International Relations
Bilateral ties, multilateral forums, treaties and India's foreign policy
South Korean President’s maiden India visit: trade, semiconductors on agenda
South Korean President Lee Jae-myung is scheduled to make a State Visit to India from April 19–21, 2026, accompanied by a 200-member business delegation incl...
US Russian crude waiver expires: What it could mean for India’s oil imports from Russia
A temporary 30-day sanctions waiver granted by the US Treasury to India on March 5, 2026 — permitting purchases of Russian crude despite existing Ukraine-rel...
Column | Lost in rhetoric
A recent opinion column examined the widening gap between political rhetoric and substantive policy action in Indian governance, noting that electoral discou...
Why is the Strait of Hormuz critical to global energy flows? | Explained
The 2026 blockade of the Strait of Hormuz — first by Iran (since February 28, 2026) and then compounded by a US naval blockade targeting Iranian ports — has ...
No military solution to conflicts, say PM Modi and Austrian Chancellor Stocker
Prime Minister Narendra Modi held talks with Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker in New Delhi on April 16, 2026 — the first visit by an Austrian chancellor...
Govt on “wait and watch” mode as U.S. denies extending waivers on Russian, Iranian crude purchases
The United States announced it will not extend either of the two temporary sanctions waivers it had granted India for crude oil purchases The waiver for Russ...
India-Zambia talks on critical minerals stall over mining rights: sources
India's discussions with Zambia over access to critical mineral deposits — specifically cobalt and copper — have stalled because Zambia has not provided adeq...
U.S. forces ready to restart combat if Iran doesn’t agree a deal, says Hegseth
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told a Pentagon briefing on April 16, 2026 that American forces in the Middle East are "postured to restart combat operatio...
China’s claim on Arunachal not supported by international law
In April 2026, China published — for the sixth time since 2017 — a list of "standardised" Chinese names for 23 places in Arunachal Pradesh (mountain passes, ...
Asim Munir likely to head to US after talks in Iran, White House says Pakistan ‘incredible mediators’
Pakistan Army Chief (now styled as Field Marshal) Asim Munir led a delegation to Tehran on April 16, 2026, including Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, to hold ...
Dead on arrival to revival: IMEC regains momentum as India, UAE & US look for new trade route
The India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), announced at the G20 Summit in New Delhi in September 2023, is seeing renewed interest after nearly go...
U.S.-sanctioned supertankers enter Gulf despite blockade
At least two US-sanctioned supertankers (Very Large Crude Carriers, VLCCs) entered the Persian Gulf through the Strait of Hormuz despite the US naval blockad...
Venezuela, Russia step up crude shipments, India benefits
With the Strait of Hormuz blocked since late February 2026, India has lost access to approximately 3 million barrels per day of crude that previously transit...
China asks Iran to ensure freedom of navigation through Strait of Hormuz
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi spoke with Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi and urged that "freedom and safety of international navigation through the Str...
EU's proposed CBAM expansion may impact Indian exporters: GTRI
The Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI) assessed that the EU's proposed CBAM expansion to 180 downstream steel- and aluminium-intensive products could sh...
EU’s CBAM expansion to impact Indian engg, auto parts, machinery exports: GTRI
The European Union is expanding its Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) to cover approximately 180 additional product categories from January 1, 2028, ...
West Asia War: India’s BBB rating seen stable despite energy shock; S&P flags corporate stress, weaker credit growth
S&P Global Ratings has assessed that India's sovereign credit rating (BBB, Stable) is likely to remain unaffected in the near term despite the energy price s...
Vladimir Putin likely to take part in Brics summit in India
Russian President Vladimir Putin is expected to attend the 18th BRICS Summit, scheduled to be hosted by India in September 2026. Russia's Deputy Foreign Mini...
Attacks on merchant shipping completely unacceptable: EAM S Jaishankar
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, speaking at the AZEC-Plus (Asia Zero Emissions Community Plus) meeting convened by Japan, declared that attacks on m...
Why Siliguri Corridor is strategically important for India & how it is being secured | Cut The Clutter
India has renewed focus on securing the Siliguri Corridor, the narrow strip of land in West Bengal that is the only land connection between the northeastern ...