Global Faultlines

In this episode of Global Faultlines, we answer your questions on the conflicts, political rivalries and historical developments shaping international affairs. From the origins of ISIS and Iran’s place in the Gulf to Iraq’s Shia opposition, the Saudi-Houthi conflict and the question of Kurdish independence, we revisit some of the key issues explored on the podcast. We also discuss the possibility of a direct NATO confrontation with Russia and the growing influence of the far right in Europe.

Expert: Stanly Johny, International Affairs Editor, The Hindu 

Editing and Production: Sharmada Venkatasubramanian 

Camera: Shivaraj S

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In this episode, we examine Iraq’s uncertain future after the U.S. withdrawal, Iran’s deepening influence and the role of Iran-backed militias, and ask whether Baghdad can assert its sovereignty amid competing regional powers.

More than two decades after the 2003 U.S. invasion, Iraq finds itself at another turning point. The U.S. has ended its military presence in the country, while Iran continues to wield significant political and military influence through its allies and armed groups.

In this episode, we look at the legacy of the U.S. invasion, Iraq’s role in the recent Iran war and the future of Iran’s influence in the country. Can Baghdad assert its sovereignty and balance competing powers, or will Iraq remain caught between them?

Expert: Stanly Johny, International Affairs Editor, The Hindu 

Research, Editing and Production: Sharmada Venkatasubramanian 

Camera: Thamodharan B

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Saudi Arabia has spent the past few years trying to reshape its role in West Asia, moving away from confrontation with Iran, and seeking an end to the war in Yemen.

However, the Iran war has changed the regional landscape. The resurgence of the Houthis, attacks on Saudi territory and energy infrastructure, and growing questions over the U.S. security guarantee have exposed the challenges facing Riyadh. At the same time, Saudi Arabia is navigating an increasingly complex relationship with the UAE, Israel and Iran.

How is the war changing Saudi Arabia’s regional strategy? Can Riyadh keep its economic transformation insulated from the conflicts around it? And what role does Saudi Arabia see for itself in a rapidly changing West Asia?

In this episode of Global Faultlines, Stanly Johny joins Sharmada Venkatasubramanian to examine Saudi Arabia’s changing position in the region and the challenges confronting Mohammed bin Salman’s ambitions.

Expert: Stanly Johny, International Affairs Editor, The Hindu 

Research, Editing and Production: Sharmada Venkatasubramanian 

Camera: Shivaraj S

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The UAE has emerged as one of the most influential powers in West Asia, using diplomacy, trade, investment and strategic partnerships to extend its influence far beyond the Gulf. But its relationships with Saudi Arabia, Iran and Israel have grown increasingly complex, while the Iran war has tested its carefully calibrated regional strategy. At the same time, Abu Dhabi is deepening its strategic partnership with India. In this episode, we examine the UAE’s rise, its regional ambitions and the changing alliances shaping its foreign policy.

Expert: Stanly Johny, International Affairs Editor, The Hindu 

Research, Editing and Production: Sharmada Venkatasubramanian 

Camera: Shivaraj S

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Israel has fought multiple wars and military campaigns since October 7, in Gaza, Lebanon and Iran, while expanding its military and intelligence operations across the region. But military reach does not necessarily translate into strategic victory. What has Israel actually achieved, and at what cost? Has it strengthened its security and position in West Asia, or created new vulnerabilities and deeper isolation? How have these wars changed Israel’s relationship with the United States, the Gulf and India, and what do they mean for the future of the Palestinian question? 

In this episode of Global Faultlines, we examine Israel’s wars, its security establishment, its evolving regional strategy and the larger question: Is Israel winning?

Expert: Stanly Johny, International Affairs Editor, The Hindu 

Research, Editing and Production: Sharmada Venkatasubramanian 

Camera: Johan Sathyadas J

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Yemen is no longer just the site of a devastating civil war. The Houthis have emerged as a powerful regional actor, capable of threatening Saudi Arabia, Israel and one of the world’s most important maritime trade routes.

In this episode, we examine how the Houthis transformed from a domestic insurgency into a regional military force, how the Gaza war expanded their role, and why Yemen has now become a new front in the Iran war.

We look at the Houthis’ relationship with Iran, the strategic importance of the Red Sea and Bab el-Mandeb, the renewed confrontation with Saudi Arabia, and what the escalation means for Yemen’s already catastrophic humanitarian crisis.

Can Yemen still find a political settlement, or has the rise of the Houthis permanently changed the balance of power in West Asia?

Expert: Stanly Johny, International Affairs Editor, The Hindu 

Research, Editing and Production: Sharmada Venkatasubramanian 

Camera: Shivaraj S

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Jordan rarely dominates the headlines, yet it sits at the heart of some of West Asia's biggest geopolitical faultlines. Bordering Israel and the occupied West Bank, Syria, Iraq and Saudi Arabia, the kingdom has been shaped by the Palestinian question, successive regional wars, and shifting alliances.

How has Jordan managed to remain stable despite being surrounded by conflict? And can it continue balancing its ties with the United States and Israel while responding to growing regional tensions?

In this episode of Global faultlines, we explore Jordan's history, its strategic importance, and the challenges shaping its future.

Expert: Stanly Johny, International Affairs Editor, The Hindu 

Research, Editing and Production: Sharmada Venkatasubramanian 

Camera: Shivaraj S

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The war on Iran may be over, but its consequences are only beginning to reshape the Persian Gulf. For decades, Gulf monarchies have balanced security partnerships with the United States, pragmatic engagement with Iran, and ambitious plans to transform themselves into global economic hubs. The conflict has put that strategy to its biggest test yet.

In this episode of Global Faultlines, we examine how the war has changed the Gulf security order. From the GCC's historical ties with Iran and the impact of the conflict on Gulf states to the future of the U.S. security architecture and the region's evolving strategic partnerships, we explore what comes next for one of the world's most consequential geopolitical theatres.

Has the war fundamentally altered the Gulf's approach to Iran? Is the U.S.-led security architecture entering a new phase? And what does the post-war security order in the Persian Gulf look like?

Expert: Stanly Johny, International Affairs Editor, The Hindu 

Research, Editing and Production: Sharmada Venkatasubramanian 

Camera: Shivaraj S

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Since October 7, West Asia has witnessed a cascade of crises, from the war in Gaza, attacks on Red Sea shipping, to the fall of the Assad regime in Syria, and direct military confrontation between Israel and Iran. Together, these events have reshaped the region's geopolitical landscape.

For India, the stakes are particularly high. New Delhi has spent years cultivating close ties with Israel, Iran, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and other Gulf states while pursuing a policy of strategic autonomy and multi-alignment.

But as rivalries sharpen and instability becomes more persistent, can India continue to balance relationships with competing powers? Or does this new regional reality demand a rethink of its long-term strategy?

In this episode of Global Faultlines, we examine how West Asia has changed since October 7, what those changes mean for India's foreign policy, and where New Delhi fits into the region's evolving balance of power.

Expert: Stanly Johny, International Affairs Editor, The Hindu 

Research, Editing and Production: Sharmada Venkatasubramanian 

Camera: Shivaraj S

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The Iran-Israel-U.S. war may have ended with a ceasefire, but many of the questions that drove the conflict remain unresolved.

After months of direct confrontation involving Iran, Israel and the United States, the region is taking stock of a war that raised fears of a wider regional conflict, disrupted global energy markets and brought renewed attention to Iran's nuclear programme.

What did the war actually achieve? Did military action weaken Iran's nuclear ambitions or make the issue more difficult to resolve? Why is the Trump administration pursuing diplomacy with Tehran after abandoning the 2015 nuclear deal? And how has the conflict reshaped the balance of power in West Asia?

In this episode of Global Faultlines, we speak about the consequences of the Iran-Israel war, the future of the U.S.-Iran relations, the state of Iran's nuclear programme, and what the ceasefire means for the future of the region.

Expert: Stanly Johny, International Affairs Editor, The Hindu 

Research, Editing and Production: Sharmada Venkatasubramanian 

Camera: Shivaraj S

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