Key events that defined Indian diplomacy in 2025

Ranging from U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs on India and other nations, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to countries in Africa and South America, parliamentary delegations to countries after Operation Sindoor, Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to India, trade deals with the U.K. and Oman, rebuilding diplomatic ties with Canada and building up ties with the Taliban in Afghanistan, several key events defined India’s diplomatic efforts in 2025.

Here is a recap of some of the major events.

When Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto visited India as the chief guest for the Republic Day celebrations, the two countries signed five MoUs in health, traditional medicine, maritime security, digital development and cultural cooperation. They also agreed to enhance cooperation across various sectors such as defence, counter terrorism and space.

The visit also coincided with the 75th year of diplomatic relations between the two countries, with Sukarno, Indonesia’s first President, visiting India as the chief guest for Republic Day in 1950.

Defence deals, extradition of 26/11 accused Tahawwur Rana, weapons sales, and trade, were among the major issues discussed during Mr. Modi’s visit to the U.S. even as Mr. Trump had announced retaliatory tariffs on India and several other countries. The U.S. has, since then, imposed 50% tariffs on India, mainly over India’s import of Russian oil.

During the visit, Mr. Trump offered to sell F-35 fighter jets to India, apart from a 10-year framework for defence partnership. The two countries also agreed to conclude a trade pact by the end of 2025.

Rana was extradited to India in April 2025; the two countries signed the “Framework for the U.S.-India Major Defence Partnership” in October but are yet to agree on a trade deal.

India and the United Kingdom signed the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) that would benefit various Indian sectors such as agriculture, textiles, leather, chemicals and engineering goods.

Tariffs on 92% of the items in U.K.’s exports to India will be removed or reduced and the average tariffs on these will drop to 3% from 15%, the U.K. government had said. Whiskey, items related to aerospace, automobiles and electrical machinery are among items from the U.K. that will find easier access to Indian markets under the deal.

In December 2024, India voted in favour of a resolution in the U.N. General Assembly for a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of all hostages, but in only six months, in June 2025, it abstained from another vote in the UNGA calling for a ceasefire in Gaza, consistent with its policy to not vote on statements critical of Israel.

However, India reassured its support for the Palestinian cause in a debate in the United Nations Security Council a month later, saying the humanitarian crisis in Gaza must stop. It also voted in favour of a resolution at the UNGA in September to endorse the ‘New York Declaration’ on the two-state solution.

India also welcomed Mr. Trump’s 20-point peace deal for Gaza. In December, External Affairs Minister Jaishankar, during a visit to Israel, reiterated India’s support for the peace plan.

Seven delegations, of parliamentarians from many parties, were sent to 33 countries to brief on the Pahalgam terror attack and its links to Pakistan, and Operation Sindoor, conveying its consensus on fighting terrorism.

The delegations conveyed Mr. Modi’s message of the “new normal” in responding to terrorist attacks and having “zero tolerance” towards terrorism. Mr. Modi had also said that India would not tolerate any “nuclear blackmail” while acting against terrorists in Pakistan.

However, the move was met with criticism domestically as the opposition Congress party criticised the Centre for the nominating Shashi Tharoor over other names suggested by the party. The Trinamool Congress and the Shiv Sena (UBT) too initially refused to send their MPs saying they weren’t officially informed but later agreed after Union Minister Kiren Rijiju’s intervention. The Communist Party of India, which was not part of the delegation, said the move was marked by “opacity and exclusion”.

In Ghana, India elevated its bilateral ties to a Comprehensive Partnership and also discussed helping Ghana become a “vaccine hub”. In Trinidad and Tobago, an understanding was reached to improve access to affordable medicines from India. In Argentina, India again pitched its pharma industry while Buenos Aires agreed cooperation on critical minerals and its shale gas and oil reserves.

Mr. Modi visited China in August for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit and a bilateral meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. The Tianjin Declaration, adopted during the summit, condemned terrorism in all its forms, including the Pahalgam terrorist attack.

During their bilateral meeting, Mr. Modi told Mr. Xi that both countries have been “victims” of terrorism and should work together to combat this. He also underlined the importance of peace at border for the continued improvement of relations. They agreed upon cooperation and resolution of border issues, resumed direct flights in October and the resumption of Kailash Mansarovar Yatra in June, as part of improving people-to-people ties.

Mr. Putin’s visit came against the backdrop of a U.S. peace proposal to end the war in Ukraine, western sanctions against Russia and also the tariff tensions on India-U.S. ties. This was Mr. Putin’s first visit since the beginning of the war in Ukraine.

The two countries agreed to deepen their strategic partnership in a meeting of their Defence Ministers. While India called for collaboration in niche technologies, Russia assured to help in India’s drive towards self-reliance in defence production.

The two sides also agreed on establishing a framework for movement of skilled workers to Russia and also to combat “irregular migration” after the meeting between Mr. Putin and Mr. Modi. Several other agreements on health and maritime cooperation were also announced. The leaders also agreed to strengthen the two nations’ “Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership”.

Oman and India signed a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) during Mr. Modi’s visit to the Gulf country.

Under the deal, Oman will provide duty-free access to 99.38% of Indian exports to Oman and India will has offered liberalised tariffs on 94.81% Indian imports from Oman. The deal also includes several concessions that are expected to benefit India’s service sector, including in terms of mobility of workers.

The deal will provide full tariff elimination for several labour-intensive sectors and offers enhanced mobility framework for Indian professionals in some sectors, the Indian government said.

India and New Zealand finished discussions on a FTA, to be signed in 2026, which will give India tariff-free access to the island nation’s markets, bring in $20 billion in investments over 15 years, and double bilateral trade to $5 billion in the next five years.

Under the deal, tariffs will be removed or slashed on 95% of New Zealand’s exports, but no concessions for the import of dairy, onions, sugar, spices, edible oils, and rubber. Indian professionals in skilled sectors will be given temporary employment visas, with an annual quota of 5,000 visas and up to three years of stay.