From Foreign Policy · Drew Gorman · · 2m
Global power plays: Modi, Xi, Houthis, and more
A week of major geopolitical moves: India and China signal warming ties, Yemen's Houthis strike Saudi Arabia, and Europe braces for Arctic threats.
In brief
A week of major geopolitical moves: India and China signal warming ties, Yemen's Houthis strike Saudi Arabia, and Europe braces for Arctic threats. The world's power dynamics are shifting rapidly across multiple regions, from Asia's thaw to Middle Eastern tensions to Europe's security concerns. Originally reported by…
Modi and Xi pledge closer ties
India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi and China's President Xi Jinping committed to strengthening commercial and cultural cooperation during Xi's visit to the BRICS summit in New Delhi, signaling a thaw in their relationship.
Houthis strike Saudi military base
Yemen's Iranian-backed Houthi rebels fired dozens of missiles and drones at a military air base in the Saudi city of Khamis Mushait on Monday, continuing their campaign in the Red Sea.
EU focuses on Arctic security
European leaders gathered in Finland to discuss greater EU engagement in the Arctic region, responding to rising security concerns about potential Russian attacks from the north.
Dangote launches Africa's biggest IPO
Aliko Dangote, Africa's richest person, floated 4.1 billion shares of his oil refining company on Monday, raising capital to double production and build another refinery in Kenya.
Thailand and Cambodia tackle border
The two countries' foreign ministers met Tuesday to address a border dispute involving the Dangrek Mountains, as nationalist sentiment rises following clashes that reignited in May 2025.
EU considers Canada as associate
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen suggested Wednesday that the EU could grant Canada associate member status, as the country seeks closer ties amid Trump administration tensions.
Brazil's Lula boosts welfare ahead
President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva signed a decree Thursday increasing welfare benefits by 15 percent, a move ahead of next month's election as he faces rival Flávio Bolsonaro.
Swedish PM resigns after election loss
Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson stepped down Thursday after his center-right bloc lost Sunday's parliamentary elections, marking a setback for far-right influence in Europe.
US deploys space weapons
The United States confirmed Monday for the first time that it had deployed on-orbit space control weapons, though the Air Force provided no details about their capabilities.
Kardashian wins Paris robbery case
A Paris court awarded Kim Kardashian one euro in compensation Tuesday for a 2016 armed robbery. The aging robbers, convicted last year, became known as the stealing seniors.
The headline
The world's power dynamics are shifting rapidly across multiple regions, from Asia's thaw to Middle Eastern tensions to Europe's security concerns.
