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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...

India will continue purchasing oil from Russia based on its own national interest and economic calculus, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said on Friday, in a pointed response to escalating criticism from the United States over India’s energy ties with Moscow. Image Source: PM NaMo Speaking in an interview with Network18, Sitharaman stated clearly: “Whether it is Russian oil or anything else, we will take a call based on what suits our needs in terms of rates, logistics or whatever. Where we buy our oil from, especially it being a big-ticket foreign exchange-related item, is a call we will take based on what suits us best. So, we will undoubtedly be buying Russian oil." The remarks come at a time when trade relations between India and the U.S. have become increasingly strained.  Last month, the U.S. administration doubled tariffs on Indian exports to 50%, citing India’s continued purchase of discounted Russian crude as one of the triggers. The criticism has been most vocal fr...

India and Singapore unveiled an expansive roadmap for their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) on Thursday, outlining concrete plans for joint cooperation in semiconductors, defence, digital payments, maritime security, clean energy, and advanced manufacturing, as both countries marked 60 years of diplomatic ties. Image Source: MEA India The announcement followed wide-ranging talks between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Singapore’s Prime Minister Lawrence Wong during Wong’s first official visit to India since assuming office in 2024.  “This is a partnership with purpose -- rooted in shared values, guided by mutual interests, and driven by a common vision for peace, progress, and prosperity,” Indian Prime Minister Modi said in a joint press statement. Had a productive start to my visit in New Delhi. Last evening, I joined overseas Singaporeans and friends of Singapore for a special SG60 reception. Many had travelled from different parts of India — Chennai, Mumbai, an...

India’s Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council has approved a sweeping set of tax reforms aimed at reducing costs for consumers and simplifying the indirect tax regime.  The measures, announced after the 56th meeting of the GST Council in New Delhi, include rate cuts on essential medicines, household items, food products, vehicles, and building materials. Image Source: Screengrab PIB Broadcast Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the changes as “next-generation reforms” designed to benefit the “common man.”  Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, who chaired the marathon 10.5-hour session, said the reforms were consensus-driven and aimed at correcting anomalies in the current multi-tier structure. Among the most notable changes is a reduction of GST from 12% to 0% on 33 life-saving drugs, including those used for cancer and rare diseases. Spectacles and goggles will now be taxed at 5%, down from 28%. Essential agricultural equipment such as tractors, threshers, and composting ...

An Indian Army contingent has landed in Alaska to take part in the 21st edition of Yudh Abhyas 2025, the annual India–U.S. joint military exercise , being held at Fort Wainwright from September 1 to 14, 2025 . Representational Image Source: IndoPacNews This year’s edition brings together soldiers of the Madras Regiment and the U.S. Army’s 1st Battalion, 5th Infantry Regiment “Bobcats” of the Arctic Wolves Brigade Combat Team, 11th Airborne Division, in one of the toughest cold-weather environments.  The focus will be on high-altitude warfare, heliborne operations, casualty evacuation, and integrated use of artillery, aviation, and electronic warfare systems. In addition to tactical manoeuvres and live-fire exercises, experts from both armies will hold working groups on unmanned aerial systems (UAS), counter-drone warfare, information warfare, communications, and logistics.  The exercise aims to boost interoperability for United Nations peacekeeping operations and strengthen r...

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered a forceful message on terrorism at the 25th SCO Summit in Tianjin on Monday, warning against what he called unacceptable global double standards in dealing with terror.  Citing India’s long-standing exposure to cross-border violence and referring directly to the recent attack in Pahalgam, the Prime Minister said terrorism was no longer a local threat, but a shared crisis of conscience for the international community. Image Source: PM NaMo video screengrab Modi expressed gratitude to friendly nations for their solidarity following the Pahalgam attack, calling it an assault not just on India’s sovereignty but on the principles of humanity itself. While not naming Pakistan directly, the Prime Minister challenged the permissiveness with which some states continue to support terrorist networks, asking whether such conduct can ever be accepted in a rules-based international order. He stated that no society or citizen can consider themselves ...

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi , Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping used the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) plenary session in Tianjin on Monday to set out contrasting but converging priorities -- from counterterrorism and connectivity to Ukraine diplomacy and resistance against Western “bullying.” Image Source: PM NaMo Addressing the summit, Russian President Putin said his discussions with U.S. President Donald Trump in Alaska last month had “opened the way to peace in Ukraine,” but warned that any durable settlement required addressing the “root causes” of the crisis.  He reiterated Moscow’s position that the conflict did not begin with an “invasion,” but with a “coup d’état in Kyiv supported by Ukraine’s Western allies,” and that attempts to drag Ukraine into NATO had directly contributed to the escalation. “UN principles, including respect for the sovereignty of states, are still valid and unshakable today,” Putin said, adding...

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Chinese President Xi Jinping shared warm moments and substantive exchanges in Tianjin on Monday, ahead of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit plenary session. Image Source: PM NaMo Before the session began, Prime Minister Modi posted photographs of his interactions with Putin and Xi, writing on X: “Interactions in Tianjin continue! Exchanging perspectives with President Putin and President Xi during the SCO Summit.”   The images captured Modi and Putin greeting each other with smiles and a warm hug, a gesture that underlined the resilience of the long-standing India–Russia partnership. According to Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, Modi will address the SCO plenary outlining India’s approach to fostering regional cooperation before holding a bilateral meeting with President Putin later today.  Modi’s bilateral with Xi Jinping took place on Sunday, where both leaders reaffirmed their commit...

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Sunday said it was vital for China and India, described as the “dragon and the elephant,” to come together at a time when the world is undergoing profound transformation.  Meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Tianjin, Xi said the two countries, as the world’s most populous and most civilizational nations, were key members of the Global South and must act as friends and good neighbours. Image Source: PM NaMo “This year marks the 75th anniversary of China–India diplomatic relations. Both nations need to handle the relationship from a strategic and long-term perspective,” Xi said in his televised remarks.  He added that Beijing and New Delhi “must step up to our historic responsibilities to uphold multilateralism, a multipolar world, and more democracy in international institutions, and work together for peace and prosperity in Asia and around the world.” Prime Minister Naren...

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...

A federal appeals court on Friday ruled that most of U.S. President Donald Trump’s global tariffs were imposed without legal authority, striking at the heart of his signature trade policy.  Image Source: White House The decision, delivered by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, held that the statute Trump relied upon -- the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) -- does not empower the president to unilaterally impose tariffs on specific countries or across broad categories of imports. The ruling marks a major blow to Trump’s trade agenda, which during his administration introduced sweeping tariffs under the justification of addressing national security and economic emergencies.  Trump is widely expected to appeal the decision to the U.S. Supreme Court.  To enable this process, the appellate court temporarily paused the effect of its ruling until October 14, granting the administration time to file its case. The White House has not yet issued...

Amid escalating global trade tensions and shifting geopolitical alignments, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s official visit to Tokyo for the 15th Annual India–Japan Summit has resulted in a broad strategic realignment with Japan, positioning the bilateral relationship as a cornerstone of India’s evolving regional strategy.  Image Source: PM NaMo A series of high-level engagements, policy announcements, and joint declarations have laid out an ambitious framework for a decade-long cooperation plan across economic, technological, environmental, and security domains. The visit, which precedes Modi’s arrival in China for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit, has drawn international attention, not only for its deliverables but also for its broader geopolitical implications.  Coming against the backdrop of rising friction between New Delhi and Washington over energy policy and tariffs, India’s focus on East Asian partnerships has intensified. Japan, long considere...

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 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 has reportedly declined four calls from US President Donald Trump in recent weeks as the two nations remain at loggerheads over a growing trade dispute, according to reports in German and Japanese media.  The claim, carried by Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung and other global news outlets , comes just hours before the United States is set to impose sweeping 50% tariffs on Indian goods. File Photo Source: NBC News on X Neither Washington nor New Delhi has confirmed the reports.  US officials declined to say whether the calls were made, while a senior Indian diplomat suggested that Indian PM Modi generally avoids negotiating sensitive issues over the phone. Analysts indicated the Indian leader may have been wary of having his remarks misrepresented -- something many in India have accused POTUS Trump of doing previously, including on India–Pakistan tensions. The reports follow months of erratic statements from POTUS Trump , who has repeated...

India’s Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday set out an ambitious vision for the country’s border communities by urging officials to make villages along frontiers “vibrant, secure and self-reliant” under the government’s flagship Vibrant Villages Programme (VVP) . Image Source: Home Minister Amit Shah Speaking at a two-day workshop in New Delhi, Shah said the initiative, launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to curb migration from sparsely populated frontier regions, was not only about development, but also about national security.  “If villages have all facilities and employment opportunities, local residents will not wish to migrate,” Shah said, noting that strengthening the population base along borders was critical to maintaining sovereignty. The programme, which targets villages in states such as Arunachal Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, and Ladakh, aims to provide 100% coverage of government schemes while promoting infrastructure, tourism, cultural preservat...

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday delivered a strong statement defending India's small entrepreneurs, farmers and rural producers, just two days before the United States is set to impose a sweeping 50% tariff on Indian imports.  File Photo Source: PM NaMo Speaking at a rally in Ahmedabad, the Prime Minister framed the move as part of a broader geopolitical realignment, calling attention to the growing trend of global politics being driven by economic self-interest. “Today in the world, everyone is doing politics based on economic interests. From this land of Ahmedabad, I want to tell all my small entrepreneurs, small shopkeepers, farmers, and animal husbandry workers—this is the land of Gandhi--I promise you again and again: your interests are paramount for Modi,” the Prime Minister said.  “My government will never allow harm to come to small businesses, farmers, or cattle rearers. No matter how much pressure comes, we will continue to strengthen our resolve.” Th...