Lead Analyst, Foreign Policy

Sanjay Karthikeyan

Sanjay Karthikeyan is a high school senior based in Singapore and the Co-Founder and CEO of GovMetrix, a youth-led, solution-oriented organization that strives to solve the world’s most pressing problems through collaboration, incisive analysis, and candid discourse.

As of 1 September 2023, GovMetrix has 20,000 unique website impressions and over 2,000 followers on Instagram. Sanjay is interested in the intersection of international relations, sociology, history, policy, and philosophy.

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All articles by the author

Even Democratic Elections don’t represent the will of the people.

Sanjay Karthikeyan

This author argues that democratic elections do not accurately represent constituent desires using social choice and political theory.

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India’s Foreign Policy is anchored in Anachronism and that’s a Problem.

Sanjay Karthikeyan

India is hailed as the West's frontline against China, but its nostalgia for an outdated relationship not only weakens its own defenses but also makes the US's trust in the world's largest democracy look more like wishful thinking.

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To Henderson: Oversimplification is not always a failure of Discourse.

Sanjay Karthikeyan

On July 10, 2024, Rob Henderson’s video-style essay in the New York Times challenged the legitimacy of American college protests, accusing them of oversimplifying complex issues. Here’s why oversimplification is not always a failure of discourse.

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Policy Briefs by the author

Finland in NATO: Bolstering Arctic Defense & Baltic Stability

Foreign Policy

July 20, 2023

From World War II to the joint “friendship agreement” with the Soviet Union, Finland’s demonstration of remaining neutral in politics has been consistent through the decades. However, the long-standing policy of non-alignment with foreign countries has shifted in recent months. As Russian aggression sought to tear down Ukraine and the threat in neighboring countries grew, Finland moved swiftly to embrace collective security amid regional uncertainty. This brief traces the increasing political and diplomatic interception carried out by Finland over the years. It also details the increasing need for military infrastructure buildup in Finland along its borders and the need for caution against nuclearization in the region.

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Sino-Italian Dilemma: Exit from the BRI

Foreign Policy

September 27, 2023

Giorgia Meloni was sworn in as Italy’s prime minister in October 2022. A co-founding member of the right-wing Brothers of Italy Party (Fratelli d’Italia), she was noted for controversial social issues and economic policy statements. Recently, Meloni shocked China with the recent announcement to pull out from the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), aimed at bolstering infrastructure projects abroad with China’s surplus. Following the announcement, Meloni met up with the Biden administration, showing an apparent move to strengthen economic ties with the US rather than China in preparation for departure from a once-ambitious project. This brief analyzes the reasons behind Italy’s exit from BRI, reveals the diplomatic consequences Italy may have, and provides policy descriptions for maintaining concord with China.

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Remembering Afghanistan: Humanitarian Crisis

Foreign Policy

October 26, 2023

This brief covers the aftermath of the US military’s exit from Afghanistan in 2021, highlighting the ongoing refugee and humanitarian crisis within and internationally. It also recommends solutions to address existing and potential humanitarian problems.

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Wagner Mutiny and Russia’s Future

Foreign Policy

August 19, 2023

This brief covers how the Wagner mutiny came to be in Russia, revealing what the future holds for actors with vested interests and proposes policy options to help steer through uncertainties

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Greece and Turkey Sign Commitment To Friendly Relations

Foreign Policy

February 13, 2024

Poor Turkish-Greek relations are influenced by centuries of ethnic divisions and conflicting land claims, which has resulted in the countries fighting two major wars against one another. Recently, a sudden and unexpected break in tensions between Greece and Turkey led to a landmark agreement to mend ties.

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Freedom and Fairness of the 2024 Bangladeshi Parliamentary Election

Foreign Policy

In early January, increasingly autocratic leader Sheikh Hasina of the Awami League won her fifth term in office as Prime Minister. For months preceding the election, violence and protests broke out as a result of controversy surrounding Hasina’s rule. These protests were repressed as Hasina became notorious for cracking down on free speech. The main opposition party, Bangladesh National Party (BNP) declined to participate in the election, calling for an interim caretaker government, which Hasina refused. Her victory was highly controversial among BNP members and has been recognized as an unfree and unfair election by several countries.

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Houthi Rebel Attacks in the Red Sea

Foreign Policy

April 3, 2024

The Houthis are an anti-Sunni Yemeni rebel group. Since November 2023, The Houthis have launched numerous missile and drone attacks on commercial Israeli ships in the Red Sea targeting as a response to the intensifying war in Gaza. The US has responded with self-defense strikes, which was met with mixed responses from the Middle East, Europe, and regional powers.

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Decoding ISIS-K and its Resurgence

Foreign Policy

July 5, 2024

ISIS-K is rapidly pursuing violent operations to acquire regional influence, staunchly imposing its stringent interpretation of Sharia law. In March of 2024, a large shift in strategy occurred when the group attacked a Moscow concert hall, killing 143 civilians. This has raised questions about the prospective intentions of the terrorist outfit.

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The Quandaries of an Intervention in Haiti

Foreign Policy

August 17, 2024

Amidst Haiti's turbulent history of economic woes and gang violence, a fresh wave of crisis grips the nation as governance falters and the prime minister remains marooned in Puerto Rico. International aid efforts stall against the backdrop of logistical hurdles and security risks posed by gangs controlling vital infrastructure in Port-au-Prince. The entrée of over 600 Kenyan policemen has done little to salvage the situation. More Kenyans are expected to arrive in the coming weeks and months along with police and soldiers from the Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Benin, Chad and Jamaica for a total of 2,500 personnel.

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Brexit: Four Years On — The World Still Feels the Fallout.

Foreign Policy

August 31, 2024

Four years after the United Kingdom’s historic break from the European Union, the effects of Brexit have rippled far beyond borders, reshaping political landscapes and economic realities in ways both foreseen and unforeseen. Whilst the numbers tell one story, the real tale lies in the flame of populism that Brexit has kindled—a fire now steering democracies across the globe. This brief uncovers the profound implications of Brexit, not just for the UK and the EU, but for the future of political messaging worldwide.

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New Zealand and the Quest for a Coherent Foreign Policy

Foreign Policy

September 29, 2024

New Zealand (NZ), a remote nation of just over five million people, might seem poised for a simple foreign policy. Yet, the reality is anything but simple. This analysis traces the roots of NZ’s foreign policy to understand the challenges it faces today. Despite its geographic isolation, NZ’s structural proclivity for coalition governments, dangerous reliance on China and a complicated relationship with Australia have all tragically tamed the fighting spirit of the country’s once famous and much adored eccentrically progressive foreign policy.

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