Observer Research Foundation America

🌍 Advancing the Development Agenda in the Global South 🗓️ April 23, 2025 🕰️ 2:00 PM - 6:00 PM EST 📍 ORF America Ahead of The World Bank – International Monetary Fund Spring Meetings in Washington, D.C., Observer Research Foundation America and the Centre for Social and Economic Progress(CSEP) will bring together thought leaders from the #GlobalSouth to highlight the need for greater South-South cooperation and explore practical mechanisms for achieving it. The discussions will highlight the diversity amongst the #GlobalSouth, the existing opportunities and challenges of cooperation among countries of the #GlobalSouth, and the role of multilateral groupings (both current ones such as #G20, #ASEAN, #IBSA, and #BRICS and potential newer ones) to foster greater cooperation going forward. 🔗 to RSVP: https://bit.ly/4296m5q

What are the implications of Trump's latest 🚗 tariffs? Marta Bengoa argues that the Trump administration's announcement yesterday of 25% tariffs on imported automobiles and auto parts, layered on top of existing steel and aluminum tariffs, threatens to cascade into economic disruption beyond the auto sector: "The irony is that these protectionist measures may ultimately accelerate the very trends they aim to counter. As imported vehicles become prohibitively expensive, foreign manufacturers will face increased pressure to relocate production to the U.S. — not with American workers but with automation technologies that minimize labor costs. The result could be fewer, not more, American automotive jobs." Read more: https://bit.ly/4iQ8VjY

Remittances are vital for the economic stability of over 80 countries, including India and Mexico. In a new piece for Observer Research Foundation America, Caroline Vecci Arkalji explains how Trump's #immigration and tax policies could impact remittances, with consequences for countries heavily reliant on these money flows: "Mexico, which has the largest unauthorized immigrant population in the United States — totaling about 4 million people — could be among the countries most affected, being the second-largest recipient of international remittances globally after India. Foreign remittances comprise approximately 4.5% of Mexico’s GDP, representing the country’s largest source of foreign income. A tax on remittances to Mexico could affect $65 billion annually, having the worst impact on states where poverty is accentuated, such as Michoacán and Guerrero, where remittances consisted of 15.9% and 14.1% of their GDP, each, as a result forcing many to transfer money through riskier alternatives." Read more: https://bit.ly/4j7ji2A

The U.S.-Russia Deal No One Saw Coming: Is Peace Possible? At the #RaisinaDialogue2025, Dhruva Jaishankar spoke with Vyacheslav Nikonov, Anastasia Likhacheva, Georgette Mosbacher, Paul Saunders, and Rachel Rizzo about the potential for U.S.-Russia cooperation, the implications for international diplomacy in a multipolar world, and the future of great-power alignment. Can dialogue between the United States and Russia prove the path to peace, or is it merely political posturing to pause a conflict without addressing the underlying issues? Watch the full discussion here: https://bit.ly/4hB92hT

What happens when global donors shy away from aid? Udaibir Saran Das examines the long-term implications of the decline in foreign aid and external assistance on low-income countries for OMFIF: "Various estimates suggest that donor aid reductions will disproportionately impact the poorest low-income countries, particularly in essential health, education and infrastructure sectors. The Center for Global Development has calculated that potential aid cuts will reduce recipient economies’ fiscal buffers by 2-4% of gross domestic product, forcing them to find alternative funding sources." Read more: https://bit.ly/421PsWn

Marta Bengoa breaks down the economic and global consequences of the Trump #tariffs on Canada, Mexico, and China: https://bit.ly/3F6tmdg

In a new piece for the Hindustan Times, Dhruva Jaishankar reflects on the history of India's quest to master technology. "Why did India succeed — sometimes overcoming great adversity — in areas such as space, agriculture, public transportation, public health, and telecommunications, but struggle in areas of defence, electronics assembly, semiconductors, and nuclear industries despite apparent head-starts? How can the mistakes of the past not be repeated when it comes to artificial intelligence or quantum technologies? These are worth considering as India makes another set of big bets on emerging technology in an increasingly competitive and contested world." Read more: https://bit.ly/3FwyEim

🚨FINAL REMINDER🚨 Looking for a summer internship at a think tank in DC? We're hiring summer interns to support our #tech, #development, #energy, and #foreign policy programs. 🗓️ Application Deadline: March 15, 2025 🔗 https://bit.ly/4hiU94w

Last night, Observer Research Foundation America hosted a Briefings & Beer on international space policy with Namrata Goswami, Victoria Samson, and Brian Weeden. The conversation focused on the latest policy and regulatory developments from the United States, India, and private sector companies. Thanks to the young professionals who joined us!

For both India and the United States, the Indian Ocean remains vital for #trade and #energy flows, for security competition given China’s growing naval activity, and for connectivity between Asia, Africa, and Europe. As PM Modi visits Mauritius this week, Ammar Yasir Nainar dives into the history and importance of 🇺🇸-🇮🇳 cooperation in the Indian Ocean: "This week, Indian prime minister Narendra Modi is visiting the Indian Ocean island country of Mauritius where 10 years ago he outlined an expansive vision of India’s approach to the Indian Ocean. This is unlikely to make news in the United States, for whom the Indian Ocean is hardly a major priority. But Washington should take notice. In fact, in a signal of the United States’ burden sharing efforts, the Indian Ocean region was featured eight times in the latest U.S.-India joint statement under Modi and U.S. president Donald Trump. These references extended to the sale of U.S. maritime patrol aircraft, joint connectivity investments, and ambitious undersea cable projects." Read more: https://bit.ly/4iF9Pis