Weaponised Dependency

May 19, 2026 | This appeared in the Economic Times print version on 20 May 2026 (link). The kindest take on the recently concluded US-China summit in Beijing was that the relationship has ‘improved’ from antagonism to direct engagement. That the meeting ended without acrimony was an achievement. The US has recalibrated its approach towards … Read more

Chat on reasons behind Trump policies, currency wars

Here Mukesh and I explore why the Trump moves aren’t just about trade, but about four bigger objectives. Covering various topics from stagnant U.S. wages and life expectancy gaps to America’s renewed manufacturing drive for national security, this we discuss the forces influencing today’s shifting geopolitical landscape. We explore why a dollar devaluation may be … Read more

Chat on Trump tariffs, lessons from the 1930s; how India can cope

We discuss lessons India can draw from past currency wars to navigate the turbulent years ahead. We discuss how, in the decade before the Bretton Woods system, countries devalued their currencies to gain trade advantages—and how similar pressures are resurfacing today as major economies look to depreciate their exchange rates. Drawing on global historical patterns, … Read more