz Has Become the Decisive Theatre in US–Iran Conflict?

“From a strategic perspective, the Strait of Hormuz is a geopolitical weapon that can affect the future balance of power, international markets, and the outcome of conflicts”

The Strait of Hormuz is no longer merely a maritime passage connecting the Persian Gulf with the Arabian Sea. It has evolved into the strategic fulcrum of global geopolitics — a narrow corridor where military power, energy security, economics, diplomacy, and great-power rivalry converge with dangerous intensity.

Why Global Diplomacy Won’t Solve the Looming Energy & Forex Challenge: Why Every Indian Needs to Fight a Karmyudh

How can India Mitigate Impending Energy and Forex Trap? Why Every Indian Must Fight a ‘Karmyudh’ for Energy and Financial Security.

Strategic Imperative: Relying on foreign supply arrangements or promises of supply chain resilience carries severe geopolitical risks when transport routes face active disruption. True sovereignty demands indigenous physical buffers and direct demand-side interventions

Trump, Xi and Cold War 2.0: Managing Rivalry in a Fragmented World

The complex US-China rivalry has evolved into "Cold War 2.0," entailing intertwined economic and strategic interactions amidst military posturing. Presidents Trump and Xi's approaches symbolize contrasting strategies: Trump’s transactional nationalism versus Xi’s strategic continuity. The geopolitical landscape remains multipolar, requiring nations to navigate pressures prudently while fostering selective partnerships and avoiding outright confrontation.

Major General (Dr.) S. B. Asthana (Veteran) standing at a podium delivering a strategic keynote on India's Security Policy at the Atal–Kalam Research Park, Ahmedabad.

India’s Security Policy: From Regional Security to Global Stability

It was an honour to deliver a talk at the National Seminar organised by Bharatiya Vichar Manch and Gujarat University on the theme “India’s Global Role: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow” at the prestigious Atal–Kalam Research Park, Karnavati, Ahmedabad, on 16 February 2026.

The seminar brought together scholars, researchers, strategic thinkers, academicians, and enlightened citizens from various parts of India for a meaningful deliberation on India’s evolving global role and strategic trajectory in an increasingly turbulent world order. I spoke on “India’s Security Policy: From Regional Security to Global Stability,” examining India’s geopolitical security perspective, military capabilities, and the interplay of hard power, soft power, and smart power.The discussions reflected both intellectual depth and national commitment towards understanding India’s emergence as a responsible global power.

I had the privilege of speaking on the subject “India’s Security Policy: From Regional Security to Global Stability.” The deliberation focused on the evolution of India’s strategic outlook, the changing geopolitical environment, the nature of contemporary conflicts, and the role of India as a stabilising force amid global uncertainty. The discussion also covered India’s strategic conduct in the context of past and present wars, diplomacy, and its relations with Pakistan, China, and the United States. The session concluded with a lively and engaging question-and-answer interaction.

Navigating the Cautious Calibrations of Sino-Indian Relations

Navigating the Cautious Calibrations of Sino-Indian Relations Beyond the Reset: Interview of Maj Gen Dr Asthana by World Geostrategic Insight, Italy

The discourse surrounding India-China relations is often caught between the extremes of inevitable confrontation and optimistic reconciliation. However, the reality on the ground is a sophisticated "cautious re-engagement"—a strategic management of competition in an increasingly turbulent global order.

In my recent interview with an Italian international journal World Geostrategic Insights, I delve into why the 2025 "Tianjin Reset" between PM Modi and President Xi is more than just diplomatic optics. We explore the "special problem" India faces with its northern neighbor—a complexity that transcends trade and enters the realm of unsettled borders and collusive threats.

Strategy and Application of Operational Art in Operation Sindoor

As India recalls the dastardly terror attack in Pahalgam claiming lives of 26 civilian tourists, I take the opportunity to share my analysis regarding strategies, application of operational art in Operation Sindoor successfully launched by India. Besides the right strategic…