International Relations(June 2025)

1: The G7 Outreach & Global Leadership

In mid-June 2025, Prime Minister Modi participated in the 51st G7 Summit held in Kananaskis, Alberta, Canada, as a special invitee.

• Voice of the Global South: PM Modi addressed the Outreach Session on "Energy Security: Diversification, Technology, and Infrastructure." He emphasized that the Global South is the hardest hit by global conflicts and energy instability.
• The AI-Energy Nexus: A key takeaway was India's stance on Artificial Intelligence. The PM noted that AI is highly energy-intensive and called for a global strategy to power AI through Renewable Energy (Solar and Green Hydrogen).
• Firm Stand on Terrorism: Addressing the G7 leaders, India strongly condemned the Pahalgam terror attack (which occurred in May 2025). The PM called for an end to "double standards" in global counter-terrorism efforts, specifically targeting state sponsors.
• Diplomatic Reset: The visit marked a "historic reset" in India-Canada relations. PM Modi held his first formal bilateral meeting with the newly elected Canadian PM Mark Carney, focusing on rebuilding ties through mutual respect and security cooperation.

2: The Three-Nation European & Mediterranean Tour

PM Modi undertook a critical 4-day tour (June 15–19, 2025) to Cyprus, Canada, and Croatia.

• Cyprus (June 15–16):
  • Historical Milestone: First visit by an Indian PM to Cyprus in over 20 years.
  • Strategic Outcome: Signed a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Cyprus reiterated its firm support for India's permanent seat in the UNSC.
  • Maritime Security: Both nations pledged to work together on the UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea) framework in the Mediterranean.
• Croatia (June 18–19):
  • Historic "First": First-ever visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Croatia.
  • Economic Link: Discussions centered on utilizing Croatia’s Rijeka Port as a gateway for Indian goods into Central Europe, potentially linking it to the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC).

3. Regional Cooperation & Bilateral Agreements

1. 4th India-Central Asia Dialogue (New Delhi)

Held on June 6, 2025, chaired by the External Affairs Minister (EAM) with Foreign Ministers of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.

• Chabahar Port: Reaffirmed as the primary gateway for India-Central Asia trade.
• National Currencies: A decision was made to establish a Joint Working Group to explore trading in national currencies to bypass the US Dollar.
• Health Diplomacy: India offered technical support to design Universal Health Coverage (UHC) models for Central Asian partners.

2. SCO Defence Ministers' Meet (Follow-up)

• The Conflict: In early June, India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh famously refused to sign a joint statement at the SCO meet in Qingdao because it omitted a specific mention of cross-border terrorism.
• Impact: This solidified India's reputation for prioritizing "security over diplomacy" within the SCO framework, forcing a re-evaluation of the group's counter-terror commitment.

4: Neighborhood First & South Asia

1. India-Nepal Security & Strategic Dialogue

In June 2025, bilateral ties with Nepal saw high-level institutional engagement across two tracks:

• Security Consultative Group (INBCGSI): The 16th meeting was held in Pune (June 23–24). Discussions focused on military training, joint exercises, and "equipment supplies" to modernize the Nepali Army.
• Strategic Dialogue (Track 2): Held in Kathmandu (June 12). Leaders discussed the "Proximity to Prosperity" model.
  • Key Milestone: Nepal formally appreciated India’s support after the April 2025 Pahalgam attack, which tragically claimed the life of a Nepali citizen.
  • Digital Link: Nepal celebrated the widespread adoption of India's UPI system, marking a successful cross-border fintech integration.

2. India-Maldives Financial Diplomacy

• Treasury Bill Rollover: India demonstrated its "Neighborhood First" commitment by rolling over a $50 million Treasury Bill for the Maldives.
• Significance: This move provided crucial budgetary support to the Maldivian government, helping stabilize their economy amidst regional geopolitical shifts.

3. India-Bangladesh: Post-Transition Friction

• Context: Following the political unrest in 2024, June 2025 was a cooling-off period where India began "cautious rapprochement" with the interim administration.
• Visa Services: India slowly began resuming medical and double-entry visas to ease people-to-people movement, though regular travel visas remained under strict review due to security concerns.

5: Multilateral & Emerging Tech Diplomacy

1. UNSC Non-Permanent Member Elections

On June 3, 2025, the UN General Assembly elected five new non-permanent members for the 2026–2027 term.

• Elected Members: Bahrain, Colombia, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Latvia, and Liberia.
• India’s Role: India supported the candidacy of these nations, particularly Latvia, which was elected for the first time in its history. These nations will join Pakistan, Panama, Greece, Denmark, and Somalia on the council in 2026.

2. India-US Strategic Tech (iCET to TRUST)

• The "TRUST" Initiative: June 2025 marked the transition of the iCET framework into the TRUST (Transforming the Relationship Utilizing Strategic Technology) initiative under the new US administration.
• Semiconductor Fabrication: Progress was recorded on the Compound Semiconductor Fab in India, a joint venture involving the US Space Force, aimed at national security applications (Infrared and Gallium Nitride chips).

3. India-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) — 9th Round

• Status: Negotiations for the India-EU FTA reached the 9th round in June.
• The "Green" Hurdle: Discussions were stuck on the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) and the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), which India argues act as "non-tariff barriers" to its exports like steel and aluminum.