Mhow
In a significant engagement underscoring the Indian military’s focus on strategic foresight, Dr Swasti Rao, a geopolitical expert and Associate Professor at OP Jindal Global University, addressed senior officers undergoing the Higher Command Course at the Army War College (AWC) here.
Keywords: Dr Swasti Rao, Higher Command Course Mhow, European Geopolitics, India Europe Strategic Partnership, Indo-Pacific Security, EU UK Geoeconomics, Army War College India
Drawing on her extensive experience at the Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (MP-IDSA), where she contributed to projects for India’s Ministry of External Affairs and Ministry of Defence, Dr Rao provided a nuanced analysis of the evolving dynamics in Europe, the European Union, and the United Kingdom. Her lecture illuminated the complex interplay between geopolitics, ongoing conflicts, and economic realities shaping the continent’s security landscape.
“War is no longer an aberration but has re-emerged as a centrepiece of international relations,” Dr Rao observed, referencing the protracted Russia-Ukraine conflict and its ripple effects on energy security, supply chains, and transatlantic alliances. She examined how Europe’s quest for strategic autonomy is being tested amid shifting power structures, NATO’s evolving role, and the economic pressures of sanctions and energy diversification. Particular attention was paid to the United Kingdom’s post-Brexit positioning and its implications for Indo-Pacific engagement.
A key highlight of the session was Dr Rao’s forward-looking assessment of opportunities for India. As New Delhi deepens its partnerships through frameworks like the Quad and bilateral ties with European nations, she outlined avenues in defence collaboration, technology transfer, critical minerals, and maritime security. Europe’s growing Indo-Pacific outreach presents India with strategic openings to enhance interoperability, joint exercises, and co-development of capabilities, she noted.
The interactive session, attended by Higher Command wing commander Maj Gen SS Kartikeya, instructors and officers of the course, fostered robust discussions on how these global shifts influence India’s national security calculus.
Dr Rao, also a Non-Resident Fellow at Eastern Circles in Paris and Consulting Editor with The Print, has established herself as a leading voice on European affairs and India-Europe relations. Her participation underscores Indian Army’s commitment to integrating multidisciplinary expertise into professional military education.
This engagement comes at a time when India is navigating a multipolar world, balancing traditional partnerships with emerging opportunities in a contested global order. As conflicts reshape alliances and economics, insights such as those shared by Dr. Rao equip India’s defence establishment to anticipate and adapt effectively.
contact: drrajeshjauhri@gmail.com
Dr Rajesh Jauhri is a Journalist with an experience of over 25 years in Indian and foreign media, a Social Scientist, an Ac-complished Author, a Political & Strategic Analyst, a Marksman (Rifle & Pistol), an Orator, a Thinker and an Educationist. He holds a Ph.D. degree on “Impact of colonial heritage on Indian police”. He runs an NGO dedicated to the social and eco-nomic uplift of tribal communities in MP and two decades back, he established a school in a village of Indore district, providing education and moral values to children belonging to underprivileged and minority families. Has received multiple awards in various fields.
