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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...

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi landed in Tianjin, China, on Saturday to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit hosted by President Xi Jinping. The gathering brings together more than 20 heads of state and leaders of 10 international organisations, making it one of the most significant diplomatic events of the year.  Image Source: PM NaMo It marks Modi’s first visit to China since 2018 and follows a high-profile trip to Japan that delivered a new 10-year strategic roadmap with Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba. On social media, Modi said he was “looking forward to deliberations at the SCO Summit and meeting various world leaders.” China’s Ambassador to India, Xu Feihong, welcomed Modi’s arrival, expressing confidence that the visit would “inject new momentum into China–India relations.”  Members of the Indian community in Tianjin also extended a special welcome to the Prime Minister upon his arrival. The summit is unfolding against the backdrop of heighten...

Canada and India have moved to restore their strained relations with the mutual appointment of high commissioners, which ends nearly a year of deep freeze triggered by explosive allegations of state-sponsored violence.  On August 29, Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand named veteran diplomat Christopher Cooter as Canada’s new high commissioner to India. Simultaneously, India announced the appointment of Ambassador Dinesh K. Patnaik as its next envoy to Ottawa. Image Source: Canada FM Anita Anand on X The reappointment of high-level diplomatic officials signals a thaw after bilateral ties hit a historic low following Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s stunning allegation in September 2023 that agents of the Indian government were involved in the assassination of Canadian citizen Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a prominent Sikh separatist leader, and labelled a Khalistani terrorist in India, in British Columbia.  India, on its part, had strongly denied the claim, calling i...

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is visiting Tokyo on August 29 at the invitation of Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba for the 15th Annual India–Japan Summit.  The visit shows the growing strategic depth between the two Indo-Pacific democracies, as both nations aim to expand economic cooperation, enhance regional security frameworks, and advance shared technological goals. Representational Image Source: MEA/FM Diplomatic ties between India and Japan date back to the 1952 peace treaty signed outside the San Francisco framework, but civilizational links stretch back centuries.  These include ancient Buddhist connections and Japan’s continued respect for Indian jurist Radhabinod Pal, who delivered the lone dissenting judgment at the Tokyo War Crimes Tribunal.  The bilateral relationship, once described as understated, has undergone a major transformation over the past two decades, evolving from a “Global Partnership” in 2000 to a “Special Strategic and Global Partner...

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has departed for a high-stakes two-nation tour, beginning with the 15th Annual India–Japan Summit in Tokyo, followed by the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Tianjin, China.  The visit comes at a time of increasing global instability and rising bilateral tensions between India and the United States over trade and energy policy. File Photo Source: PM NaMo In a departure statement , PM Modi noted that the Tokyo summit with Japanese PM Shigeru Ishiba would "shape the next phase" of the Special Strategic and Global Partnership with Japan.  Talks will cover critical areas such as semiconductors, artificial intelligence, trade, and sustainability, while also advancing a $550 billion investment package aimed at reducing tariffs and expanding Indo–Japanese industrial collaboration. The Japan–India relationship has deepened over the past decade, with Japan investing heavily in infrastructure, manufacturing, and clean energy in ...

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Finnish President Alexander Stubb held a crucial phone conversation on Wednesday, reaffirming mutual commitment to global peace efforts--particularly in war-torn Ukraine--and deepening bilateral cooperation across trade, technology, and sustainability. Image Source: Siddharth on X The exchange, which both leaders described as “good” and “productive,” comes amid intensifying international efforts to mediate a peaceful resolution to the ongoing Ukraine conflict.  President Stubb updated Modi on recent high-level consultations in Washington, underlining the urgency of a “just and lasting solution” to the war. “Ending the war is in all our interests—it’s a shared goal,” President Stubb said in a social media post following the call, praising India’s global diplomatic credibility across the Global South, West, and East. Prime Minister Modi, for his part, emphasized India’s position as a trusted interlocutor in international diplomacy.  “Fin...

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday held a phone conversation to coordinate positions on global crises, including the Ukraine conflict and the situation in West Asia, while reaffirming their commitment to deepening the India–France strategic partnership. In a post on X, Prime Minister Modi described the conversation as “very good” and said the two leaders exchanged views on ongoing global efforts for peaceful conflict resolution. “Had a very good conversation with my friend President Macron.  File Photo Source: French President Emmanuel Macron Exchanged views on efforts for peaceful resolution of conflicts in Ukraine and in West Asia,” Modi wrote, adding that both leaders reaffirmed their shared intent to strengthen bilateral ties. President Macron, in a reciprocal post, said that the call focused on aligning positions to ensure “a just and lasting peace” in Ukraine, with “strong guarantees for Ukraine and Europe's security.” ...

India's External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Moscow on Thursday, reinforcing New Delhi’s strategic alignment with Moscow in the wake of new U.S. tariffs and sustained criticism of India’s energy trade with Russia.  The two sides reviewed bilateral cooperation, reiterated support for multipolar engagement, and laid the groundwork for Russian President Vladimir Putin’s upcoming visit to India. Image Source: EAM Jaishankar Jaishankar, addressing a joint press briefing alongside Lavrov, said the India–Russia relationship had remained one of the steadiest among major global partnerships since the Second World War. “Our leaders met in July last year and then again in Kazan.  These high-level engagements have consistently provided wise and practical guidance to our strategic partnership,” he said. Lavrov confirmed that President Putin’s visit to India is being planned before the end of 2025 and will be accompanied by a substantial pac...

India's External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday defended India’s continued purchase of Russian oil amid mounting pressure from US President Donald Trump, stating that New Delhi is not the largest importer of Russian energy and that its oil imports from the United States have, in fact, increased. Image Source: EAM Jaishankar Speaking in Moscow after meeting Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Jaishankar said he was “perplexed” by criticism from Washington, given that India had consistently been told to act in the interest of global energy stability.  He noted that China and the European Union are larger buyers of Russian oil and liquefied natural gas, respectively. “We are not the biggest purchasers of Russian oil -- that is China. We are not the biggest purchasers of LNG -- that is the European Union,” Jaishankar said.  “Incidentally, we also buy oil from the US, and that amount has increased. So honestly, we are very perplexed at the logic of the argument,” he...

India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Wednesday firmly dismissed allegations by Bangladesh’s interim government that political offices of the banned Bangladesh Awami League were operating in India.  Image Source: MEA Briefing Screengrab New Delhi clarified that it does not permit political activities targeting other countries from its soil, calling Dhaka’s remarks “misplaced.” MEA’s Clarification MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, in an official statement, said: “The Government of India is not aware of any anti-Bangladesh activities by purported members of Awami League in India or of any action that is contrary to Indian law. The Government does not allow political activities against other countries to be carried out from Indian soil.” India also reiterated its expectation that Bangladesh’s upcoming general elections would be “free, fair, and inclusive” to ensure the will of the people is respected. Dhaka’s Allegations The controversy began after Bangladesh’s foreign mi...

India has dismissed Nepal’s renewed claims over the Lipulekh Pass, reiterating that the Himalayan trade route lies within Indian territory and stressing that it remains open to dialogue with Kathmandu on agreed boundary issues. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Wednesday that Nepal’s assertions were “neither justified nor based on historical facts and evidence.”  Image Source: Exploring Unseen on X The statement followed Kathmandu’s objection to India and China’s recent decision to reopen border trade through the high-altitude Lipulekh corridor during Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi’s visit to New Delhi. “Border trade between India and China through Lipulekh Pass commenced in 1954 and has been going on for decades.  This trade had been disrupted in recent years due to Covid and other developments, and both sides have now agreed to resume it,” MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal told reporters. “As regards territorial claims, our position remains that such claims ...

India's External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar arrived in Moscow this week for high-level engagements aimed at recalibrating India-Russia economic ties, as both nations navigate a shifting global order marked by Western sanctions, U.S. tariff pressures, and deepening energy interdependence. Image Source: MEA/FM on X At the heart of the talks was a growing imbalance in bilateral trade. India’s increased imports of discounted Russian crude -- which now account for around 44% of its oil supply -- have widened the trade deficit to an estimated $58.9 billion.  Addressing the India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission for Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technological and Cultural Cooperation (IRIGC-TEC) alongside Russia’s First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov, Jaishankar described the gap as a “serious concern” requiring urgent solutions. “We need to address this imbalance by diversifying trade, removing bottlenecks, and finalising the India–Eurasian Economic Union free trade agreeme...