Michael Kugelman

Michael Kugelman is the writer of Foreign Policy’s weekly South Asia Brief. He has been an analyst of the region for nearly two decades.

Follow Michael Kugelman:
On X
Articles by Michael Kugelman
Russian President Vladimir Putin meets with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) leaders' summit in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, on Sept. 16.
Russian President Vladimir Putin meets with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) leaders' summit in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, on Sept. 16.

Can India Keep Balancing Russia and the West?

South Asia Brief
Michael Kugelman
Anti-government demonstrators take part in a protest march in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on Sept. 24.
Anti-government demonstrators take part in a protest march in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on Sept. 24.

Sri Lanka’s Economic Crisis Is Still Spiraling

South Asia Brief
Michael Kugelman
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar hold a joint press conference following meetings at the State Department in Washington on Sept. 27.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar hold a joint press conference following meetings at the State Department in Washington on Sept. 27.

Washington’s Balancing Act in South Asia

South Asia Brief
Michael Kugelman
People displaced by flooding take refuge at a makeshift camp in Dera Allah Yar, Pakistan, on Sept. 21.
People displaced by flooding take refuge at a makeshift camp in Dera Allah Yar, Pakistan, on Sept. 21.

In Flooded Pakistan, It’s Politics as Usual

South Asia Brief
Michael Kugelman
Attendees of a United Nations General Assembly meeting stand in silence during a tribute to Britain's Queen Elizabeth II, at the United Nations headquarters in New York on Sept. 15.
Attendees of a United Nations General Assembly meeting stand in silence during a tribute to Britain's Queen Elizabeth II, at the United Nations headquarters in New York on Sept. 15.

At U.N. General Assembly, South Asia Focuses on the Climate Crisis

South Asia Brief
Michael Kugelman
A woman gestures near a tent in Jaffarabad, Pakistan, on Sept. 3. Monsoon rains have unleashed powerful floods that have washed away crops and damaged or destroyed homes.
A woman gestures near a tent in Jaffarabad, Pakistan, on Sept. 3. Monsoon rains have unleashed powerful floods that have washed away crops and damaged or destroyed homes.

Pakistan’s Flood Crisis Could Become a Food Crisis

South Asia Brief
Michael Kugelman
People take refuge in tents after heavy monsoon rains in Dera Allah Yar, Pakistan on Sept. 1.
People take refuge in tents after heavy monsoon rains in Dera Allah Yar, Pakistan on Sept. 1.

How Bad Governance Exacerbated Pakistan’s Flooding

South Asia Brief
Michael Kugelman
Men ride atop an armored vehicle during a celebration of the anniversary of the Taliban's return to power in Kabul on Aug. 15.
Men ride atop an armored vehicle during a celebration of the anniversary of the Taliban's return to power in Kabul on Aug. 15.

1 Year Later, the Taliban Are in Full Control

South Asia Brief
Michael Kugelman
Boats sit in waters near Dadeng Island, China, on Aug. 10.
Boats sit in waters near Dadeng Island, China, on Aug. 10.

How China-Taiwan Tensions Play Out in India

South Asia Brief
Michael Kugelman
A view of the Sherpur area, where al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri was killed by a drone strike, is seen in Kabul, Afghanistan, on Aug. 2.
A view of the Sherpur area, where al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri was killed by a drone strike, is seen in Kabul, Afghanistan, on Aug. 2.

Zawahiri’s Killing Is a Blow to the Taliban

South Asia Brief
Michael Kugelman
A Taliban border security guard stands as Uzbek security guards check a truck at the Afghanistan-Uzbekistan Friendship Bridge in Hairatan, Afghanistan, on Oct. 27, 2021.
A Taliban border security guard stands as Uzbek security guards check a truck at the Afghanistan-Uzbekistan Friendship Bridge in Hairatan, Afghanistan, on Oct. 27, 2021.

Central Asia Steps Up Its Regional Diplomacy

South Asia Brief
Michael Kugelman
Political activists shout slogans outside a polling station during the Punjab province by-election in Lahore, Pakistan, on July 17.
Political activists shout slogans outside a polling station during the Punjab province by-election in Lahore, Pakistan, on July 17.

Is Pakistan’s New Government on Shaky Ground?

South Asia Brief
Michael Kugelman
Biden and Lapid sit at a desk in front of large screens.
Biden and Lapid sit at a desk in front of large screens.

Another Quad Rises

South Asia Brief
Michael Kugelman
Young people look down at their phones.
Young people look down at their phones.

Why Twitter Is Taking India to Court

South Asia Brief
Michael Kugelman
Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa pose during a BRICS meeting at the G-20 summit in Osaka, Japan, on June 28, 2019.
Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa pose during a BRICS meeting at the G-20 summit in Osaka, Japan, on June 28, 2019.

India Plays BRICS to Its Interests

South Asia Brief
Michael Kugelman
Load more by Michael Kugelman Return to staff list

Latest

See All Stories

Trending

  1. 1
    What the Next Round of Sanctions Against Russia Should Look Like
  2. 2
    Kissinger, Brzezinski, and the Promise of Realism
  3. 3
    The Hiroshima Exhibition the World Wasn’t Allowed to See
  4. 4
    Deeper U.S. Cooperation With Russia Is Coming in the Arctic
  5. 5
    Ukrainians Show Zelensky the Limits of His Power