Foreign Policies affecting India & Diaspora

India's External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar joined a virtual meeting of BRICS leaders on September 8, 2025, called by Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. He spoke out against connecting trade rules to things outside of business, like politics or sanctions. This was said while talking about recent US decisions to add high taxes on goods from India and Brazil. The meeting happened because of growing worries about unstable world trade, and Jaishankar stood in for Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Leaders from China, Russia, and others also took part to discuss ways to make global economy fairer for everyone.

On August 20, 2025, India conducted a successful test-firing of its nuclear-capable Agni-5 intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) from the Abdul Kalam Island off the Odisha coast. The test was carried out by the Strategic Forces Command (SFC) and validated all key operational and technical parameters, reinforcing India's long-range strike capabilities.

On August 22, 2025, US President Donald Trump nominated Sergio Gor, a close aide and Director of the White House Presidential Personnel Office, as the new US Ambassador to India and Special Envoy for South and Central Asian Affairs. This announcement comes at a critical juncture as India-US relations face challenges due to a 50% US tariff on Indian goods and India’s continued imports of Russian oil, making Gor’s appointment pivotal for bilateral diplomacy.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has officially invited Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to visit India. The Ukrainian envoy to India, Oleksandr Polishchuk, praised India’s position in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, calling it “not neutral,” marking a significant development in India’s foreign policy posture.

India announced significant progress in the IMEC project during recent diplomatic meetings, with multiple countries committing to infrastructure investments. The corridor is seen as a strategic response to China's Belt and Road Initiative and aims to reduce dependence on traditional shipping routes.