Diplomacy

Birla said the recent elevation of India-France ties to a “Special Global Strategic Partnership,” following President Macron’s visit to India in February 2026, reflects growing mutual trust and expanding cooperation across sectors. He stressed that parliamentary exchanges are an important pillar of the wider strategic relationship and recalled the February 2024 visit to India by French Senate Chairman Gérard Larcher as another important milestone in inter-parliamentary engagement.

Among the key outcomes, former senior diplomat Preeti Saran was re-elected in her personal capacity to the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. India also won seats in the Commission on Science and Technology for Development, the Committee on Non-Governmental Organisations, and the Committee for Programme and Coordination.

According to the official PIB statement, the two sides reviewed the full spectrum of India-Qatar relations, including energy, trade, investment, culture, and broader bilateral cooperation. Qatar’s energy minister said the country looked forward to continuing and strengthening energy relations with India, while both ministers agreed to remain in regular touch in the coming weeks.

Jaishankar said the proposed pact would help reinforce Mauritius’ energy security and argued that the ongoing West Asia crisis has underlined the value of strategic partnerships, especially in the energy sector. The backdrop is important: Reuters has reported that recent regional tensions disrupted shipping and gas supplies linked to the Strait of Hormuz, a chokepoint that normally carries a major share of India’s crude inflows, pushing New Delhi to diversify and secure energy supplies more aggressively.

According to the Ministry of External Affairs, both sides exchanged views on regional and global developments while exploring ways to deepen cooperation between the two neighbours. Jaishankar reiterated India’s desire to engage constructively with the new government in Dhaka and to further strengthen the bilateral relationship.

During the visit, Manohar Lal met Bhutanese Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay, and the two sides reaffirmed their shared commitment to advancing cooperation in clean energy and sustainable development. In a separate meeting with Bhutan’s Energy and Natural Resources Minister, Lyonpo Gem Tshering, discussions centred on strengthening ongoing hydropower ties while also exploring future opportunities in renewable energy and regional electricity trade.

In a social media post after the meeting, Dr. Jaishankar said the consultations reflected India’s historic ties and strong people-to-people connection with Africa. The engagement signals continued efforts to deepen political trust, expand development cooperation, and strengthen business and strategic linkages with African partners

According to official updates, the consignment includes essential relief materials such as food items, medicines and emergency supplies, aimed at addressing immediate humanitarian needs in affected areas. The assistance has been routed through established diplomatic and humanitarian channels to ensure timely delivery to vulnerable communities.