International Relations

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

Xi Jinping meets Antony Blinken, seeks US-China partnership over rivalry

Xi Jinping noted some progress since his meeting with US President Joe Biden, but stressed on continued efforts and addressing outstanding concerns

US blacklists 4 Chinese tech companies for helping China's military

The four companies were allegedly supplying artificial intelligence chips for China's military modernisation programmes

'Precarious' situation in Myanmar: India relocates staff from consulate

India on Friday said it relocated its staff from its consulate in Myanmarese city of Sittwe to Yangon in view of the precarious security situation in that region of Myanmar. External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India is closely monitoring the situation in Myanmar, adding the Indian consulate in Mandalay remains functional. Asked about reports of kidnapping of three Indian youths, he said the Indian embassy is working on the matter and hoped that they would be back home soon. Several parts of Myanmar have been witnessing intense fighting between the military junta and resistance forces. The resistance forces have already captured several towns. The anti-junta forces seized control of several military bases and a command centre at Myawaddy last week. Jaiswal said the security situation in Myanmar remains "precarious" and is deteriorating. "We are closely monitoring the security situation in Myanmar, particularly in the Rakhine State. Necessary steps have been

Canada removes dozens of Indian staff from diplomatic missions in India

Last year, India had expelled 41 Canadian diplomats to ensure diplomatic parity, prompting Canada to close its Mumbai, Chandigarh, and Bengaluru consulates for in-person operations

Red Sea crisis: India's responsibility to look at such situations, says EAM

Jaishankar stated that it is the responsibility of India to look at such situations in the neighbourhood and how to tackle them in cooperation with other nations

India, Russia are looking after each other's interests: EAM Jaishankar

Russia is a country with which India has always had a positive relationship and both countries have taken extra care to look after each other's interests, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Sunday, as he dismissed the notion that Moscow is drifting towards China. Interacting with the Indian community in Singapore, Jaishankar said India should look at its relationship with Russia or any other country from its perspective. "So, tell me has Russia helped us or harmed us? Has Russia at crucial moments contributed or obstructed? Going ahead, are there gains to be made from Russia or is it only damages which will come out?" he asked. So, if I do my calculations from my perspective and my experiences, I will get the answer. And the answer in this case is that Russia is a country with which we have always had a positive relationship, he said. "Both India and Russia have taken that extra care to look after each other's interests. So, I think we should have that confidence as we

'Operation Indravati' to evacuate stranded Indians in Haiti launched

Taking to his official X handle, Jaishankar posted, "12 Indians evacuated today. Fully committed to the security and well-being of our nationals abroad."

India criticises model for UNSC reform presented by Uniting for Consensus

India has criticised a model for the UN Security Council presented by the Uniting for Consensus group that includes Pakistan, saying it stands against the idea supported by a majority of member states to expand permanent and non-permanent seats and underscored that the world of the 21st century "desperately needs a UN 2.0". The UfC comprises Argentina, Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, Italy, Malta, Mexico, Pakistan, the Republic of Korea, San Marino, Spain, and Turkiye. China, a permanent member, and Indonesia are participating in the group as Observers. The UfC group is opposed to the creation of new permanent members in the Security Council. The UfC model entails a Security Council with 26 seats, with an increase only in the non-permanent, elected members. It proposes creating 9 new long-term seats with immediate re-election possibilities. Threats to international peace and security have become more complex, unpredictable and undefined. The world of the twenty-first century desperate