Diplomacy

Beijing increases diplomatic pressure on Africa as US influence wanes

Chinese diplomats threatened to cancel a summit and called top officials in two African countries to pressure lawmakers to quit an international parliamentary group critical of China, officials from the group told The Associated Press. It's an example of how far China will go to influence politicians overseas, and how that pressure can succeed behind closed doors. In the past year, lawmakers from Malawi and Gambia withdrew from the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China, or IPAC, a group of hundreds of lawmakers from 38 countries concerned about how democracies approach Beijing, according to letters, messages and voice recordings obtained by The Associated Press. Founded in 2020, the group has coordinated sanctions on China over rights abuses in Xinjiang and Hong Kong and rallied support for Taiwan, a self-ruled democratic island Beijing claims as its territory. African politicians and experts say it's an escalation of Chinese diplomatic pressure in Africa, where Beijing's influence

India, China share congratulatory messages on 75th diplomatic anniversary

Leaders of India and China exchanged congratulatory messages on Tuesday marking the 75th anniversary of bilateral relations amid the efforts to reset the ties after over four years of freeze due to the eastern Ladakh military standoff. Today marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between India and China, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun told a media briefing here answering a question. President Xi Jinping and his Indian counterpart Droupadi Murmu besides Chinese Premier Li Qiang and Prime Minister Narendra Modi exchanged congratulatory messages respectively, he said. Both countries are ancient civilisations, major developing countries and important members of the Global South and both are in a crucial stage of modernisation, Guo said.

Vance, wife to visit US military post in Greenland amid diplomatic row

US Vice President JD Vance and his wife are due to visit an American military base in Greenland on Friday in a trip that was scaled back after an uproar by Greenlanders and Danes who were irked that the original itinerary was planned without consulting them. The couple's revised trip to the semi-autonomous Danish territory comes as relations between the US and the Nordic country have soured after U.S. President Donald Trump repeatedly suggested that the United States should in some form control the mineral-rich territory of Denmark a traditional US ally and NATO member. Friday's one-day visit to the US Space Force outpost at Pituffik, on the northwest coast of Greenland, has removed the risk of violating potential diplomatic taboos by sending a delegation to another country without an official invitation. It will also reduce the likelihood that the Vance and his wife will cross paths with residents angered by Trump's annexation announcements. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen

India must develop broad, diverse set of energy relationships: Jaishankar

As the world's fifth-largest economy, India must necessarily develop a broad and diverse set of energy relationships, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Saturday. Speaking at a Business Today event here, Jaishankar also said that after decades of hearing the virtues of globalisation, the world today is grappling with the reality of industrial policies, export controls and tariff wars. He said that ensuring a favourable energy environment for coming decades is understandably one of India's key diplomatic objectives. Beyond fossil fuels, it extends to developing and deploying renewables on a large scale as well as exploring the potential of small modular reactors, he said. The fifth biggest economy of the world must necessarily develop a broad and diverse set of energy relationships, Jaishankar said. The Indian embassies now are far more active than before in the pursuit of the country's commercial interests. They inform, advise and facilitate wherever possible to ensure

UK expels Russian diplomat in tit-for-tat response to expulsions in Moscow

Britain's government said Wednesday it has expelled a Russian diplomat and a diplomatic spouse in a tit-for-tat response to the expulsion of two British embassy staff in Moscow earlier this week. In a statement Wednesday, the Foreign Office said it had summoned the Russian ambassador to the UK, Andrei Kelin, following an increasingly aggressive and coordinated campaign of harassment against British diplomats. It said Kelin was told that the UK will not stand for intimidation of British embassy staff and their families." As a result, the Foreign Office was taking immediate reciprocal action, revoking accreditation for a Russian diplomat and a diplomatic spouse.

MoS Margherita represents India in swearing-in ceremony of Uruguay's Prez

Margherita said he conveyed greetings from Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the new government of Uruguay

OCAC highlights overseas outreach success for Taiwan amid policy shifts

The council emphasised that shifting global policies have created new opportunities for Taiwan to expand its international presence

Negotiating India's Landmark Agreements: Historical lens on diplomacy

The author's research on the India-China Agreement on Tibet, 1954 was based on the Nehru papers from the Prime Minister's Museum and Library

EAM Jaishankar meets Spanish Prez, reaffirms 'long-standing' bilateral ties

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday called on Spanish President Pedro Sanchez and reiterated the "long-standing" India-Spain partnership, updating him on the progress in bilateral cooperation. Jaishankar arrived in Spain on Monday for a two-day official visit -- his first to the country as the external affairs minister. "Called on President @sanchezcastejon of Spain today in Madrid. Conveyed greetings of PM @narendramodi," he said in a post on X. "Recalled his successful visit to India which reaffirmed our long-standing partnership. Briefed him on my discussions in Madrid and apprised him of progress on our bilateral agenda," the minister added. Sanchez visited India for the first time in October last year, during which he held delegation-level talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Jaishankar also held "productive" talks with Spanish Defence Minister Margarita Robles on enhancing bilateral defence cooperation. "A productive exchange of views with Defence Minister

In first high level engagement with Taliban, foreign secy meets Afghan FM

In the meeting, India's foreign sceretary Vikram Misri underlined India's historic friendship with the Afghan people and the strong people to people contacts between the two countries

South Africa-India in 2024: 30th anniversary of resumed diplomatic ties

Trade between India and South Africa picked momentum in 2024 after a sluggish spell following the COVID-19 pandemic. The two countries also marked the 30th anniversary of the resumption of their diplomatic ties this year. Bilateral trade totalled USD 19 billion in the year, surpassing the pre-pandemic figure. We hosted several high-profile Invest India events in partnership with local institutions. An India-South Africa Investment Network was formed to drive more connections and conversations among the investment community. We hosted several capacity-building sessions for South African entrepreneurs through India Entrepreneurs Forum," India's Consul General Mahesh Kumar said. With the India Business Forum, representing the 150 Indian companies with a presence in South Africa, we started sector-specific meetings to have more focused engagements with Indian businesses in South Africa," he added. At a seminar, he also urged South African investors to reconsider the need for Western ..

India's top economic moments in 2024: Women welfare to foreign inflows

Year ender 2024: India has maintained its position as the fifth-largest economy and continues to be one of the fastest growing economies in the world. Here's how 2024 panned out for the country

Reports by various foreign entities often found to be biased: Govt

The government is aware of reports issued from time to time by various foreign entities, including in the US, about the situation of human rights in India, but such reports are often found to be "subjective, misinformed and biased in nature", the Centre informed Parliament on Thursday. Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh said this in a written response to a query in Rajya Sabha. He was asked whether the government is aware of the recent US Congressional Research Service report which "highlights concerns" over India's human rights record, particularly regarding religious freedom and communal violence; and the steps being taken by the government to ensure that India's secular constitution and pluralistic values are upheld, both domestically and internationally. The government is "aware of reports issued from time to time by various foreign entities, including in the US, about the situation of human rights in India. Such reports are often found to be subjective,

Jaishankar calls for innovative, participative diplomacy to solve conflicts

Calling for a more innovative and participative diplomacy, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Saturday said that the general sort of the needle is moving more towards the reality of a negotiation than the continuation of the Russia-Ukraine war. Jaishankar also highlighted the impact of the conflict situations in the Gulf and the Mediterranean region on countries all over, including India, in terms of cost escalation for oil, fertilisers and shipping etc. Visiting Doha to participate in the Doha Forum at the invitation of Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of State of Qatar Mohammed bin Abdulrahman and was addressing a panel along with him and Norway's Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide. Answering a question about the situation in the Gulf region and the latest in Syria, the External Affairs Minister highlighted how there is a widening of conflict and gave examples of Israel-Iran firing at each other; said how the situation in Red Sea is impacting shipping for Asia,

India, Kuwait to set up joint commission to expand overall cooperation

India and Kuwait on Wednesday decided to set up a joint commission for cooperation (JCC) at the foreign ministers' level, which will act as an umbrella mechanism to comprehensively review and monitor the entire gamut of bilateral ties, officials said. The decision was taken at a meeting between External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and his Kuwaiti counterpart Abudullah Ali Al Yahya, who arrived here on Tuesday as part of his first official visit to India. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said the two ministers reviewed the entire spectrum of India-Kuwait ties in diverse areas, including trade, investment, energy, food security and people-to-people ties. They also exchanged views on regional and international issues of mutual interest, the ministry said in a statement. "The two ministers signed an MoU on establishing a joint commission for cooperation (JCC) at the level of foreign ministers," the MEA said. It said new joint working groups in the areas of trade, investment, .

PM Modi visits Guyana: Why South American nation is crucial to India

South American nation has become a significant contributor to world crude supply

PM Modi interacts with world leaders on the sidelines of G20 Summit

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday interacted with several world leaders, including from Brazil, Singapore and Spain, on the sidelines of the G20 Summit here. The Prime Minister was warmly received by Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who is hosting the G20 Summit in Rio de Janeiro. "Looking forward to the proceedings at the G20 Summit in Rio de Janeiro. Thankful to President Lula for the warm welcome," Modi said in a post on X. Modi, who arrived here after concluding a two-day trip to Nigeria, also met UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on the margins of the summit. He also had a wonderful interaction with his Singapore counterpart Lawrence Wong. "A wonderful interaction with Prime Minister Lawrence Wong of Singapore during the G20 Summit in Rio de Janeiro," Modi posted on X. The Prime Minister also met Spanish President Pedro Sanchez, who travelled to India on an official visit last month. "From Vadodara to Rio, the interactions continue! A lovely interacti

India-Philippines mark 75 years of diplomatic ties, unveil special logo

Following the event, Jaishankar also shared a post on X and expressed gratitude adding that he also highlighted the logo, which captures both nations' special relations

India-Philippines friendship enduring, poised to move to higher orbit: EAM

The India-Philippines ties are rooted in democratic values, pluralistic ethos and economic commonalities, and the friendship between the two countries is truly an "enduring one" that is now poised to move to a "higher orbit", External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said on Wednesday. In his address at an event here to mark the 75th anniversary of India-Philippines diplomatic relations, he also said both nations are "deeply committed to upholding international law, norms and rules". India and the Philippines formally established diplomatic relations on November 26, 1949, shortly after both countries gained independence (the Philippines in 1946 and India in 1947). Culturally, like many of the countries in the region, Philippines also enjoyed civilisational links with India. "I am delighted to join you today, as we celebrate the 75th anniversary of India-Philippines diplomatic relations. On behalf of the government and the people of India, I extend our greeting and felicitations to our

Afghan community in India demands more consular staff, assistance from MEA

A lone former diplomat, who has continued to stay in India, has somehow kept the Afghan Mission/Consulates running