Page 2 - International Relations

Russia has a message for foreign guests at Brics summit: Bring cash

The summit's website reminds visitors that they won't be able to use their Mastercard or Visa cards issued outside of Russia to make payments or cash withdrawals in the country

No anti-China activities will be allowed in our territory: Nepal PM Oli

Nepal's Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli said on Sunday that no anti-China activities will be allowed in the country, reaffirming the Himalayan nation's commitment to the 'One China' policy. Oli made the remarks in a meeting with a high-level Chinese delegation led by Chen Jining, a member of the Communist Party of China's Central Committee. The meeting took place at his official residence in Baluwatar, Kathmandu. Reaffirming Nepal's commitment to the One China policy, Oli told the visiting delegation that no anti-China activities would be allowed to operate within Nepal's territory. China claims that the breakaway nation of Taiwan is part of it and makes it mandatory for all the countries having diplomatic ties with it to follow the One China' policy, which effectively states that Taiwan is part of China. During the meeting, Oli also expressed hopes for continued support from China for Nepal's economic development. Talks were also held about strengthening bilateral relations and ...

India considers risk that Canada may charge senior govt officials

India has denied the allegations made by the Canadian police. No specific details of the case were provided to India's government, the officials said

President Murmu arrives in Mauritania on 2nd leg of her three-nation visit

President Droupadi Murmu on Wednesday arrived here on the second leg of her three-nation visit to Africa, during which she will hold talks with her Mauritanian counterpart Mohamed Ould Ghazouani. It is the first visit to Mauritania by an Indian leader at the highest level since the African nation won independence in 1960. "President Droupadi Murmu arrived in Mauritania on the second leg of her three-nation visit. This is the first visit by an Indian President to Mauritania," her office said in a post on X. On her arrival at Nouakchott-Oumtounsy Airport, President Murmu was warmly received by President Ghazouani. She was accorded a ceremonial welcome, her office added. During the visit, Murmu will hold delegation-level talks with President Ghazouani and the two sides will sign four MoUs in the areas of culture, foreign office institutions, Foreign Office Consultations, and Visa Waiver Agreements for Diplomatic and Official passport holders. She will have a courtesy call from the Pr

People in Punjab fear dispute with Canada endangers work, study plans

Indians have made up Canada's largest group of international students in recent years, mainly from Punjab, holding more than 41% of student permits in 2022

India-Canada diplomatic row: No impact on bilateral trade in goods so far

The diplomatic tensions between India and Canada have so far not impacted the bilateral trade in goods between the two countries, think tank GTRI said on Monday. However, it added that as this dispute drags on, both nations will need to carefully manage their actions to avoid a full-blown economic fallout. The bilateral merchandise trade between India and Canada actually grew slightly from USD 8.3 billion in 2022-23 to USD 8.4 billion in 2023-24. India's imports from Canada increased to USD 4.6 billion, while exports saw a marginal dip, falling to USD 3.8 billion. "These figures suggest that, at least for now, economic ties remain stable, unaffected by the diplomatic storm brewing in the background," it said. "For now, the resilience of trade between India and Canada highlights an important lesson -- diplomatic tensions, while damaging, do not always spell disaster for economic ties. But as this dispute drags on, both nations will need to carefully manage their actions to avoid a

India-Australia holds 2+2 secretary level consultations in New Delhi

According to Ministry of Defence the the talks were held to consolidate the ties between the two countries and also benefit the whole Indo-Pacific region

India plays key geopolitical role from American standpoint: USISPF

India plays a pivotal role geopolitically from an American perspective and offers US companies the opportunity to de-risk from China in the manufacturing sector, the head of a top India-centric American business and strategic advocacy group has said. The economic growth story of India is tremendous. India is among very few large economies which are growing seven to eight per cent, Mukesh Aghi, the President and CEO of the US-India Strategic and Partnership Forum (USISPF), said on Wednesday. From an American perspective, India plays a "pivotal role" geopolitically, he said. "India is one economy which is providing market opportunity, especially to US companies that come in and invest and gain market share. It is an economy which is providing de-risking from China itself in the manufacturing area, Aghi told PTI in an interview. What we are seeing is the Indian economy is not just becoming a market opportunity, it's becoming an opportunity for manufacturing. ..But more important is we

Be prepared to hear India's comments on politics, says EAM Jaishankar

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Friday said he had no problem with other countries commenting on Indian politics, but they should also be prepared to hear his comments on their politics. He made the sharp remarks during his interaction with the Indian community here. Jaishankar was asked a question about some foreign diplomats based in New Delhi having personal meetings with certain opposition leaders in their state. The External Affairs Minister did not answer it directly as he said, I have no problem if people comment about our politics, but then, I think in fairness, they should also be ready to hear my comments about their politics. And so, how to get a more mutually respectful world, more equal world? Because everybody says they know, he said and then referring to George Orwell's Animal Farm', he said, Some are more equal than others. How do you actually create that? I think that's also one of the big debates, which is today taking place in the world, the EAM added.

Maldivian President Muizzu to officially visit on India 'very soon'

Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu will travel to India on an official visit "very soon", his spokesperson said on Tuesday. Heena Waleed, the chief spokesperson at the President's Office, announced Muizzu's visit on a day when two junior ministers, suspended in January for derogatory comments against Prime Minister Narendra Modi - resigned from the government. She said that while the exact date for the trip is yet to be finalised, the two sides are discussing a date, which is of convenience to the leaders of both countries, the Sun Online news portal reported. "The President is scheduled to visit India very soon. As you are aware, such trips are scheduled for a time of maximum convenience to leaders of the two countries. Discussions regarding this are in progress, she said during a press conference. Muizzu, known for his pro-China leanings, visited New Delhi on June 9 to attend Prime Minister Modi's swearing-in ceremony. Unlike his predecessors, who made the first port of call to N

India-Singapore ties 'extremely strong' ready for next level: EAM

This is one of the reasons why Prime Minister Modi has chosen to visit Singapore early in his third term," he told The Straits Times in an interview

Biden adviser Jake Sullivan heads to China for talks before election

The trip will be Sullivan's first to China as President Joe Biden's top national security aide, and will feature meetings with Foreign Minister Wang Yi

Why it'll be a good idea for India to try connecting with Kamala Harris

Over the years, India has enjoyed bipartisan support in the US and this asset must be kept intact and nurtured through across the board political and civil society engagement

Iran's new prez Pezeshkian vows balance with all, warns US against pressure

Iran's newly elected president said his government will create "balance in relations with all countries in line with national interests and the prerequisites for peace but stressed to the United States that his country will not respond to pressure. Masoud Pezeshkian penned My Message To The New World in the country's state-owned Tehran Times late Friday, praising the latest presidential election that demonstrated remarkable stability and vowing to uphold promises I made during my campaign. ' Pezeshkian, a 69-year-old heart surgeon and longtime lawmaker, bested hard-liner former nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili to clinch July 5's runoff election to replace President Ebrahim Raisi, who was killed in a helicopter crash in May. He said in his message his administration would prioritise strengthening relations with our neighbours and urged Arab countries to use all diplomatic leverages to push for a lasting cease-fire in the ongoing Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip that started October

David Lammy becomes new UK Foreign Secy; may visit India before end of July

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Friday named David Lammy as his foreign secretary, as the newly-appointed premier started the process of forming a Labour Party government after winning the general election. The 51-year-old Labour politician and lawyer who is a backer of strong bilateral ties with India, last month said that he would be visiting New Delhi if his party is voted to power on July 4. Many Diwalis have come and gone without a trade deal and too many businesses have been left waiting," said Lammy, referring to the missed Diwali 2022 deadline set by former prime minister Boris Johnson for the Free Trade Agreement (FTA). "My message to [Finance] Minister [Nirmala] Sitharaman and [Trade] Minister [Piyush] Goyal is that Labour is ready to go. Let's finally get our free trade deal done and move on, he said, adding he will be in Delhi before the end of July if elected to government on July 4. Describing India as a priority for the party and an economic, technological and

British Indian group wants new UK govt to reshape relationship with India

As the UK general election campaign enters its final phase on Tuesday, a British Indian community group has called on the newly elected government to reshape its foreign policy priorities towards India. The Platform for Indian Democracy called on new British members of Parliament to prioritise democracy and human rights in the UK's foreign policy towards India and uphold democratic values in UK-India relations. "The UK government has a unique opportunity to reshape its foreign policy with India, aligning it with the values that British Indians hold dear, said Raul Lai, Coordinator of Platform for Indian Democracy. By advocating for human rights, democratic principles, and ethical diplomacy, the UK can strengthen its relationship with India while upholding the ideals that both nations strive to achieve, he said. As the largest ethnic minority group in the UK, British Indians wield significant influence in constituencies around the country. The Platform for Indian Democracy claims th

Consistently pressed Delhi for updates on Indian inquiry: US on Pannun case

The US has consistently pressed India for updates on the Indian investigation into the alleged foiled plot to kill Sikh separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun and made it clear that it seeks accountability in the case, a senior Biden administration official said on Wednesday. US Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell said the US raised the issue directly at the most senior levels of the Indian government. Campbell made the comments at a virtual media briefing on his and US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan's visit to India last week. "We have had constructive dialogue with India on this topic and I would say that they have been responsive to our concerns," he said. "We've made clear that we seek accountability from the Government of India and we have consistently asked for updates on the Indian committee of inquiry's investigations," the senior official said. "And I would just simply say that we raised this issue directly with the Indian government...at the most senior levels .

Taiwan calls China's protest over Modi-Lai messages 'utterly unjustified'

Taiwan on Friday said China's "outrage" over a "cordial" exchange between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te is utterly unjustified as threats and intimidation never foster friendship. The comments by the Taiwanese Foreign Ministry came a day after China protested an exchange of messages between Modi and Ching-te, saying it opposes all official interactions between Taiwan and countries having diplomatic relations with Beijing. "#China's outrage at a cordial exchange between the leaders of 2 democracies is utterly unjustified. Threats & intimidation never foster friendships," the Taiwanese foreign ministry said on X. "#Taiwan remains dedicated to building partnerships with #India underpinned by mutual benefit & shared values," it said. On Wednesday, Lai greeted Modi on the National Democratic Alliance's victory in the Lok Sabha polls and said Taiwan was looking forward to enhancing the "fast-growing" ties between the two sides. "My sincere ...

Spike in trade with Russia not a 'temporary phenomenon': EAM Jaishankar

"For long, we have looked at Russia from a political or security perspective," Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar said at an industry conference

India asks Iran to release nearly 40 of its sailors detained from 4 ships

India has asked Iran to release nearly 40 Indian seafarers who were detained from four different merchant ships seized by the Persian Gulf country over the past eight months on different charges, sources said on Wednesday. Ports, Shipping and Waterways Minister Sarbananda Sonowal made the request during a meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian in Tehran on Monday. Sonowal was in Tehran where India signed a 10-year contract to operate the strategic Iranian port of Chabahar that will help expand the trade with Central Asia. Following a request of Iranian side, a meeting was held between Sonowal and Abdollahian where bilateral issues were discussed, sources privy to the development said. During the meeting, Sonowal requested Abdollahian to release all Indian seafarers who are in Iranian custody. Abdollahian said Tehran is positive on the release of the Indian seafarers but it is getting delayed as legal procedures have to be followed, the sources said. The so