International Relations
Bilateral ties, multilateral forums, treaties and India's foreign policy
Canada India Eco Partnership Agreement: Canadian PM says CEPA aims to conclude by year-end
On 2 March 2026, India and Canada formally launched Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) negotiations at Hyderabad House, New Delhi, as Canadi...
Attack on oil tanker ‘Skylight’ highlights risks to Indian seafarers in Persian Gulf route
Three ships were attacked in or near the Strait of Hormuz in the first days of the Iran-US-Israel war that began on February 28, 2026, with the number of con...
Oil, gas prices continue to spike as tensions mount in West Asia
Oil and natural gas prices surged sharply in the first days of March 2026 as the Iran-US-Israel war escalated and supply disruptions from the Gulf region mul...
Consumer durables, FMCG firms stare at heightened cost pressures amidst escalating conflict in West Asia
India's consumer durables and fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) sectors are facing sharply elevated cost pressures as the West Asia conflict drives up crude ...
India and Canada reset ties with 'landmark' nuclear energy deal
India and Canada reset their bilateral relationship with a landmark nuclear energy deal on March 2, 2026, marking the most significant diplomatic shift betwe...
QatarEnergy halting LNG production may impact India’s gas consumption
QatarEnergy, the world's largest LNG producer, suspended all LNG production and associated products on March 2, 2026, after Iranian drones struck critical in...
U.S. futures, Asian shares open lower, oil prices soar as U.S. and Israeli attack Iran
US and Israel conducted joint military strikes on Iran around February 28-March 1, 2026, targeting government buildings and military installations Brent crud...
US-Iran war leaves 70,000 tonne of Indian Basmati to Gulf stuck on high seas
The US-Iran war and the resulting closure of the Strait of Hormuz has stranded an estimated 70,000 tonnes of Indian basmati rice specifically in transit to G...
What to know about the clash between the Pentagon and Anthropic over military's AI use
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth demanded that Anthropic (maker of the Claude AI) allow the government to use its AI for "any lawful use," including fully a...
Escalating West Asia conflict poses risk for Indian tea exports
The escalating West Asia conflict, triggered by US-Israeli strikes on Iran under Operation Epic Fury in late February 2026, has effectively halted shipping t...
Amid Canada PM Carney’s visit, New Delhi rejects claims of Indian officials linked to Nijjar killing
On March 2, 2026, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney visited New Delhi for bilateral talks with PM Narendra Modi, aimed at resetting India-Canada relations ...
Russian buffer for crude, but India’s LPG imports vulnerable as Iran conflict chokes Strait of Hormuz
As US-Israel military strikes on Iran in late February 2026 disrupted tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, India's crude oil supply from the Gulf fac...
Iranian drone crashes into U.K. Air Force unit; Keir Starmer allows use of bases for ‘limited defensive’ operations
At approximately 12:03 AM local time on March 2, 2026, a Shahed-type one-way attack (loitering munition) drone struck the runway of RAF Akrotiri, a British R...
West Asia flight suspensions strand export cargo; trade seeks demurrage waiver
The suspension of commercial flights over Iran, Iraq, and parts of the Gulf region has caused significant disruption to India's air cargo exports, leaving co...
Indian edible oil sector turn cautious amid Iran crisis; oilmeals shipments may be hit
India's edible oil and oilmeals sector has shifted into a cautious "wait-and-watch" mode following the US-Israel strikes on Iran and Iran's retaliatory attac...
West Asia tensions trigger déjà vu crisis for Indian cashew industry
The escalation of the US-Israel-Iran conflict has disrupted India's cashew industry, which depends heavily on West Asian markets for exports and on West Afri...
Modi meets Canadian PM Mark Carney in Delhi, delegation-level talks today
Prime Minister Narendra Modi held delegation-level talks with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney in New Delhi on March 2, 2026, marking a historic inflectio...
Indian buyers may find pistachios, figs and raisins pricey following Gulf crisis
The Iran-US-Israel conflict that erupted in late February 2026 is disrupting India's imports of dry fruits and nuts — principally pistachios, figs, raisins, ...
Escalating hostilities in West Asia risk renewed energy, inflation shocks: Moody’s
The escalating Iran-US-Israel conflict, which began in late February 2026, is threatening to trigger a major global energy shock — sending oil and gas prices...
Govt holds multi-agency meeting with exporters to review disruptions due to West Asia crisis
The Indian government convened a multi-ministry meeting with export councils and trade bodies to assess the impact of the West Asia conflict on Indian trade ...