International Relations
Bilateral ties, multilateral forums, treaties and India's foreign policy
India, Italy upgrade ties to special strategic partnership after Modi-Meloni talks
India and Italy formally upgraded their bilateral relationship to a Special Strategic Partnership on May 20, 2026, following talks in Rome — the first dedica...
India-Italy ties hit sweet spot: Deals on defence, critical minerals
India and Italy finalised a Defence Industrial Roadmap during the Rome summit (May 19–20, 2026) covering co-development and co-production of helicopters, nav...
Delhi, Seoul to work on air defence and energy weapons systems
South Korean President Lee Jae-myung's state visit to New Delhi (April 19–21, 2026) resulted in agreements to expand the India–South Korea Special Strategic ...
India’s pitch to US nuclear mission: Scale up capacity, small modular reactors key
India has pitched to the US-side of the bilateral nuclear energy cooperation framework to scale up nuclear capacity, with small modular reactors (SMRs) ident...
FAO Agricola Medal conferred on PM Modi
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations conferred its highest honour, the Agricola Medal 2026, on India's Prime Minister, at a cere...
India-Italy joint statement: Focus on terror, tech & unblocking of Hormuz
The joint statement issued after India-Italy summit talks in Rome (May 19–20, 2026) identified counter-terrorism, technology cooperation, and freedom of navi...
Iran examining U.S. proposal, as Trump says in ‘final stages’ of talks
Iran's Foreign Ministry stated that the Islamic Republic had "received the points of view of the American side" and was "currently examining them," in respon...
Myanmar military claims recapture of Thai border town
Myanmar's military junta (Tatmadaw) announced on May 19, 2026 that it had retaken Mawtaung, a border trading town in the Tanintharyi Region adjacent to Thail...
Philippine Supreme Court says won’t stop ICC arrest of drug war enforcer
The Philippine Supreme Court voted 9–5–1 on May 20, 2026 to deny a temporary restraining order sought by Senator Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa, clearing the way fo...
War would spread beyond West Asia, say Iran Guards
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) issued a threat stating: "if the aggression against Iran is repeated, the promised regional war will this tim...
Ahead of COP31 in Antalya, Türkiye calls for global push to electrify economies and expand renewables
Türkiye's Minister of Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change, speaking ahead of COP31, called for rapid global acceleration in electrifying the economy...
India, South Korea agree to deepen defence ties during Rajnath Singh’s Seoul visit
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh visited Seoul on May 20, 2026, and held bilateral talks with South Korean Defence Minister Ahn Gyu Back to deepen the India-So...
India, Italy upgrade ties | Special strategic partnership announced: Trade to corridor, defence to ports
India and Italy elevated their bilateral relationship to a Special Strategic Partnership on May 20, 2026, during a summit in Rome — the highest level of bila...
Expert Explains | How UAE’s exit from OPEC presents an opportunity for India’s strategic petroleum reserves
The United Arab Emirates announced its withdrawal from OPEC and the broader OPEC+ alliance, effective May 1, 2026 — the most significant defection in the car...
Expert Explains | Why Russia’s growing dependence on China is a threat to India’s security
Vladimir Putin's state visit to Beijing in May 2026 — marking the 25th anniversary of the Treaty of Good-Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation — underscore...
PM Modi receives ‘Agricola Medal’, Food and Agriculture Organisation’s highest honour in Italy | LIVE
During a five-nation diplomatic tour, the Prime Minister received the Food and Agriculture Organisation's (FAO) highest honour, the Agricola Medal, at the FA...
Commerce Dept maps import substitution, export push amid West Asia concerns
The Department of Commerce convened consultations with industry bodies, asking them to suggest measures for import substitution and export promotion in respo...
PM Modi meets Italian President Sergio Mattarella; AI, critical minerals, space discussed
During meetings in Rome on May 20, 2026, the President of Italy and the Prime Minister of India discussed cooperation in artificial intelligence, critical mi...
13-nation Pragati 2026 military exercise begins in Meghalaya
Exercise PRAGATI 2026 — a multinational military exercise hosted by India — commenced on May 20, 2026 at the Umroi Military Station near Shillong, Meghalaya....
Ukraine ally Britain eases sanctions on Russian oil as fuel prices surge over Iran conflict
The United Kingdom issued trade licences easing previously announced sanctions on Russian oil refined in third countries such as India and Turkey, permitting...