News articles and essays on the Indian diplomacy at work around the world.
The meeting was co-chaired by Sibi George, Secretary West in India’s Ministry of External Affairs, and Dmitry Lyubinsky, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia. Officials from relevant departments and agencies of both countries also participated, reflecting the strategic importance both sides attach to counter-terrorism coordination.
India reaffirmed that its engagement with Afghanistan remains focused on practical support for ordinary people. Healthcare, food security, education and capacity building continue to be key pillars of this relationship. These sectors directly support Afghanistan’s recovery and strengthen the long-standing people-to-people connection between the two countries.
The meeting also reviewed the security situation along the India-Myanmar border. Both countries reaffirmed the importance of maintaining peace, stability and security in the border areas. They also stressed that sovereign territory should not be used for activities that harm the security interests of the other side.
Commander Oliver Vanek has taken charge as Germany’s first representative at the centre. With his induction, the IFC-IOR now hosts 17 International Liaison Officers from partner countries. The ceremony was attended by Colonel Klaus Willi Merkel, Defence Attaché of Germany to India.
The three Indian antiquities being returned include a sacred Nandi idol from Tamil Nadu, a ceremonial trident associated with Goddess Bhadrakali, and a six-headed Karttikeya or Shanmukha idol. These objects are linked to South Indian temple traditions and carry deep religious, artistic and civilisational value.
PACTS is built on five pillars: supply chain resilience and diversification, critical technology, cybersecurity, digital resilience and defence research collaboration. These pillars show that the two countries are moving beyond traditional diplomatic cooperation into a deeper technology-security partnership. The framework will bring together governments, private companies, universities, research institutions and defence innovation ecosystems.
The statement comes at a time when global energy markets are facing pressure from geopolitical tensions, especially the situation in the Middle East. India and Australia expressed deep concern over the wider consequences of these disruptions, including their impact on energy, resources, commodity supply chains and prices. This makes the statement highly relevant because energy security today is linked with national security, inflation control, industrial stability and maritime trade.
At the centre of the declaration is the shared understanding that the Indo-Pacific is facing a period of geostrategic uncertainty. India and Australia have called for disputes to be resolved peacefully, without coercion or the use of force, and in accordance with international law.
The Maritime Security Collaboration Roadmap further strengthens this security architecture. For two maritime democracies with deep interests in the Indian Ocean and Pacific regions, information sharing, capability development and operational coordination are essential. The roadmap can improve cooperation in maritime domain awareness, naval coordination, coastal security and response to non-traditional threats such as piracy, trafficking, illegal fishing and disasters at sea. It also supports the larger goal of maintaining a free, open and rules-based Indo-Pacific.
The move is also aligned with the vision of the National Education Policy 2020, which encourages leading Indian institutions to build an international presence and offer world-class learning beyond India’s borders. By taking Indian management education to Indonesia, the project will help position India as a trusted knowledge partner in Asia.
