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In a move to deepen India's engagement with Latin America and the Caribbean, India's Minister of State for External Affairs and Textiles, Pabitra Margherita, concluded a seven-day diplomatic tour across Ecuador, Bolivia and Cuba from November 4 to 10.  The visit marked a new phase in South-South cooperation, with the inauguration of Indian embassies in Ecuador and Bolivia, renewed strategic commitments with Cuba, and outreach across sectors ranging from health and digital to critical minerals and culture. MoS inaugurating the new Chancery building of the Embassy of India in La Paz, Bolivia In Ecuador, MoS Margherita called on President Daniel Noboa Azin and held bilateral talks with Foreign Minister Maria Gabriela Sommerfeld Rosero, announcing the formal opening of India’s Embassy in Quito.  The visit saw the signing of an MoU between the two nations' diplomatic training institutes and discussion on strengthening cooperation in agriculture, technology, and digital transform...

India and Bhutan have restated their time-tested friendship and strategic cooperation during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s two-day state visit to the Himalayan kingdom from November 11 to 12.  The visit coincided with the 70th birth anniversary of Bhutan’s Fourth King Jigme Singye Wangchuck and featured high-level engagements, religious observances, and key bilateral milestones. Image Via: MEA India As guest of honour at the national celebration in Thimphu, Prime Minister Modi joined Bhutan’s royal family and citizens in commemorating the legacy of the Fourth Druk Gyalpo.  Speaking at the Changlimithang Stadium, Modi praised the monarch’s role in guiding Bhutan’s transformation into a democratic constitutional monarchy and his introduction of the globally noted concept of Gross National Happiness.  He thanked both the Fourth King and current King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck for their stewardship of India-Bhutan ties and conveyed warm wishes from the Indian people. PM ...

In a sharply worded address delivered in New Delhi,  India's Foreign Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar  openly challenged the credibility of the UN system, calling out its structural dysfunction, selective morality, and strategic irrelevance in the face of global crises. “All is not well with the United Nations,” Jaishankar said flatly. The statement, delivered in a room of diplomats, UN officials, and members of the press, cut through the ceremonial tone of the day and forced attention onto the UN’s internal contradictions.  File Photo Source: EAM Jaishankar At the core of his critique: a Security Council frozen in time, and a multilateral order that speaks the language of equality while practising exclusion. Jaishankar focused his most searing remarks on the UN’s inaction in the face of terrorism. “What does it do to the credibility of multilateralism,” he asked, “when a sitting Security Council member openly protects the very organisation that claims responsibility for a ba...

At a time when multiple regional flashpoints are converging -- from violent unrest in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoK) to Taliban diplomacy, growing Indo-Russia economic ties, and security tensions with Canada--India has issued a clear, multi-front diplomatic stance, rooted in consistency and assertive strategic positioning. Limited information has so far reached the outside world about the full extent of the protests in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir. Image Via: Paul Antonopoulos In a comprehensive weekly briefing, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal addressed sharp questions from the press corps on the most pressing geopolitical developments of the week , underscoring India's principled approach across all theatres--from the subcontinent to West Asia and beyond. PoK Unrest: Natural consequence of Pakistan’s oppression On the ongoing mass protests and internet shutdowns in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, Jaiswal pointedly described the si...

India and the Central American Integration System (SICA) reaffirmed their shared development vision in New York on the sidelines of UNGA80, with External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar calling for deeper cooperation across digital payments, climate resilience, renewable energy, and public health.  India-SICA Foreign Minister’s Meeting Co-chairing the India-SICA Foreign Ministers' Meeting with Panama’s Foreign Minister Javier Martínez-Acha, Jaishankar positioned India’s outreach as both practical and strategic, focused on turning political goodwill into economic and technological outcomes. Speaking candidly about common challenges such as poverty alleviation, post-pandemic recovery, and climate disruptions, Jaishankar said India sees SICA as a key partner in South-South cooperation and stressed that countries in both regions can tackle shared challenges more effectively by doing so together.  He pointed to the momentum built during the 2023 political dialogue in Panama Cit...

India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar delivered a pointed address at the G20 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in New York on Thursday, warning that ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza are not only escalating geopolitical instability but also inflicting deep economic damage on the Global South. India's Foreign Minister Speaking on the sidelines of the 80th United Nations General Assembly Speaking on the sidelines of the 80th United Nations General Assembly, Jaishankar said the correlation between international peace and global development is no longer theoretical -- it is now “well established” as both continue to deteriorate in parallel.  He cited soaring costs and disrupted access to food, energy, and fertilizer as direct consequences of war, disproportionately impacting the developing world. “The costs, especially to the Global South, were starkly demonstrated by ongoing conflicts, particularly in Ukraine and Gaza,” he said. “Making energy and other essentials more uncerta...

India's External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar just chaired a High-Level Meeting of Like-Minded Global South countries on the sidelines of the 80th United Nations General Assembly in New York. He urged developing nations to act collectively in shaping global governance frameworks, including reforming multilateral institutions. Jaishankar just chaired a High-Level Meeting of Like-Minded Global South countries Addressing the assembled ministers and representatives, Jaishankar laid out a pointed five-pronged agenda for strengthening the Global South’s role in world affairs.  Pleased to meet FM Lejone Mpotjoana of Lesotho today on the sidelines of the High Level Meeting. 🇮🇳 🇱🇸 #UNGA80 pic.twitter.com/3hXORk1uoG — Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) September 24, 2025 Emphasizing the urgency of coordinated action in an era marked by rising risks and complex challenges, he underlined that it is “natural” for the Global South to turn to multilateralism for solutions -- but on t...

India delivered a sharp rebuttal to Pakistan at the 60th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva on Tuesday, accusing Islamabad of misusing the global platform to peddle “baseless and provocative” claims while ignoring its own internal crises. Speaking on behalf of the Indian delegation, Kshitij Tyagi, Counsellor at India’s Permanent Mission to the UN, lambasted Pakistan’s human rights record, economic freefall, and military-dominated political system. He called on Islamabad to “vacate Indian territory under its illegal occupation” and redirect its focus inward, toward restoring democratic governance and ending its support for terrorism. Indian Diplomat Kshitij Tyagi “A delegation that epitomises the antithesis of this approach continues to abuse this forum with baseless and provocative statements against India,” Tyagi said. “Instead of coveting our territory, they would do well to vacate the Indian territory under their illegal occupation and focus on rescuin...

India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio in New York this morning on the sidelines of the 80th UN General Assembly.  Jaishankar meets Rubio The two officials discussed a broad range of bilateral and global issues, with both sides underscoring the importance of sustained engagement to advance shared priorities. This makes Jaishankar’s crucial, publicly disclosed meeting with Rubio since his appointment earlier this year under the Trump administration.  While details of the conversation were not made public, the meeting comes amid shifting geopolitical alignments, growing Indo-Pacific coordination, and renewed urgency around multilateral reform.  In a post on social media, Jaishankar confirmed the engagement and said both sides would remain in touch. The interaction follows a series of high-level diplomatic engagements between India and the United States in recent months, as both governments work to consolidate cooperation ac...

The Indian government on Saturday issued an official statement in response to President Donald Trump’s proclamation imposing a $100,000 annual surcharge on H-1B visas, calling the development one with far-reaching implications for families, innovation, and bilateral trade.  The statement, issued by the Ministry of External Affairs, said the new measure is being examined by all stakeholders, including Indian industry, and acknowledged early assessments that suggest serious humanitarian and economic disruption. All new and renewal petitions for H-1B visas must be accompanied by a $100,000 payment The move, signed into effect by President Trump, mandates that all new and renewal petitions for H-1B visas must be accompanied by a $100,000 payment. This comes on top of the $6,000–$10,000 companies already spend per worker in legal and filing fees. In its statement, India flagged the cost burden and the fallout on families, saying the measure is “likely to have humanitarian consequences b...

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with the Amir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani , and expressed deep concern over the recent attacks in Doha and condemned the violation of Qatar’s sovereignty. File Photo Source: PM NaMo According to an official statement , Modi “appreciated the role being played by Qatar in promoting regional peace and stability, including its mediation efforts in Gaza to achieve ceasefire and release of all hostages.”  He stated that all issues must be resolved “through dialogue and diplomacy” and underscored the need to “avoid escalation.” Modi emphasised that India “stands firmly in support of peace and stability in the region, and against terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.” Sheikh Tamim thanked Modi for his solidarity with the people and State of Qatar.  Both leaders also expressed satisfaction with progress under the India–Qatar Strategic Partnership and reiterated their commitment to expand cooperation across sectors of ...

India and the European Union held the 15th Counter-Terrorism Dialogue in Brussels and stated their shared resolve that terrorism in all its forms requires sustained global action. The meeting was co-chaired by Maciej Stadejek, Director for Security and Defence Policy in the European External Action Service, and K.D. Dewal, Joint Secretary (Counter-Terrorism) in India’s Ministry of External Affairs. India - European Union Strategic Dialogue File Photo via EAM Jaishankar According to an official statement , both sides strongly condemned the 22 April 2025 terrorist attack in Pahalgam , with the EU reiterating its condolences to India for the killing of civilians.  They stressed that “terrorism is a global phenomenon and needs concerted action in a sustained and comprehensive manner,” highlighting the need to coordinate in multilateral fora including the United Nations , the Global Counterterrorism Forum (GCTF) , and the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) . The dialogue also covered...

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni spoke by telephone on Wednesday. They stressed the urgency of ending the war in Ukraine and aligning on trade and connectivity priorities. Modi-Meloni Viral Selfie via official diplomatic channels/fair use According to the Indian Ministry of External Affairs , the two leaders “agreed on the need for an early and peaceful resolution of the conflict in Ukraine,” with Modi stating India’s “full support for efforts in this direction.”  The Italian government also confirmed that both sides committed to back “all international efforts to foster a ceasefire and a resumption of negotiations to reach a just and lasting peace.” ‘Melodi’ memes loading... 😂😂 pic.twitter.com/zoPfnyOGz3 — Shilpa (@shilpa_cn) September 10, 2025 Modi said he “thanked PM Meloni for Italy’s proactive support for concluding a mutually beneficial India–EU trade agreement,” while Meloni, according to the MEA statement , reiterated “Ita...

India and New Zealand on Monday stated their growing strategic convergence across a wide range of sectors during the sixth round of Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) held in New Delhi.  The talks, led by Dr. Neena Malhotra, Secretary (South) at India’s Ministry of External Affairs, and Grahame Morton, Deputy Secretary for the Americas and Asia Group at New Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, covered a comprehensive review of bilateral ties and regional cooperation. Image Source: MEA India The consultations focused on deepening engagement in key sectors including defence and security, trade and investment, education, agriculture, traditional medicine, customs cooperation, skilled mobility, climate action, and sports diplomacy.  Both sides also reviewed the progress made on bilateral agreements and joint announcements stemming from the visit of New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon to India in March 2025. Regional and multilateral cooperation featured promi...

Prime Minister of Bhutan Tshering Tobgay just wrapped up a multi-city visit to India this week. This marked a significant chapter in the time-tested and civilisational relationship between the two neighbours.  Image Source: EAM Jaishankar From high-level strategic meetings in Delhi to spiritual engagements in Ayodhya and Rajgir, the visit reflected both nations’ deep-rooted historical ties, mutual respect, and shared future ambitions in clean energy, infrastructure, and cultural cooperation. A Visit Anchored in Shared Civilisational Ethos Prime Minister Tobgay’s itinerary began with engagements steeped in Bhutan’s Buddhist and Indian cultural heritage. At Rajgir in Bihar, the Bhutanese leader participated in the consecration of the Royal Bhutan Temple, accompanied by His Holiness the Je Khenpo, Bhutan’s Chief Abbot, and senior clergy.  Image Source: Official Diplomatic Channels Union Minister Kiren Rijiju and Bihar’s Education Minister Sunil Kumar were among those present....

India stated its independent foreign policy and strategic autonomy once again in a wide-ranging media briefing on Friday, tackling pointed questions about its energy ties with Russia, US-China rivalry, border disputes, multilateral roles, and diaspora concerns. Image Source: Shubhangi Sharma Responding to US criticism, including a disparaging remark by former Trump aide Peter Navarro accusing India of being a "laundromat for the Kremlin," the Ministry of External Affairs dismissed the statement as “inaccurate and misleading.”  The government made clear that India’s decisions--especially regarding Russian oil--will remain guided by national interests, costs, and logistics. “We reject these comments. India-US ties are anchored in shared democratic values and mutual respect,” the spokesperson said, brushing aside President Donald Trump’s claim that the US had “lost” India to “deepest, darkest China.” On the Indo-Nepal border issue, Delhi stood by its previously stated position...