[9] Chellaney was described in The New York Times in 1999 as "one of the independent experts who helped draft India's proposed nuclear doctrine".

[12][13] Graham Tobin from the University of South Florida has as described Chellaney’s geopolitical analyses as astute and critical.

[14] Chellaney coined the term debt-trap diplomacy to describe how the Chinese government leverages the debt burden of smaller countries for geopolitical ends.

[15][16] He saw 'debt trap diplomacy' in China's handling of Sri Lanka's debt distress by taking over its Hambantota port on a long-term lease.

[6] Chellaney was criticized by Chinese state-owned media outlet the Global Times for indirectly accusing China of having involvement in the death of Bipin Rawat.