Cold War 2.0 Explained | Velina Tchakarova on Wars, Power & India’s Choices

The world is entering a phase where crises no longer unfold in isolation — wars, supply chains, energy chokepoints, sanctions, and strategic rivalries are now tightly connected inside a rapidly accelerating global power transition.In this wide-ranging conversation, Velina Tchakarova joins Bharatvaarta to explain why we are now living through what she calls Cold War 2.0 — a far more complex confrontation than the first Cold War, shaped not just by military blocs but by technology, finance, energy systems, and strategic interdependence. 

We unpack why the United States–China rivalry now defines the international system, how the war involving Iran fits into a larger strategic framework, and why chokepoints like the Strait of Hormuz can trigger global economic consequences far beyond the region. The conversation moves through proxy wars, the future of Ukraine, the long-term ambitions of Russia, the erosion of Europe’s security architecture, and why global shocks now spread faster than political systems can respond.  It ends with India’s unique strategic position: not fully inside any bloc, yet central to all of them. Velina explains why India may be the only true bridge power in an increasingly divided world — and why that role comes with enormous responsibility.  

This episode isn’t about one war.It’s about the structure of the world that is emerging beneath all of them.

⸻⏱️ Chapters

00:00 – 01:25 • Opening Hook: Why the World Feels Simultaneously Unstable

01:25 – 08:50 • Cold War 2.0: Why This Rivalry Is More Complex Than Before

08:50 – 14:15 • Globalisation, Decoupling & Why Supply Chains Now Matter Geopolitically

14:15 – 27:20 • Iran War: What Triggered It and Why the US Got Involved

27:20 – 37:15 • Three Endgames for Iran & What Happens If Hormuz Stays Disrupted

37:15 – 44:30 • Russia–Ukraine: Why Russia’s Long-Term Goals Haven’t Changed

44:30 – 52:15 • Europe Under Pressure: Hybrid Warfare, Energy & Strategic Fragility

52:15 – 59:50 • Ripple Effects: Why Every Flashpoint Now Connects to Another

59:50 – 01:06:30 • India’s Strategic Autonomy in a Dividing World

01:06:30 – 01:10:30 • Why India Is the Only True Bridge Between Rival Blocs

01:10:30 – 01:14:00 • India’s Civilisational Responsibility in the New Order⸻

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⸻

👤 Guest — Velina TchakarovaGeopolitical Strategist | Strategic Foresight Expert

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👤 Host — Roshan Cariappa

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