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The Diplomat | Author

Abhijnan Rej

Abhijnan Rej is Security & Defense Editor at The Diplomat.

His primary areas of interest are Southern Asian security, Indian defense and foreign policies, emerging technologies and military strategy.

Rej’s work has appeared in The Washington Quarterly, the US Army War College’s online journal War Room, War on the Rocks, the Lowy Institute’s Interpreter, National Interest (online), Global Policy (online), Wired (online), Journal of Physics: A, and Contemporary Mathematics, along with numerous think-tank occasional papers, policy briefs, and book chapters. He was previously Senior Fellow, Strategic Studies, at the Observer Research Foundation, New Delhi. Rej also has significant work experience as a quantitative researcher in academia and the corporate sector.

He has written for virtually all major Indian English-language media outlets, and has been quoted by the Economist, Reuters, Voice of America, CNBC, The Nation, The Australian, China Global Television Network, and Dawn, among others.

Posts by Abhijnan Rej

December 01, 2020

The ‘Durian Pact’ Does It Again

By Abhijnan Rej

The Cold War-era Five Power Defense Arrangements’ longevity continues to surprise some, as it approaches its 50th anniversary next year.

November 30, 2020

Australia Livid as Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Tweets Offensive Image

By Abhijnan Rej

Zhao Lijian’s tweet is likely to seriously aggravate tensions between the two countries.

November 28, 2020

Colombo Hosts India-Maldives-Sri Lanka Maritime Security NSA Trilateral Meeting

By Abhijnan Rej

Indian National Security Adviser Ajit Doval’s history with the island nation and the Rajapaksa brothers is worth keeping in mind.

November 28, 2020

Senior British Politician Comes Out in Support of Australia in Its Tussle With China

By Abhijnan Rej

The U.K. desperately wants to join the Indo-Pacific game. But will its material circumstances allow it?

November 27, 2020

Artificial Intelligence for the Indo-Pacific: A Blueprint for 2030

By Abhijnan Rej

Three AI-related technologies that could further the free, open, resilient, and inclusive character of the Indo-Pacific.

November 26, 2020

India Leases 2 Maritime Surveillance Drones From US: Report

By Abhijnan Rej

While the U.S. has evinced interest in selling armed and unarmed drones to India, a variety of reasons is preventing the country from going ahead with the purchases.

November 25, 2020

India Continues Missile Tests as Crisis With China Remains Unabated

By Abhijnan Rej

According to reports, the Indian military will test multiple Brahmos cruise missiles this week.

November 24, 2020

Indian Foreign Secretary Heads to Nepal as Relations Show Signs of Thaw

By Abhijnan Rej

India-Nepal relations have nosedived since May when India inaugurated a new road that, according to Nepal, passes through its territory.

November 23, 2020

China Digs its Heels in – in Ladakh and Elsewhere

By Abhijnan Rej

New Indian media reports suggest that the People’s Liberation Army has expanded its activities across the entire LAC.

November 23, 2020

United States Formally Exits Open Skies Treaty

By Abhijnan Rej

A report suggests that the Trump administration’s decision to label the supporting reconnaissance aircraft “excess defense articles” is meant to complicate any attempt by President-elect Biden to rejoin it.

November 19, 2020

Five Eyes Countries Issue Joint Statement on Hong Kong

By Abhijnan Rej

It prompted a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson to retort with a threat seemingly straight out of the Old Testament.

November 18, 2020

In an On-brand Move, China Issues Diktat to Australia

By Abhijnan Rej

The extraordinarily blunt dossier “leaked” to media outlets contains a long list of Chinese grievances when it comes to Australia.