External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio discussed India-US trade, tariff concerns, defence ties, energy cooperation, critical minerals and artificial intelligence during talks in Manila. Their meeting reflected continued diplomatic engagement as both countries work through commercial differences while expanding their strategic partnership. India-US Trade and Tariff Talks

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s upcoming New Zealand visit is being seen as an important step in strengthening India New Zealand relations after a long gap in high-level outreach. The visit is expected to focus on trade, defence, education, technology, tourism, sports and people-to-people ties. It also comes after New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon’s India visit, which gave both sides fresh momentum to expand cooperation beyond traditional diplomatic exchang

US raises alarm over China missile launch The United States has sharply criticised China after Beijing conducted a rare intercontinental ballistic missile test over the Pacific Ocean, saying the launch reflects growing concern over China’s expanding and opaque nuclear programme. The missile, which carried a dummy warhead, was fired on Monday, July 6, in what Beijing

India Japan expand strategic partnership framework India and Japan have announced a 16-point roadmap aimed at significantly expanding their Special Strategic and Global Partnership, marking a shift toward deeper cooperation in economic security, advanced technology and energy resilience. The initiative was unveiled following the 16th India-Japan Annual Summit held in

The visit of Sanae Takaichi to New Delhi marks a renewed phase in relations between Japan and India. Her meeting with

Marco Rubio’s India visit became more than a routine diplomatic tour. The US Secretary of State’s trip brought together serious India-US discussions, Quad cooperation, regional security concerns, critical minerals strategy and public attention around India’s extreme summer heat. Rubio visited India from May 23 to May 26, 2026, with his schedule covering Kolkata, Delhi, Agra and Jaipur. His visit came at a time when Washington and New Delhi were trying to stren

India is hosting the Quad foreign ministers’ meeting in New Delhi on May 26, 2026, bringing together senior leaders from India, the United States, Japan and Australia. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar is chairing the meeting, with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi attending the talks. The participation details are confirmed by India’s Ministry of External Affairs. The meeting comes a

Marco Rubio Arrives in India for Strategic Talks US Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrived in Kolkata on Saturday, May 23, marking his first official visit to India. The trip represents a significant step in strengthening bilateral relations between Washington and New Delhi, especially amid rising geopolitical tensions across the Indo-Pacific and West Asia. Rubio’s visit comes just days ahead of the QUAD foreign ministers

India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar held extensive discussions with foreign ministers from the 27 member states of the European Union during a meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels on Monday. The talks focused on key global developments, including the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, tensions in West Asia, evolving strategic dynamics in the Indo-Pacific region and the future trajectory of India-EU relations. Jaishankar attended the meeting at the invitation of

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has announced a high-profile visit to India as part of a broader Indo-Pacific tour, in what officials describe as a significant step toward revitalizing bilateral relations that have faced strain in recent years. The visit, scheduled from February 26 to March 7, 2026, will also include stops in Australia and Japan, reflecting Ottawa’s strategic focus on strengthening partnerships across the Indo-Pacific region. Carney’s itinerary begins in Mum

United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio extended greetings to India on the occasion of its Republic Day, underscoring the importance of the bilateral partnership and highlighting areas of close cooperation between the two countries. In his message, Rubio emphasized that sustained engagement across strategic sectors continues to yield tangible outcomes for both nations and the broader Indo-Pacific region. Rubio described the relationship as a historic bond strengthened by collab

Spain has formally joined India’s Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative, marking a significant diplomatic development that strengthens India’s expanding leadership role in the Indo-Pacific region and deepens cooperation with European partners. Spain’s Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares handed over Spain’s Declaration of Accession to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar in New Delhi earlier this week, officially confirming Spain’s entry into the India-led framework launched in 2019. The m

China has firmly rejected Japan’s claims regarding recent aerial encounters, escalating a diplomatic dispute that has widened to include political, economic, and regional security dimensions. A spokesperson for the Chinese navy, Colonel Wang Xuemeng, stated that Japanese aircraft had repeatedly approached Chinese vessels as they carried out previously announced carrier-based flight training east of the Miyako Strait. According to Wang, the operations were routine and transparent, and China

Russian President Vladimir Putin is expected to travel to India on December 4 and 5 for the 23rd Annual Summit, marking his first visit since the start of the Russia-Ukraine conflict and India’s Operation Sindoor. The meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Putin is expected to place significant emphasis on strengthening defence cooperation, including discussions on a potential new S-400 air defence system contract. The visit comes at a critical time, as both countries reassess the

Tensions between China and Japan escalated sharply this week after Beijing delivered a series of unusually forceful warnings against any potential Japanese involvement in the Taiwan Strait. China’s defence ministry declared that Japan would face what it called a crushing defeat at the hands of the People’s Liberation Army if Tokyo attempted to intervene militarily in a Taiwan conflict. The warning, issued on Friday, followed a similar statement from China’s foreign ministry a day earlie

In a landmark step toward strengthening bilateral defence ties, India and the United States on Friday signed a 10-year defence framework agreement aimed at deepening strategic cooperation and expanding technological collaboration between the two nations. The agreement was formalised during a meeting between India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth in Kuala Lumpur. The new framework, extending over a decade, underscores both countries’ commitment to p

Amid heightened tensions in the Indo-Pacific, two separate US Navy aircraft — a helicopter and a fighter jet — crashed into the South China Sea on Sunday during routine operations. The incidents have reignited regional security concerns as the United States continues its strategic presence in the disputed waters, where China maintains sweeping territorial claims. According to a statement from the US Pacific Fleet, the first incident involved an MH-60R Seahawk helicopter assigned

Japan made history on Tuesday as Sanae Takaichi was appointed the country’s first woman prime minister after a decisive vote in the lower house of parliament. Her elevation marks a groundbreaking moment in a nation where political and corporate leadership remains overwhelmingly male. Takaichi, a prominent conservative and known China hawk, secured 237 votes in the 465-member House of Representatives, crossing the majority threshold in the first round itself. She is expected to formally assu

US President Donald Trump on Monday (September 15) announced that his administration had reached a preliminary agreement with a “certain company,” which he described as the one “young people” in the US “very much wanted to save.” While he did not directly name TikTok, it was evident from the context of his comments. The US Treasury later confirmed that Washington and Beijing had agreed on a framework deal regarding TikTok. Trump also revealed that he would

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has begun his two-day Japan visit with a packed agenda that includes strengthening economic ties, advancing technology partnerships, and reinforcing India’s role in the Quad grouping. The visit comes at a time of rising trade tensions with the United States following President Donald Trump’s imposition of a 50 per cent tariff on Indian goods. Against this backdrop, Tokyo is positioning itself as a stronger ally for New