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Ways to navigate challenges in South Asia: 1) Re-emphasizing Neighborhood First Policy and mutual doctrine to ensure India-led development of South-Asia. 2) Economic linkages need to be deepened and diversified for overall growth. Eg: Re-invigoration of SAFTA or SAARC. 3) Countering China by giving concessions, non-interference in internal matters etc. 4) Humanitarian aid to improve India's soft power and people-to-people connect. Eg: Flood assistance to Sri Lanka. Thus, to ensure regional and national stability, South Asia needs to be India's top-most priority.

The India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor was launched in G20 summit with India, Saudi, UAE, Israel and Western Europe, USA. Significance of IMEC in connectivity: A India-Middle East: i) Direct connectivity to Persian Gulf, Central Asian republics etc. 2) Deepening trade and logistics exchange with all such Middle East. 3) Connectivity for defence exports from Israel. 4) Hydrogen pipeline will lead to energy security. B Middle East-Western Europe: 1) India's exports and imports will get a major push due to shortened distances. 2) Connectivity with western-europe and USA → defence support, infrastructure growth, increased investment. Transport and Energy in India's Foreign Policy: A Transport → necessary to increase bilateral connect, exports, tourism, defence etc. Eg: i International North-south transport corridor – connect to central Asia and Russia. ii Chabahar port → open up Afghanistan (heart of Asia). iii Kaladan multimodal transport → South-east Asia. iv Asia-Africa growth corridor → deepen Indo-Japanese-African connectivity. E Energy → climate change, economic, security and diplomacy. Eg: i International solar Alliance and one sun one world one grid. ii TAPI pipeline for gas imports. iii Indo-Bhutan-Nepal hydropower plans. Eg: Mahakali treaty. iv Nuclear cooperation agreements.

to energy security. B Middle East-Western Europe: 1) India's exports and imports will get a major push due to shortened distances. 2) Connectivity with western-europe and USA → defence support, infrastructure growth, increased investment. Transport and Energy in India's Foreign Policy: A Transport → necessary to increase bilateral connect, exports, tourism, defence etc. Eg: i International North-south transport corridor – connect to central Asia and Russia. ii Chabahar port → open up Afghanistan (heart of Asia). iii Kaladan multimodal transport → South-east Asia. iv Asia-Africa growth corridor → deepen Indo-Japanese-African connectivity. E Energy → climate change, economic, security and diplomacy. Eg: i International solar Alliance and one sun one world one grid. ii TAPI pipeline for gas imports. iii Indo-Bhutan-Nepal hydropower plans. Eg: Mahakali treaty. iv Nuclear cooperation agreements. Therefore, transport and energy are the new means of geopolitical supremacy, and India has to far performed well to capture them.

— ritika