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Rishi Gupta

Visiting Fellow, Asian Institute of Diplomacy and International Affairs, Kathmandu

Dr Rishi Gupta is a visiting fellow at the Asian Institute of Diplomacy and International Affairs in Kathmandu, Nepal. In 2024, he was awarded the prestigious Taiwan Fellowship. He regularly teaches courses on India’s foreign policy and international relations at the University of Delhi. Dr Gupta has previously held academic and research positions as an exchange fellow at the Institute of South Asian Studies, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China. He has also been affiliated with leading Indian think tanks and universities, including the Vivekananda International Foundation, the Centre for Air Power Studies, New Delhi, and Pondicherry University. He holds a PhD from the School of International Studies at Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, an MPhil in Foreign Policy Studies from the University of Calcutta, Kolkata, and an MA in South Asian Studies from Pondicherry University. His research interests include the Indo-Pacific, China, cross-strait relations, South Asian geopolitics and regional security, and Himalayan geopolitics.

Articles by Rishi Gupta

Politics

Nepal’s new guard: How Gen Z fuelled a political sea change

In an unforeseen political upheaval for Nepal that saw the Rashtriya Swatantra Party win the largest political mandate in modern history, academic Rishi Gupta explores why Balen Shah and his party struck a chord across age groups, and how the new government plans to do a balancing act between India and China.

Rishi Gupta

02 Apr 2026

Politics

Caution and calculus: How India sees China in 2026

As India heads into 2026, it balances diplomacy and vigilance with China. Past strategic moves have fostered a trust deficit, making Delhi cautious even as both nations seek engagement and regional influence, says Indian academic Rishi Gupta.

Rishi Gupta

20 Jan 2026

Politics

Double-backed power: How the US and China are cementing Pakistan’s military rule

Pakistan’s army is consolidating unprecedented power at home, bolstered by strategic support from both the US and China, as Chief of Army Staff Asim Munir reshapes politics and state authority, argues researcher Rishi Gupta.

Rishi Gupta

17 Dec 2025

Politics

Left out of G2: India watches Washington and Beijing

An emerging US-India alliance, invigorated during the Biden administration, now hangs in the balance as Trump tellingly left Delhi out of his Asia tour. Indian researcher Rishi Gupta gives his take on the state of US-India relations.

Rishi Gupta

24 Nov 2025

Politics

India courts the Taliban — but has China taken the lead?

Delhi welcomed Afghanistan’s Taliban foreign minister in a high-profile visit, signalling cautious outreach, but China’s early engagement, Belt and Road projects, and strategic timing pose a pressing question: has China already won the race in Kabul? Academic Rishi Gupta explores India’s diplomatic approach and timing.

Rishi Gupta

04 Nov 2025

Economy

India-China flights may resume, but trust won’t take off so easily

Even as flights resume and trade recovers, deep distrust — shaped by border clashes and regional rivalries — continues to define India’s relationship with China. Indian analyst Rishi Gupta explores the issue.

Rishi Gupta

14 Oct 2025

Politics

Nepal’s youth lead change as India and China watch closely

After the fall of the KP Sharma Oli government following Gen Z protests, Nepal continues to deal with political instability under the interim government. In foreign policy, key neighbours India and China will have to contend with this changed landscape and cash in on how much (or how little) they have put effort into bringing Nepali youth to their side. Researcher Rishi Gupta gives his take on the matter.

Rishi Gupta

01 Oct 2025

Politics

The new Asian chessboard: Modi navigates China, Japan and a ‘wobbly’ US

By deepening relations with Japan and signalling openness to dialogue with China, India may be saying that equality remains the key strategic goal and it does not like to be pushed, says Indian analyst Rishi Gupta.

Rishi Gupta

09 Sep 2025

Politics

The geopolitics of the Dalai Lama’s reincarnation: Where does India stand?

Despite its political and military consolidation in Tibet, Beijing remains concerned about the spillover effects of Tibetan affairs from India and Nepal. This vigilance persists, even as India upholds its longstanding policy on the Dalai Lama and Tibet. Indian analyst Rishi Gupta explains.

Rishi Gupta

27 Aug 2025

Politics

Can India trust a more assertive China?

Despite a diplomatic thaw, India’s trust in China remains fragile, strained by mega infrastructure projects, deepening China-Pakistan ties and a growing presence in the Indian Ocean, says Indian analyst Rishi Gupta.

Rishi Gupta

31 Jul 2025

Politics

Why India feels alone in its fight against terror

For India, its fight against cross-border terrorism extends beyond military tactics; it is also a battle against the narrative propagated by Pakistan. This challenge, as Indian analyst Rishi Gupta observes, is unlikely to diminish given Pakistan’s strategic relationships with the US and China, contributing to India’s feeling of isolation.

Rishi Gupta

17 Jul 2025

Economy

ASEAN-GCC-China Summit: A new catalyst in global power?

With the youthful population and rapidly growing markets in ASEAN, the rich energy resources and sovereign investment capacity of the GCC, and the industrial and technological prowess of China, the ASEAN-GCC-China tripartite could reshape the foundation of global trade, strategically counter protectionist impulses and infuse a new era of economic interdependence that is less risky, notes academic Rishi Gupta.

Rishi Gupta

17 Jun 2025