Geopolitics in the Age of COVID-19: The View from South Asia

Even as South Asia deals with the public health consequences of COVID-19, it is becoming clear that this global pandemic is likely to have lasting economic and geopolitical ramifications too. With China’s economy likely to be impacted due to COVID-19, its significant investments in the subcontinent as part of the Belt and Road Initiative are at risk. COVID-19 could also pose challenges for the Afghan peace process.
In a virtual panel hosted by South Asian Voices (SAV) on April 3, Managing Editor Akriti Vasudeva discussed the geopolitical implications of COVID-19 in South Asia with SAV contributors Bismellah Alizada, Muhammad Faisal, Jyotsna Mehra, and Abdullah Rafee to assess economic development, bilateral relations, regional politics, and balance of power in South Asia in the time of coronavirus. The conversation revolved around the perceptions of China and the United States across the subcontinent in the wake of COVID-19, the impact of the virus on these countries’ economies and national security, and potential challenges this health crisis may pose to leaders’ domestic legitimacy.
Watch the full discussion below. For more analysis on how countries in the region are combating the spread of COVID-19 and the challenges they face, check out our series “COVID-19 in South Asia.”