Diplomacy

India's priorities for G20 presidency to benefit global south: Ex-diplomat

India has set priorities for its G20 Presidency which will benefit the global south, former diplomat J S Mukul said here on Monday. India assumed the Presidency of the G20 for one year from December 1, 2022, to 30 November 2023. "We don't forget our friends in the global south. That's why the prime minister held a virtual summit of 125 countries to set the agenda for India's presidency. India, as the host, has invited organisations and countries from the global south. It shows the priorities," he said in his keynote address at a G20 University Connect event organised by the Central University of Kashmir. He said events had been scheduled in 50 cities of the country to showcase "Incredible India as the mother of democracy". According to the former ambassador to the Netherlands, the themes outlined by India for its presidency have green development and climate change mitigation at the top of the list. "The global south needs technical support and finances to meet the challenges of .

Numerous possibilities to expand India-Japan cooperation: Diplomat

There are many potentials and possibilities to expand the relationship and cooperation between India and Japan, Japan's Deputy Consul General, Chennai, Kenji Miyata, said on Friday

In favour of constructive dialogue, diplomacy between India, Pak: US

The United States supports a constructive dialogue and meaningful conversation between India and Pakistan, the Biden administration said Thursday reiterating that it's for New Delhi and Islamabad to decide on the nature of that dialogue. The US is ready to play its role if they agree, it added. State Department Spokesperson Ned Price, in response to a question, refused any meditating role for the US for talks between India and Pakistan. "Because these are decisions for the countries themselves. If they agree on a particular role for the United States, the United States is prepared to, as a partner to both countries, support that process in any way that we responsibly can, Price told reporters at a news conference. "Analysts believe that the United States has the power and authority to mediate between the two partners. Pakistan and India are partners of yours, so why don't you just mediate? he was asked. "Ultimately, it is not for the United States to determine the modalities or th

India pressing for resolving Ukraine conflict through diplomacy: PM Modi

India has been pressing for resolving the Ukraine conflict through diplomacy and dialogue and it is ready to contribute to any peace process, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Saturday after holding wide-ranging talks with visiting German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. The talks between the two leaders covered the entire gamut of bilateral ties as well as key regional and global issues, including the Ukraine conflict. In his media statement, Scholz said the world is suffering as a consequence of Russia's aggression against Ukraine and asserted that no one can change borders through the use of violence. The war in Ukraine has led to immense loss and destruction, he said, adding "it is a catastrophe". The German Chancellor's visit to India came a day after the first anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. "We have to make sure that countries in Asia, Africa and America are not strongly and negatively impacted by the terrible war of aggression," Scholz said. In his statement, Mo

Good to see women diplomats, says Prez accepting credentials from envoys

President Droupadi Murmu on Friday accepted credentials from the envoys of five nations, including South Sudan and Seychelles, and said it was heartening to see experienced women diplomats taking such important responsibilities. Those who presented their credentials were Victoria Samuel Aru, Ambassador of the Republic of South Sudan, Issa Saleh Abdullah Saleh Al Shibani, Ambassador of the Sultanate of Oman, Javier Manuel Paulinich Velarde, Ambassador of the Republic of Peru, Lalatiana Accouche, High Commissioner of the Republic of Seychelles and Koy Kuong, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Cambodia, a statement issued by the Rashtrapati Bhavan said. While receiving credentials from Ambassador Victoria Aru of South Sudan and High Commissioner Lalatiana Accouche of Seychelles, President Murmu said it was heartening to see experienced women diplomats take on such important responsibilities. "A special day for women in diplomacy as President Murmu received credentials from Ambassador Victori

War in Ukraine: How one year of conflict changed geopolitics and economics

Friday marks the one-year anniversary of the Russia-Ukraine war, have a look at how the conflict that nobody believed would last this long changed the world

The Churchill question

From the 1920s onwards, Churchill was firm - even quixotic - in opposing any proposal resembling genuine self-rule for India

In touch with India: France on UN draft resolution on Ukraine conflict

Ahead of the voting on the UN's draft resolution on Ukraine, the French diplomatic sources on Tuesday said they were in contact with political leaders in New Delhi but were not very hopeful that India will not abstain. The UN General Assembly will vote this week on the draft resolution underscoring the urgency to find lasting peace in Ukraine, a year after Moscow invaded its neighbour. On a question, if India would again abstain from voting in UNGA on the Ukraine-Russia conflict, they said India is not very likely to join one side or another but they are "working on it". "It's always a question of balance...We do have contact with the political leaders of India. At this stage, we still don't know what will be the position of the government. Most likely it will be abstention but we are still working on it. We have a very candid discussion with them. There is no secret agenda or whatever. So then it's their decision," a French diplomatic source said. India has mostly abstained on ...

Senior US diplomat Nuland to visit India for foreign office consultation

A senior American diplomat will travel to India for foreign office consultations with her Indian counterpart, an official statement said on Saturday. The India visit of Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Victoria Nuland follows Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Donald Lu's trip to New Delhi early this month. Nuland's India tour is part of a four-nation visit, including Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Qatar from January 28 to February 3. In Kathmandu, she will engage with the new government on the broad agenda of the US partnership with Nepal, the State Department said in the statement. While in India, the Under Secretary will lead the US-India annual Foreign Office Consultations which cover the full range of bilateral, regional, and global issues. She will also meet with young tech leaders, it said. In Sri Lanka, Nuland will mark the 75th anniversary of US-Sri Lanka relations and offer continued US support for Sri Lanka's efforts to stabilise the economy, ..

Chinese President Jinping seeks new diplomatic inroads with Asian leaders

Chinese President Xi Jinping has used his first face-to-face meetings with America's Asia-Pacific allies since 2020 to try to forge diplomatic inroads as Washington pushes back against Beijing's influence in the region. Xi has not backed away from China's longstanding claims to Taiwan and most of the South China Sea. But his comments to various leaders at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in Bangkok this week have focused more on Beijing's pivotal economic role for its neighbours. As China's stature has risen, its diplomacy has grown more nuanced than the high-handed approach that has sometimes sparked resentment in the past. Xi Jinping's diplomatic engagements and the supporting chorus of propaganda messages have sought to put forward a softer, smiling facade in what appears to be an effort to reduce friction and tensions, particularly with the U.S. and European countries that have become increasingly critical, frustrated and committed to competing with China, said Drew .

Are countries using visas as weapons to fight diplomatic battles?

While India does seem to be facing the rough end of visa diplomacy, barriers are going up globally

Commercial spat on LNG between Germany, India turns into diplomatic tussle

Diplomats have been called in to try to resolve a disagreement over a cut in supplies of liquefied natural gas to India by a German-state-backed company

Only dialogue and diplomacy can end Russia-Ukraine war: Global statesmen

Only dialogue and diplomacy can end the devastating war in Ukraine, with total victory on the battlefield impossible for either warring party, members of a group of prominent former world leaders founded by Nelson Mandela said Friday. The group, known as The Elders, delivered that message to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, telling him on a visit to Kyiv this summer that he must start considering a way out of the conflict, said group chairwoman Mary Robinson, former Irish president. We need to encourage more thinking about how it will end in order to get the idea that this needs to end, as opposed to increasing the military arsenal on both sides and the devastation to the population in Ukraine, said Robinson, who also served as UN high commissioner for human rights. The Elders have condemned Russia's Feb. 24 invasion of Ukraine as a flagrant violation of the United Nations Charter and a reckless, unjustifiable act of aggression that threatens to destabilise world peace and .

Targeting infrastructure and causing civilian deaths not acceptable: EAM

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Tuesday that targeting infrastructure and causing civilian deaths is not acceptable in any part of the world and emphasised on the need for both sides in the Ukraine conflict to return to the path of diplomacy and dialogue as "this conflict is not helping anybody at all." Jaishankar made the remarks while responding to questions after his address at the Lowy Institute on the growing importance of India's relationship with Australia and the interests that both countries share as members of the security-focused Quad. "We really think that targeting infrastructure and causing civilian deaths is not acceptable in any part of the world," Jaishankar said while responding to a question on Russia's missile strikes targeting key cities across Ukraine on Monday, including the capital Kyiv which is being seen as the most intense attack since the conflict started on February 24. Jaishankar emphasised on the need to return to the path of diplomacy a

India believes dialogue diplomacy the only way out: Jaishankar at UNGA

With the months-long Ukraine conflict raging on, India on Saturday told the UN General Assembly that it is on the side of peace and on the side that calls for dialogue and diplomacy as the only way out. "As the Ukraine conflict continues to rage, we are often asked whose side we are on. And our answer, each time, is straight and honest, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said in his address to the high-level UN General Assembly session here. He underlined that it is in the collective interest of the international community to work constructively, both within the United Nations and outside, in finding an early resolution to this conflict. Delivering the national statement, he said in this conflict India is on the side of peace and will remain firmly there. "We are on the side that respects the UN Charter and its founding principles. We are on the side that calls for dialogue and diplomacy as the only way out, he said. We are on the side of those struggling to make ends meet, ev

UAE to send its envoy to Tehran to 'restore ties' after 6.5 years

The UAE is set to send its ambassador, Saif Mohammed Al Zaabi, to Tehran to restore diplomatic ties with Iran after a huge gap of 6.5 years

India supportive of Sri Lanka, trying to help it, says EAM Jaishankar

Union External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar made it clear that there was "no refugee crisis right now" and that the Indian government has always been supportive of Sri Lanka

Will Australia's climate policy be enough to reboot ties with Indo-Pacific?

Australia Prime minister Anthony Albanese is hoping his government's more ambitious climate policy will help reset Pacific relations when he meets with island leaders next week in Fiji

Antony Blinken to pay condolence to Abe in visit to Japan next week

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken will pay a brief condolence visit to Japan next week following the assassination of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, the State Department said Sunday

China used 'debt trap diplomacy' to gain control over Sri Lanka: Think tank

An independent foreign policy think tank said this Saturday after Sri Lankan PM Ranil Wickremesinghe resigned making way for an all-party cabinet to assume control of the country