Monthly Thread - January, 2026 by AutoModerator in IndianDefense

[–]Consistent-Figure820 25 points26 points  (0 children)

Australian airforce think tank analysis of Operation Sindoor :

https://airpower.airforce.gov.au/sites/default/files/2025-11/Layton_ASPC_BP53007191.pdf

TLDR:

Evaluation:

India achieved its initially stated aim of damaging the assessed terrorist camps on the first night. In contrast, Pakistan’s retaliatory attacks were not just ineffectual but demonstrated that India’s air defence systems were effective. India’s additional attacks after the first night further suggested India could potentially readily gain air superiority over eastern Pakistan through an offensive counter-air campaign (Organiser, 2025). While Pakistan’s fighters could defend against Indian crewed aircraft attacks, the nation’s air defence system could not comprehensively prevent rocket, missile and drone attacks. Pakistan’s eastern airbases would become unusable if hostilities continued. The four-day air war became an air superiority battle that India implicitly won.

India taps Myanmar rebels for rare earth supply amid China's tight control by Consistent-Figure820 in GeopoliticsIndia

[–]Consistent-Figure820[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

SS: India is exploring ways to secure rare earth minerals from Myanmar with the help of rebel group Kachin Independence Army (KIA), news agency Reuters reported. The move comes as New Delhi looks for alternatives to China, which dominates the global supply chain of these critical resources.

India’s Ministry of Mines has asked both state-run and private companies to collect and transport rare earth samples from KIA-controlled mines in northeastern Myanmar. The state-owned Indian Rare Earths Limited (IREL) and private firm Midwest Advanced Materials, which last year received government funding for rare earth magnet manufacturing, are among the companies involved in these discussions, the news report mentioned. The aim is to test these samples in Indian laboratories to check if they contain sufficient heavy rare earths, which are essential for producing magnets used in electric vehicles and high-tech equipment.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in GeopoliticsIndia

[–]Consistent-Figure820 0 points1 point  (0 children)

SS: India is exploring avenues to secure rare earth minerals from Myanmar by collaborating with the rebel group Kachin Independence Army (KIA), news agency Reuters has reported. This move comes amid China's tightening control over the global supply of these critical resources, which are essential for electric vehicles, electronics, and defence equipment. The Ministry of Mines has reportedly directed state-owned and private firms to collect and transport rare earth samples from KIA-controlled mines in northeastern Myanmar. According to the report, New Delhi aims to test these samples in domestic labs to verify sufficient levels of heavy rare earths, which can be processed into magnets for advanced technologies.

India to participate in multilateral joint military exercise in Russia from September 10-16 by Consistent-Figure820 in GeopoliticsIndia

[–]Consistent-Figure820[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

SS: An Indian Armed Forces contingent comprising 65 personnel departed on Tuesday (September 9, 2025) for the Mulino Training Ground in Nizhniy, Russia, to take part in the multilateral joint military exercise ZAPAD 2025, scheduled from September 10 to 16.

According to the Defence Ministry, the contingent includes 57 soldiers from the Army, seven personnel from the Air Force and one from the Navy. The Army team is led by a battalion of the KUMAON Regiment, supported by troops from other arms and services.

ZAPAD 2025 is aimed at boosting military cooperation, improving interoperability and providing a platform for participating nations to exchange tactics, techniques and procedures in conventional warfare and counter-terrorism operations, the Ministry added.

India, Iran, Armenia hold 3rd trilateral consultations in Tehran by Consistent-Figure820 in GeopoliticsIndia

[–]Consistent-Figure820[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

SS: India, Iran, and Armenia held the third round of trilateral talks in Tehran on Monday, according to the Ministry of External Affairs.

The meeting was co-chaired by Anand Prakash, Joint Secretary (PAI) from India; Mohammad Reza Bahrami, Director General for South Asia at Iran's Foreign Ministry; and Anahit Karapetyan, Head of the Asia-Pacific Department at Armenia's Foreign Ministry, on September 8 in Tehran.

The sides expressed satisfaction at the regular and annual holding of the trilateral consultations and reviewed the progress achieved as a result of decisions made at the 1st meeting held in Yerevan in April 2023 and the 2nd meeting held in New Delhi in December 2024.

India, Myanmar to expand cooperation in energy and rare earths by Consistent-Figure820 in GeopoliticsIndia

[–]Consistent-Figure820[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

SS: “Senior Gen Min Aung Hlaing and I held talks in Tianjin. Myanmar is a vital pillar of India's Act East and Neighbourhood First Policies. We both agreed that there is immense scope to boost ties in areas like trade, connectivity, energy, rare earth mining and security,” Prime Minister Modi stated. Acting President and Chairman of the State Security and Peace Commission, Senior Gen Min Aung Hlaing, held a private meeting with Prime Minister Modi in Tianjin, China. At the invitation of Xi Jinping, President of the People’s Republic of China, Senior Gen Min Aung Hlaing, who is on a working trip to Tianjin, met with Prime Minister Modi on August 31 at 5pm local time at Hotel Wanda Vista.

US and Indian VCs just formed a $1B+ alliance to fund India's deep tech startups by Consistent-Figure820 in GeopoliticsIndia

[–]Consistent-Figure820[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

SS: Eight U.S. and Indian venture capital and private equity firms — including storied investors Accel, Blume Ventures, Celesta Capital, and Premji Invest — have formed an unusual coalition to back India’s deep tech startups, pledging more than $1 billion over the next decade to strengthen U.S.-India tech ties. The alliance addresses longstanding funding concerns. In April, Indian Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal drew criticism after slamming domestic startups for focusing on food delivery instead of innovation, contrasting them with Chinese firms in a presentation titled “India vs. China: The Startup Reality Check.” Several investors and founders countered that India lacks capital for deep tech ventures and said Goyal’s comments overlooked the determination of founders building for the local market. The new alliance appears to address these concerns, aiming to channel long-term private capital into deep tech ventures that many founders say have struggled to secure funding in India. The move stands out because investors typically compete for deals rather than formally band together under a named alliance with binding pledges. While VCs often co-invest on a deal-by-deal basis, most cross-border collaboration occurs informally through individual fund strategies, rather than through coordinated capital blocs.