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India-Sweden Strategic Compass; A Bi-Monthly Newsletter (Vol.4, No.5, September-October 2025) — India-Sweden Strategic Compass; A Bi-Monthly Newsletter (Vol.4, No.5, September-October 2025)

The past few months have witnessed a vibrant phase in India-Sweden relations, marked by a wide range of engagements spanning clean energy, circular manufacturing, artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and smart cities. Momentum was equally visible at the 12th India-Sweden Innovation Day held in Stockholm, co-organized by the Embassy of India in Sweden. The event reaffirmed the growing synergy between diplomacy, technology, and climate action—an especially timely dialogue in the run-up to COP 30. The adoption of the new Strategic EU-India Agenda by the EU Council was welcomed as a step toward deepening cooperation in sustainability, technology and innovation, security and defense, connectivity, and global governance. Read more about the progress that the India-Sweden Ties are making in this bi-monthly newsletter.

From Amazon to the Third Pole: Why COP30 and BRICS Must Elevate Tibet’s Climate Emergency — From Amazon to the Third Pole: Why COP30 and BRICS Must Elevate Tibet’s Climate Emergency

The Stockholm Center for South Asian and Indo-Pacific Affairs (SCSA-IPA) at the Institute for Security and Development Policy (ISDP) undertook a strategic undertaking to Brazil during COP30 in Belém, followed by high-level dialogues in Rio de Janeiro, to highlight one of the world’s most neglected ecological flashpoints: the accelerating climate crisis across Tibet and the Himalayan region. This visit formed part of the Center’s flagship project, “Whither Tibet in Climate Crisis Agenda,” a striking conversation at the COP30, culminating in the release of the report in Rio and exchanges with the Brazilian knowledge community, experts, and policymakers.

Report of the Second Stockholm Forum on Himalaya: Climate Crisis in Tibet — Report of the Second Stockholm Forum on Himalaya: Climate Crisis in Tibet

The Second Stockholm Forum on Himalaya: Climate Crisis in Tibet, held on October 16, 2025, at Sjöfartshuset in Stockholm, gathered scholars, policymakers, and experts from Europe, Asia, and the Indo-Pacific to spotlight Tibet’s worsening ecological and geopolitical challenges. The Forum’s central message was: the Tibetan Plateau, the “Third Pole” that regulates monsoons, river systems, and global weather patterns, must be placed at the center of international climate diplomacy ahead of COP30 in Belém, Brazil to be held next week. Download and read the outcome of the event in this report.

NATO Engagement in the Indo-Pacific? A Three-Country Case Study: India, Indonesia & the Philippines — NATO Engagement in the Indo-Pacific? A Three-Country Case Study: India, Indonesia & the Philippines

Notwithstanding some overlap in NATO’s core interests with India, Indonesia, and the Philippines, particularly deterrence and crisis prevention, in its current incarnation, direct NATO cooperation with these three pivotal countries in the Indo-Pacific is difficult to reconcile. This policy paper by Richard Ghiasy and Jagannath Panda examines NATO’s potential partnership with the three countries as case studies. It looks at their prospects for engagement with NATO, mainly through their current disposition in security matters, strategic priorities, autonomy, and relationship with China and the US/allies. We commence alphabetically with India. This study was sponsored by the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom. Read and download the study here.

The Dragon in the North: On China’s Arctic Push — The Dragon in the North: On China’s Arctic Push

China’s self-proclamation as a “near-Arctic state” and its recent deployment of icebreakers near Alaska illustrate its growing Arctic push. The deepening Sino-Russian partnership, from joint air patrols to energy cooperation, has prompted Washington to recalibrate its Arctic posture. India, a key player in Arctic affairs, has maintained strategic autonomy. It prioritizes research and sustainability, even as it expands energy and shipping links with Russia and pursues a guarded rapprochement with Beijing. This issue brief by J. Jeganaathan and Bharath P. H. examines the evolving dynamics of this volatile frontier, focusing on China’s operational maneuvers and their geopolitical implications for the Arctic region. Read and download the issue brief here.

Tibet at the Edge of a Tipping Point: Stockholm Forum Calls on COP30 to Confront the Mounting Climate Emergency — Tibet at the Edge of a Tipping Point: Stockholm Forum Calls on COP30 to Confront the Mounting Climate Emergency

Stockholm, October 16, 2025: The Second Stockholm Forum on Himalaya, held at the Institute for Security and Development Policy (ISDP), delivered an urgent and resonant message to the international community: the climate crisis unfolding in Tibet can no longer remain absent from global climate diplomacy. Bringing together scholars, policy practitioners, and analysts from Europe, Asia, and the Indo-Pacific, the forum made a compelling case that the Tibetan Plateau-often referred to as the ‘Third Pole’- must be recognised as a central pillar in any serious discussion of global climate governance. As preparations intensify for COP30 in Belém, Brazil, the Forum’s proceedings echoed with a shared conviction that Tibet must be placed firmly on the UNFCCC agenda.

Events »

25 Nov

Korea Strategic Talks Webinar VIII: Re-Engagement with the DPRK & A New Playing Field
27 Nov

Korea Strategic Talks Webinar IX: Re-Engagement with the DPRK & A New Playing Field
2 Dec

Nordic-Korea Cooperation in the Arctic – A Necessity to Continue the Green Energy Transition
9 Dec

Building Bridges Through Sports: Opportunities for Sweden – Taiwan Collaboration

Publications »

India-Sweden Strategic Compass; Vol.4, No.5, September-October 2025

Anahita Poursafir, Tristan Eng, Ines Vassort and Jagannath Panda

COP30 and China’s Tibetan Plateau Paradox

Richard Ghiasy and Jagannath Panda

Report of the Second Stockholm Forum on Himalaya: Climate Crisis in Tibet

Jagannath Panda, Niklas Swanström, Eerishika Pankaj, Charles Parton, Jiayi Zhou, Linus Zhang, Ute Wallenböck, Sriparna Pathak, Richard Ghiasy, Dattesh D. Parulekar, Tsering Topgyal, Astha Chadha, Rahul Karan Reddy and Shruti Kapil

Archipelago in the Crossfire: Indonesia Between Washington and Beijing

Alexandre Brans

The Dragon in the North: On China’s Arctic Push

J. Jeganaathan and Bharath P. H.

North Korea’s Ascension as a Global Player: Security Implications and Diplomatic Challenges

Gabriela Bernal

ISDP Spotlight

ISDP hosted a seminar on “Peace by Partnership: Europe and Korea in the New Geopolitics of Northeast Asia” — ISDP hosted a seminar on “Peace by Partnership: Europe and Korea in the New Geopolitics of Northeast Asia”

On November 7, the Institute for Security and Development Policy (ISDP) hosted an in-person seminar bringing together experts from Sweden and Europe, and Korea to discuss evolving geopolitical dynamics and key issues, including regional security, Russia-China-North Korea coordination, Korea-Japan relations, the China-Taiwan issue, inter-Korean relations, prospects for Nordic/EU-Korea cooperation.

ISDP hosted a roundtable discussion with David Biggs focusing on Europe’s evolving role in science, technology, and research security amid shifting global dynamics — ISDP hosted a roundtable discussion with David Biggs focusing on Europe’s evolving role in science, technology, and research security amid shifting global dynamics

ISDP hosted a roundtable discussion on October 24 with David Biggs, Senior Fellow, focusing on Europe’s evolving role in science, technology, and research security amid shifting global dynamics. The conversation explored how Europe can navigate reduced US engagement, growing competition with China, and the increasing interconnections between openness, academic freedom, and national security.

ISDP met with visiting experts and scholars from New Zealand, hosted by the New Zealand Embassy in Sweden — ISDP met with visiting experts and scholars from New Zealand, hosted by the New Zealand Embassy in Sweden

ISDP experts attended a meeting with the visiting experts and scholars from New Zealand, hosted by the New Zealand Embassy in Sweden. The meeting was presided over by H.E. David Taylor, Ambassador of New Zealand in Sweden. The discussion covered a wide range of topics from Arctic politics to Sino-Russian alliance, China-EU engagement to China-India and India-USA Ties, among others.

Maud Descamps attended the workshop “Between Promises and Performance: Tracking China’s Green Paradox” held by Heidelberg University as part of the EuroHub4Sino project — Maud Descamps attended the workshop “Between Promises and Performance: Tracking China’s Green Paradox” held by Heidelberg University as part of the EuroHub4Sino project

Maud Descamps attended the workshop “Between Promises and Performance: Tracking China’s Green Paradox” in Brussels held by Heidelberg University as part of the EuroHub4Sino (EH4S) project. The program focused on China’s position in global climate action ahead of COP 30 in Belém, looking at its growing impact as a climate leader, its technocentric strategy, and the contradiction between coal expansion and green technology exports.

Ethical Challenges in Research & Cooperation: ISDP welcomed Alicia Hennig for a fireside discussion — Ethical Challenges in Research & Cooperation: ISDP welcomed Alicia Hennig for a fireside discussion

On October 13, the Institute for Security and Development Policy (ISDP) team had the pleasure of hosting a fireside discussion with Dr. Alicia Hennig, Associated Senior Research Fellow, who shared her first-hand insights into China’s academic environment, government structure, and ethical challenges in research and cooperation.