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India, officially the Republic of India, has full diplomatic relations with 201 states, includingPalestine, theHoly See, andNiue.[note 1][1] TheMinistry of External Affairs (MEA) is thegovernment agency responsible for the conduct offoreign relations of India. With the world'sthird largest military expenditure,second largest armed force,fifth largest economy by GDP nominal rates andthird largest economy in terms of purchasing power parity, India is a prominentregional power and apotential superpower.[2][3]
According to the MEA, the main purposes of Indian diplomacy include protecting India's national interests, promoting friendly relations with other states, and providing consular services to "foreigners and Indian nationals abroad."[4] In recent decades, India has pursued an expansive foreign policy, including theneighborhood-first policy embodied bySAARC as well as theLook East policy to forge more extensive economic and strategic relationships with East and Southeast Asian countries. It has also maintained a policy ofstrategic ambiguity, which involves its "no first use" nuclear policy and its neutral stance on theRusso-Ukrainian War.
India is a member of several intergovernmental organizations, such as theUnited Nations, theAsian Development Bank,BRICS, and theG-20, which is widely considered the main economic locus of emerging and developed nations.[5] India exerts a salient influence as the founding member of theNon-Aligned Movement.[6] India has also played an important and influential role in other international organisations, such as theEast Asia Summit,[7]World Trade Organization,[8]International Monetary Fund (IMF),[9]G8+5[10] andIBSA Dialogue Forum.[11] India is also a member of theAsian Infrastructure Investment Bank and theShanghai Cooperation Organisation. As a formerBritish colony, India is a member of theCommonwealth of Nations and continues to maintain relationships with other Commonwealth countries.
India's relations with the world have evolved since theBritish Raj (1857–1947) when theBritish Empire took responsibility for handling external and defence relations. When India gained independence in 1947, few Indians had experience in making or conducting foreign policy. However, the country's oldest political party, theIndian National Congress, had established a small foreign department in 1925 to make overseas contacts and to publicise its independence struggle. From the late 1920s on,Jawaharlal Nehru, who had a long-standing interest in world affairs among independence leaders, formulated the Congress's stance on international issues in tandem withV. K. Krishna Menon; after 1947, they articulated India's worldview as Prime Minister andde facto Foreign Minister.
India's international influence varied over the years after independence. Indian prestige and moral authority were high in the 1950s and facilitated the acquisition of developmental assistance from both East and West. Although the prestige stemmed from India's nonaligned stance, and in particular the position it placed Indian diplomats, like Menon, to mediate or conciliate in others' disputes, the nation was unable to prevent Cold War politics from becoming intertwined with interstate relations in South Asia. On the intensely debated Kashmir issue with Pakistan, India lost credibility by rejecting United Nations' calls for a plebiscite in the disputed area.[12]
In the 1960s and 1970s, India's international position among developed and developing countries faded during wars with China and Pakistan, disputes with other countries in South Asia, and India's attempt to match Pakistan's support from the United States and China by signing theIndo-Soviet Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation in August 1971. Although India obtained substantial Soviet military and economic aid, which helped to strengthen the nation, India's influence was undercut regionally and internationally by the perception that itsfriendship with the Soviet Union prevented a more forthright condemnation of the Soviet presence in Afghanistan. In the late 1980s, India improved relations with the United States, other developed countries, and China while continuing close ties with the Soviet Union. Relations with its South Asian neighbours, especially Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Nepal, occupied much of the energies of the Ministry of External Affairs.[13]
Even before independence, theIndian colonial government maintained semi-autonomous diplomatic relations. It had colonies (such as theAden Settlement), that sent and received full missions.[14] India was a founder member of both theLeague of Nations[15] and the United Nations.[16] After India gained independence from the United Kingdom in 1947, it soon joined theCommonwealth of Nations and strongly supported independence movements in other colonies, like theIndonesian National Revolution.[17] Thepartition and variousterritorial disputes, particularly that overKashmir, would strain itsrelations with Pakistan for years to come. During theCold War, India adopted a foreign policy ofnot aligning itself with any majorpower bloc. However, India developed closeties with the Soviet Union and received extensive military support from it.
The end of the Cold War significantly affected India's foreign policy, as it did for much of the world. The country now seeks to strengthen its diplomatic and economic ties with the United States,[18][19] theEuropean Uniontrading bloc,[20] Japan,[21] Israel,[22] Mexico,[23] and Brazil.[24] India has also forged close ties with the member states of theAssociation of Southeast Asian Nations,[25] theAfrican Union,[26] theArab League[27] and Iran.[28]
Though India continues to have a military relationship with Russia,[29] Israel has emerged as India's second-largest military partner[26] while India has built a strong strategic partnership with the United States.[18][30] Theforeign policy of Narendra Modi indicated a shift towards focusing on the Asian region and, more broadly, trade deals.
India's foreign policy has always regarded the concept of neighbourhood as one of widening concentric circles, around a central axis of historical and cultural commonalities.[31]
As many as 44 million people of Indian origin live and work abroad and constitute an important link with the mother country. An important role of India's foreign policy has been to ensure their welfare and well-being within the framework of the laws of the country where they live.[32]
Jawaharlal Nehru, India's firstPrime Minister, promoted a strong personal role for the Prime Minister. Nehru served concurrently as Prime Minister and Minister of External Affairs; he made all major foreign policy decisions himself after consulting with his advisers and then entrusted the conduct of international affairs to senior members of the Indian Foreign Service. He was the main founding father of the Panchsheel or theFive Principles of Peaceful Co-existence.
His successors continued to exercise considerable control over India's international dealings, although they appointed separate ministers of external affairs.[33][34][35]
India's second prime minister,Lal Bahadur Shastri (1964–66), expanded thePrime Minister's Office (sometimes called the Prime Minister's Secretariat) and enlarged its powers. By the 1970s, the Office of the Prime Minister had become the de facto coordinator and supra-ministry of the Indian government. The enhanced role of the office strengthened the prime minister's control over foreign policymaking at the expense of the Ministry of External Affairs. Advisers in the office provided channels of information and policy recommendations in addition to those offered by the Ministry of External Affairs. A subordinate part of the office—theResearch and Analysis Wing (RAW)—functioned in ways that significantly expanded the information available to the prime minister and his advisers. The RAW gathered intelligence, provided intelligence analysis to the Office of the Prime Minister, and conducted covert operations abroad.
The prime minister's control and reliance on personal advisers in the Office of the Prime Minister was particularly strong under the tenures ofIndira Gandhi (1966–77 and 1980–84) and her son, Rajiv (1984–89), who succeeded her, and weaker during the periods of coalition governments. Observers find it difficult to determine whether the locus of decision-making authority on any issue lies with the Ministry of External Affairs, the Council of Ministers, the Office of the Prime Minister, or the prime minister himself.[36]
ThePrime Minister is however free to appoint advisers and special committees to examine variousforeign policy options and areas of interest.[citation needed] In a recent instance,Manmohan Singh appointedK. Subrahmanyam in 2005 to head a specialgovernment task force to study 'Global Strategic Developments' over the next decade.[37] The Task Force submitted its conclusions to the Prime Minister in 2006.[38][39] The report has not yet been released in thepublic domain.
India's historical inclination towards a "non-aligned" foreign policy has witnessed a shift under Prime MinisterNarendra Modi's leadership since 2014, as New Delhi has displayed a heightened level of "assertiveness" in its international engagements.[40]
TheMinistry of External Affairs is the Indian government'sagency responsible for the foreign relations of India. The Minister of External Affairs holds cabinet rank as a member of theCouncil of Ministers.
Subrahmanyam Jaishankar is the current Minister of External Affairs. The Ministry has aMinister of StateV Muraleedharan. TheIndian Foreign Secretary is the head of theIndian Foreign Service (IFS) and therefore, serves as the head of all Indian (ambassadors) and high commissioners.[41]Vinay Mohan Kwatra is the current Foreign Secretary of India.[42]
In thepost-Cold War era, a significant aspect of India's foreign policy is the Look East Policy. During the cold war, India's relations with its Southeast Asian neighbours were not strong. After the end of the cold war, the government of India particularly realised the importance of redressing this imbalance in India's foreign policy. Consequently, the Narsimha Rao government in the early 1990s unveiled the look east policy. Initially, it focused on renewing political and economic contacts with the countries of East and South-East Asia.
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At present,[when?] under theLook East Policy, the Government of India is giving special emphasis on the economic development of the backward northeastern region of India taking advantage of a huge market of ASEAN as well as of the energy resources available in some of the member countries of ASEAN like Burma.[43] The look-east policy was launched in 1991 just after the end of the cold war, following the dissolution of the Soviet Union. After the start of liberalisation, it was a very strategic policy decision taken by the government in foreign policy. To quote Prime Minister Manmohan Singh "it was also a strategic shift in India's vision of the world and India's place in the evolving global economy".
The policy was given an initial thrust with the then Prime Minister Narasimha Rao visiting China, Japan, South Korea, Vietnam and Singapore and India becoming an important dialogue partner with ASEAN in 1992. Since the beginning of this century, India has given a big push to this policy by becoming a summit-level partner of ASEAN (2002) and getting involved in some regional initiatives such as theBIMSTEC and the Ganga–Mekong Cooperation and now becoming a member of theEast Asia Summit (EAS) in December 2005.[44]
Since the dissolution of the Soviet Union, India has forged a closer partnership with Western powers. In the 1990s, India's economic problems and the demise of the bipolar world political system forced India to reassess its foreign policy and adjust its foreign relations. Previous policies proved inadequate to cope with the serious domestic and international problems facing India. The end of the Cold War gutted the core meaning of nonalignment and left Indian foreign policy without significant direction. The hard, pragmatic considerations of the early 1990s were still viewed within the nonaligned framework of the past, but the disintegration of the Soviet Union removed much of India's international leverage, for which relations with Russia and the other post-Soviet states could not compensate. After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, India improved its relations with the United States, Canada, France, Japan, and Germany. In 1992, India established formal diplomatic relations with Israel and this relationship grew during the tenures of theNational Democratic Alliance (NDA) government and the subsequentUnited Progressive Alliance (UPA) governments.[45]
In the mid-1990s, India attracted the world's attention to Pakistan-backedterrorism in Kashmir. TheKargil War resulted in a major diplomatic victory for India. The United States and European Union recognised the fact that the Pakistani military had illegally infiltrated Indian territory and pressured Pakistan to withdraw from Kargil. Several anti-India militant groups based in Pakistan were labelled asterrorist groups by the United States andEuropean Union.
In 1998, India tested nuclear weapons for the second time (seePokhran-II) which resulted in several US, Japanese and European sanctions on India. India's then defence minister,George Fernandes, said that India'snuclear programme was necessary as it provided a deterrence to potential Chinese nuclear threat. Most of the sanctions imposed on India were removed by 2001.[46]
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AfterSeptember 11 attacks in 2001, Indian intelligence agencies provided the US with significant information onAl-Qaeda and related groups' activities in Pakistan and Afghanistan. India's extensive contribution to theWar on Terror, coupled with a surge in its economy, has helped India's diplomatic relations with several countries. Over the past three years, India has held numerous joint military exercises with US and European nations that have resulted in a strengthened US-India and EU-Indiabilateral relationship. India's bilateral trade with Europe and the United States had more than doubled in the five years since 2003.[47]
India has been pushing for reforms in the UN and WTO with mixed results. India's candidature for a permanent seat at the UN Security Council is currently backed by several countries including France, Russia,[48] the United Kingdom,[49] Germany, Japan, Brazil,[50] Australia[51] and UAE.[52] In 2004, the United States signed anuclear cooperation agreement with India even though the latter is not a part of theNuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. The US argued that India's strong nuclear non-proliferation record made it an exception, however, this has not persuaded otherNuclear Suppliers Group members to sign similar deals with India. During a state visit to India in November 2010, US PresidentBarack Obama announced US support forIndia's bid for permanent membership to UN Security Council[53] as well as India's entry toNuclear Suppliers Group,Wassenaar Arrangement,Australia Group andMissile Technology Control Regime.[54][55] As of January 2018, India has become a member ofWassenaar Arrangement,Australia Group andMissile Technology Control Regime.[56]
India's growing economy, strategic location, a mix of friendly and diplomatic foreign policy andlarge and vibrant diaspora has won it more allies than enemies.[57] India has friendly relations with several countries in thedeveloping world. Though India is not a part of any major military alliance, it has a close strategic and military relationship with most of its fellow major powers.
Countries considered India's closest include theUnited Arab Emirates,[58]Russian Federation,[59]Israel,[60] Afghanistan,[61] France,[62] Bhutan,[63] Bangladesh,[64] and the United States. Russia is the largest supplier of military equipment to India, followed by Israel and France.[65] According to some analysts, Israel is set to overtake Russia as India's largest military and strategic partner.[66] The two countries also collaborate extensively in the sphere of counter-terrorism and space technology.[67] India also enjoys strong military relations with several other countries, including the United Kingdom, the United States,[68] Japan,[69] Singapore, Brazil, South Africa and Italy.[70] In addition, India operates anairbase in Tajikistan,[71] signed a landmark defence accord with Qatar in 2008,[72] and has leased outAssumption Island fromSeychelles to build a naval base in 2015.[73]
India has also forged relationships with developing countries, especially South Africa, Brazil,[74] and Mexico.[75] These countries often represent the interests of developing countries through economic forums such as theG8+5,IBSA andWTO. India was seen as one of the standard bearers of the developing world and claimed to speak for a collection of more than 30 other developing nations at theDoha Development Round.[76][77]Indian Look East policy has helped it develop greater economic and strategic partnerships withSoutheast Asian countries, South Korea, Japan, and Taiwan. India also enjoys friendly relations with thePersian Gulf countries and most members of theAfrican Union.
The Foundation for National Security Research in New Delhi publishedIndia's Strategic Partners: A Comparative Assessment and ranked India's top strategic partners with a score out of 90 points: Russia comes out on top with 62, followed by the United States (58), France (51), UK (41), Germany (37), and Japan (34).[78] One of the outcomes of the2023 G20 summit is a transportation project that would facilitate Indian trade to the Middle East and Europe.[79]
India has signed strategic partnership agreements with nearly three dozen countries/supranational entities listed here in the chronological order of the pacts:
| S.no. | Country | Year of Agreement signed | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  France | 1997 | [80] |
| 2 |  Russia | 2000 | [81] |
| 3 |  Germany | 2001 | [82] |
| 4 |  Mauritius | 2003 | [83] |
| 5 |  Iran | 2003 | [84] |
| 6 |  United Kingdom | 2004 | [85] |
| 7 |  United States | 2004 | [86] |
| 8 |  European Union | 2004 | [87] |
| 9 |  Indonesia | 2005 | [88] |
| 10 |  China | 2005 | [89] |
| 11 |  Brazil | 2006 | [90] |
| 12 |  Vietnam | 2007 | [91] |
| 13 |  Oman | 2008 | [92] |
| 14 |  Kazakhstan | 2009 | [93] |
| 15 |  Australia | 2009 | [94] |
| 16 |  Malaysia | 2010 | [95] |
| 17 |  South Korea | 2010 | [96] |
| 18 |  Saudi Arabia | 2010 | [97] |
| 19 |  Uzbekistan | 2011 | [98] |
| 20 |  Afghanistan | 2011 | [99] |
| 21 |  Tajikistan | 2012 | [100] |
| 22 |  ASEAN | 2012 | [101] |
| 23 |  Japan | 2014 | [102] |
| 24 |  Seychelles | 2014 | [103] |
| 25 |  Mongolia | 2015 | [104] |
| 26 |  Singapore | 2015 | [105] |
| 27 |  United Arab Emirates | 2015 | [106] |
| 28 |  Rwanda | 2017 | [107] |
| 29 |  Israel | 2017 | [108] |
| 30 |  Egypt | 2023 | [109] |
| 31 |  Italy | 2023 | [110] |
| 32 |  Greece | 2023 | [111] |
| 33 |  Poland | 2024 | [112] |
| 34 |  Kuwait | 2024 | [113] |
| 35 |  Qatar | 2025 | [114] |
Currently, India is taking steps towards establishing strategic partnerships withCanada[115] andArgentina.[116] Although India has not signed any formal strategic partnership agreements withBhutan, its foreign ministry often describes relations with Bhutan as 'strategic'.[117]
List of countries which India maintains diplomatic relations with:
 | ||
|---|---|---|
| # | Country | Date[118] |
| 1 | Australia | 1 November 1943[119] |
| 2 |  Canada | 6 April 1945[120] |
| 3 |  United States | 1 November 1946[121] |
| 4 | United Kingdom | November 1946[122] |
| 5 | Italy | 2 March 1947[123] |
| 6 | Russia | 14 April 1947[124] |
| 7 |  Netherlands | 17 April 1947[125] |
| 8 |  Nepal | 13 June 1947[126] |
| 9 |  Thailand | 1 August 1947[127] |
| 10 | France | 15 August 1947[128] |
| 11 |  Norway | 15 August 1947[129] |
| 12 |  Pakistan | 15 August 1947[130] |
| 13 | Saudi Arabia | 15 August 1947[131] |
| 14 |  Turkey | 15 August 1947[132] |
| 15 | Egypt | 18 August 1947 |
| 16 |  Belgium | 20 September 1947[133] |
| 17 |  Czech Republic | 18 November 1947[134] |
| 18 | Afghanistan | 10 December 1947[135] |
| 19 |  Iraq | 1947[136] |
| 20 |  Myanmar | 4 January 1948[137] |
| 21 | Brazil | 6 April 1948[138] |
| — |  Holy See | 12 June 1948[139] |
| 22 |  Sweden | 22 June 1948[140] |
| 23 |  Ethiopia | 1 July 1948[141] |
| 24 |  Luxembourg | 1 July 1948[142] |
| 25 |  Switzerland | 14 August 1948 |
| 26 |  Lebanon | 15 September 1948[143] |
| 27 |  Sri Lanka | 11 October 1948[144] |
| 28 |  Hungary | 18 November 1948[145] |
| 29 |  Serbia | 5 December 1948[146] |
| 30 |  Romania | 14 December 1948[147] |
| 31 |  Ireland | 10 January 1949[148] |
| 32 |  Argentina | 3 February 1949[149] |
| 33 |  Chile | March 1949[150] |
| 34 | Indonesia | 16 April 1949[151] |
| 35 |  Portugal | 22 June 1949[152] |
| 36 |  Finland | 10 September 1949[153] |
| 37 |  Denmark | September 1949 |
| 38 |  Austria | 10 November 1949[154] |
| 39 |  Philippines | 26 November 1949 |
| 40 |  Jordan | 27 January 1950[155] |
| 41 | Iran | 15 March 1950 |
| 42 | China | 1 April 1950 |
| 43 |  Syria | May 1950[156] |
| 44 |  Mexico | 1 August 1950[157] |
| 45 | Germany | 7 March 1951[158] |
| 46 |  New Zealand | 7 April 1952[159] |
| 47 | Japan | 28 April 1952 |
| 48 |  Cambodia | 30 May 1952[160] |
| 49 |  Libya | 20 July 1952[161] |
| 50 | Poland | 30 March 1954[162] |
| 51 |  Bulgaria | 22 December 1954[163] |
| 52 | Mongolia | 24 December 1955[164] |
| 53 |  Laos | 2 February 1956[165] |
| 54 |  Albania | 3 March 1956[166] |
| 55 |  Sudan | 7 May 1956[167] |
| 56 | Greece | 14 May 1956[168] |
| 57 |  Spain | 7 November 1956[169] |
| 58 |  Morocco | 14 January 1957[170] |
| 59 |  Ghana | 6 March 1957[171] |
| 60 |  Malaysia | 8 October 1957[172] |
| 61 |  Tunisia | 2 April 1958[173] |
| 62 |  Bolivia | 1958[174] |
| 63 |  Colombia | 19 January 1959 |
| 64 |  Venezuela | 1 November 1959[175] |
| 65 |  Cuba | 12 January 1960[176] |
| 66 |  Madagascar | 25 June 1960[177] |
| 67 |  Uruguay | 27 June 1960[178] |
| 68 |  Liberia | 7 July 1960[179] |
| 69 |  Guinea | 8 July 1960[179] |
| 70 |  Democratic Republic of the Congo | August 1960[180] |
| 71 |  Nigeria | 1 October 1960[181][182] |
| 72 |  Somalia | 10 March 1961[183] |
| 73 |  Senegal | 2 April 1961[184] |
| 74 |  Sierra Leone | 28 April 1961[185] |
| 75 |  Paraguay | 13 September 1961[186] |
| 76 |  Ivory Coast | 5 November 1961[187] |
| 77 |  Tanzania | 9 December 1961[188] |
| 78 |  Mali | 24 January 1962[189] |
| 79 |  Cyprus | 10 February 1962 |
| 80 |  Yemen | 15 March 1962[190] |
| 81 |  Burkina Faso | 23 March 1962[191] |
| 82 | Kuwait | 26 March 1962[192] |
| 83 |  Panama | 1 July 1962[193] |
| 84 |  Algeria | July 1962 |
| 85 |  Jamaica | 12 August 1962[194] |
| 86 |  Togo | 31 August 1962[195] |
| 87 |  Trinidad and Tobago | 31 August 1962[196] |
| 88 |  Uganda | 9 October 1962[197] |
| 89 |  Peru | 25 March 1963[198] |
| 90 |  Cameroon | 4 April 1963[199] |
| 91 |  Benin | 25 June 1963[200] |
| 92 |  Kenya | 14 December 1963[201] |
| 93 |  Malawi | 19 October 1964[202] |
| 94 |  Malta | 10 March 1965[203] |
| 95 |  Zambia | April 1965[204] |
| 96 |  Gambia | 25 June 1965[205] |
| 97 | Singapore | 24 August 1965[206] |
| 98 |  Mauritania | 22 October 1965[207] |
| 99 |  Maldives | 1 November 1965[208] |
| 100 |  Guyana | 26 May 1966 |
| 101 |  Gabon | 16 July 1966[209] |
| 102 |  Barbados | 30 November 1966[210] |
| 103 |  Republic of the Congo | 26 August 1967[211] |
| 104 |  Burundi | 1967[212] |
| 105 | Rwanda | 1967[213] |
| 106 |  Bhutan | 14 January 1968[214] |
| 107 | Mauritius | 12 March 1968[215] |
| 108 |  Costa Rica | 1968[216] |
| 109 |  Equatorial Guinea | 1968 |
| 110 |  Ecuador | November 1969[217] |
| 111 |  Samoa | June 1970 |
| 112 |  Fiji | 10 October 1970[218] |
| 113 |  Tonga | 23 December 1970[219] |
| 114 |  Lesotho | 8 June 1971[220] |
| 115 | Oman | 25 July 1971[221] |
| 116 |  Bahrain | 12 October 1971[222] |
| 117 |  Eswatini | 5 November 1971[223] |
| 118 |  Bangladesh | 6 December 1971[224][225] |
| 119 | United Arab Emirates | 6 January 1972[226] |
| 120 | Vietnam | 7 January 1972 |
| 121 | Qatar | 12 April 1972[227] |
| 122 |  Iceland | 11 May 1972[228] |
| 123 |  Guatemala | 16 May 1972 |
| 124 |  Nicaragua | 25 October 1972[229] |
| 125 |  Botswana | 5 December 1972[230] |
| 126 |  North Korea | 10 December 1973 |
| 127 | South Korea | 10 December 1973 |
| 128 |  Guinea-Bissau | 8 September 1974[231] |
| 129 |  Mozambique | 25 June 1975[232] |
| 130 |  Nauru | 12 September 1975[233] |
| 131 |  Grenada | 1 October 1975[234] |
| 132 |  Bahamas | 16 October 1975[235] |
| 133 |  Chad | 18 October 1975[236] |
| 134 |  São Tomé and Príncipe | 1975 |
| 135 |  Suriname | 23 January 1976[237] |
| 136 |  Papua New Guinea | 19 May 1976[238] |
| 137 |  Central African Republic | 7 June 1976[239] |
| 138 | Seychelles | 29 June 1976[240] |
| 139 |  Comoros | June 1976 |
| 140 |  Cape Verde | 6 June 1977[241] |
| 141 |  Niger | 18 July 1977[242] |
| 142 |  El Salvador | 12 February 1979[243] |
| 143 |  Angola | 2 June 1979[244] |
| 144 |  Zimbabwe | 18 April 1980[245] |
| 145 |  Dominica | 8 January 1981[246] |
| 146 |  Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | 20 April 1981[247] |
| 147 |  Djibouti | 7 December 1981[248] |
| 148 |  Saint Lucia | 8 February 1982[249] |
| 149 |  Antigua and Barbuda | 2 April 1982[250] |
| 150 |  Vanuatu | 13 April 1982[251] |
| 151 |  Belize | 28 March 1983 |
| 152 |  Saint Kitts and Nevis | 22 December 1983[252] |
| 153 |  Brunei | 10 May 1984 |
| 154 |  Kiribati | 7 August 1985[253] |
| — |  Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (cancelled) | 1985[254] |
| 155 |  Tuvalu | 13 August 1986[255] |
| 156 |  Solomon Islands | 1 May 1987[256] |
| — |  State of Palestine | 16 November 1989[257] |
| 157 |  Namibia | 21 March 1990[258] |
| 158 |  Estonia | 2 December 1991[259] |
| 159 |  Latvia | 20 December 1991 |
| 160 |  Ukraine | 17 January 1992[260] |
| 161 | Israel | 21 January 1992[261] |
| 162 | Kazakhstan | 22 February 1992 |
| 163 |  Lithuania | 25 February 1992 |
| 164 |  Azerbaijan | 28 February 1992[262] |
| 165 |  Kyrgyzstan | 18 March 1992 |
| 166 | Uzbekistan | 18 March 1992 |
| 167 |  Moldova | 20 March 1992 |
| 168 |  Belarus | 17 April 1992[263] |
| 169 |  Turkmenistan | 20 April 1992[264] |
| 170 |  Slovenia | 18 May 1992[265] |
| 171 |  Croatia | 9 July 1992 |
| 172 |  Bosnia and Herzegovina | 10 August 1992[266] |
| 173 | Tajikistan | 28 August 1992 |
| 174 |  Armenia | 31 August 1992 |
| 175 |  Georgia | 28 September 1992 |
| 176 |  Slovakia | 1 January 1993[267] |
| 177 |  Liechtenstein | 6 April 1993[268] |
| 178 |  Eritrea | 17 September 1993[269] |
| 179 |  South Africa | 22 November 1993 |
| 180 |  Honduras | 28 September 1994[270] |
| 181 |  Andorra | 22 November 1994[271] |
| 182 |  Palau | 10 April 1995[272] |
| 183 |  North Macedonia | 9 February 1995[273] |
| 184 |  Haiti | 27 September 1996 |
| 185 |  Federated States of Micronesia | 29 November 1996[274] |
| 186 |  Marshall Islands | 2 February 1997[275] |
| — |  Cook Islands | May 1998[276][277] |
| 187 |  Dominican Republic | 4 May 1999[278] |
| 188 |  Timor-Leste | 24 January 2003 |
| 189 |  Montenegro | 2 August 2006 |
| 190 |  Monaco | 21 September 2007 |
| 191 |  San Marino | 26 September 2011[279] |
| 192 |  South Sudan | 13 March 2012[280] |
| — |  Niue | 30 August 2012[281] |
Burkina Faso
Both countries established diplomatic relations on 24 March 1962[282]
Both countries established diplomatic relations on 18 October 1975[236]
Both countries established diplomatic relations on 26 August 1967.[287]
Djibouti
Both countries established diplomatic relations on 7 December 1981[288]
Both countries established diplomatic relations on 1 July 1948.[289]
India and Ethiopia have warm bilateral ties based on mutual cooperation and support. India has been a partner in Ethiopia's developmental efforts, training Ethiopian personnel under itsITEC programmer, providing it with severallines of credit and launching thePan-African e-Network project there in 2007. The SecondIndia–Africa Forum Summit was held inAddis Ababa in 2011. India is also Ethiopia's second-largest source offoreign direct investments.
Both countries established diplomatic relations on 18 August 1947.[290]
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Modern Egypt-India relations go back to the contacts betweenSaad Zaghloul andMohandas Gandhi on the common goals of their respective movements of independence.[291] In 1955, Egypt underGamal Abdul Nasser and India underJawaharlal Nehru became the founders of theNon-Aligned Movement. During the 1956 War, Nehru stood supporting Egypt to the point of threatening to withdraw his country from theCommonwealth of Nations. In 1967, following theArab–Israeli conflict, India supported Egypt and the Arabs. In 1977, New Delhi described the visit of PresidentAnwar al-Sadat to Jerusalem as a "brave" move and considered the peace treaty between Egypt and Israel a primary step on the path of a just settlement of the Middle East problem. Major Egyptian exports to India include raw cotton, raw and manufactured fertilisers, oil and oil products, organic and non-organic chemicals, and leather and iron products. Major imports into Egypt from India are cotton yarn, sesame, coffee, herbs, tobacco, lentils, pharmaceutical products and transport equipment. The Egyptian Ministry of Petroleum is also currently negotiating the establishment of a natural gas-operated fertiliser plant with another Indian company. In 2004 theGas Authority of India Limited bought 15% of Egypt's Nat Gas distribution and marketing company. In 2008 Egyptian investment in India was worth some 750 million dollars, according to the Egyptian ambassador.[292] After theArab Spring of 2011, with ousting of Hosni Mubarak, Egypt asked for the help of India in conducting nationwide elections.[citation needed]
Gabon maintains an embassy in New Delhi. The Embassy of India inKinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo is jointly accredited to Gabon.[293]
Both countries established diplomatic relations on 6 March 1957.[294]
Relations betweenGhana and India are generally close and cordial mixed with economic and cultural connections. Trade between India and Ghana amounted to US$818 million in 2010–11 and is expected to be worth US$1 billion by 2013.[295] Ghana imports automobiles and buses from India and companies likeTata Motors andAshok Leyland have a significant presence in the country.[296][297] Ghanaian exports to India consist ofgold,cocoa and timber while Indian exports to Ghana comprisepharmaceuticals, agricultural machinery, electrical equipment, plastics, steel and cement.[298]
The Government of India has extended $228 million inlines of credit to Ghana which has been used for projects in sectors like agro-processing, fish processing, waste management, rural electrification and the expansion of Ghana's railways.[299] India has also offered to set up an India-Africa Institute of Information Technology (IAIIT) and a Food Processing Business Incubation Centre in Ghana under theIndia–Africa Forum Summit.[298]
India is among the largest foreign investors inGhana's economy. At the end of 2011, Indian investments in Ghana amounted to $550 million covering some 548 projects.[299] Indian investments are primarily in the agriculture and manufacturing sectors of Ghana while Ghanaian companies manufacture drugs in collaboration with Indian companies. The IT sector in Ghana too has a significant Indian presence in it. India and Ghana also have a Bilateral Investment Protection Agreement between them.[300] India'sRashtriya Chemicals and Fertilisers is in the process of setting up a fertiliser plant in Ghana at Nyankrom in theShama District of theWestern Region of Ghana. The project entails an investment of US$1.3 billion and the plant would have an annual production capacity of 1.1 million tones, the bulk of which would be exported to India.[301][302] There are also plans to develop a sugar processing plant entailing an investment of US$36 million.[303]Bank of Baroda,Bharti Airtel,Tata Motors andTech Mahindra are amongst the major Indian companies in Ghana.[304]
There are about seven to eight thousand Indians andPersons of Indian Origin living in Ghana today with some of them having been there for over 70 years.[298] Ghana is home to a growingindigenous Hindu population that today numbers 3000 families.Hinduism first came to Ghana only in the late 1940s with theSindhi traders who migrated here followingIndia's Partition. It has been growing in Ghana and neighbouring Togo since the mid-1970s when an African Hindu monastery was established in Accra.[305][306]
Guinea
Both countries established diplomatic relations on 8 July 1960.[179]
The bilateral relations between India andIvory Coast have expanded considerably in recent years as India seeks to develop an extensive commercial and strategic partnership in theWest African region. The Indian diplomatic mission inAbidjan was opened in 1979. Ivory Coast opened its resident mission in New Delhi in September 2004.[307] Both nations are currently fostering efforts to increase trade, investments and economic cooperation.[308]
Both countries established diplomatic relations on 14 December 1963[309]
As littoral states of the Indian Ocean, trade links and commercial ties between India and Kenya go back several centuries. Kenya hasa large minority of Indians andPersons of Indian Origin living there who are descendants of labourers who were brought in by the British to construct theUganda Railway andGujarati merchants.[310] India and Kenya have growing trade and commercial ties. Bilateral trade amounted to $2.4 billion in 2010–2011 but with Kenyan imports from India accounting for $2.3 billion, thebalance of trade was heavily in India's favour. India is Kenya's sixth-largest trading partner and the largest exporter to Kenya. Indian exports to Kenya includepharmaceuticals,steel, machinery andautomobiles while Kenyan exports to India are primary commodities such assoda ash, vegetables andtea. Indian companies have a significant presence in Kenya with Indian corporates like theTata Group,Essar Group,Reliance Industries andBharti Airtel operating there.
Both countries established diplomatic relations on 8 June 1971.[311]
India operates a High Commission in Pretoria which serves Lesotho and Lesotho operates a residential mission in India. Lesotho and India have strong ties. Lesotho has backed India's bid for aPermanent UN seat and has also recognized Jammu and Kashmir as a part of India. India exported US$11 Million to Lesotho in the 2010–2011 year while only importing US$1 Million in goods from Lesotho. Since 2001, an Indian Army Training Team has trained several soldiers in theLDF.
Both countries established diplomatic relations on 7 July 1960.[312]
The bilateral relations between the Republic of India and the Republic of Liberia have expanded on growing bilateral trade and strategic cooperation. India is represented in Liberia through its embassy inAbidjan (Ivory Coast) and an active honorary consulate inMonrovia since 1984. Liberia was represented in India through its resident mission in New Delhi which subsequently closed due to budgetary constraints.[313]
Both countries established diplomatic relations on 20 July 1952.[314]
Malawi
Both countries established diplomatic relations on 19 October 1964.[202]
Mali
Both countries established diplomatic relations on 24 January 1962.[315]
Both countries established diplomatic relations on 22 October 1965.[316]
India is represented in Mauritania by its embassy inBamako,Mali.[317][318] India also has an honorary consulate inNouakchott.[319]
Both countries established diplomatic relations on 12 March 1968.[320]
The relations between India and Mauritius existed since 1730, diplomatic relations were established in 1948 before Mauritius became an independent state.[321] The relationship is very cordial due to cultural affinities and long historical ties that exist between the two nations. More than 68% of the Mauritian population are ofIndian origin, most known asIndo-Mauritian. The economic and commercial corporation has been increasing over the years. India has become Mauritius' largest source of imports since 2007 and Mauritius imported US$816 million worth of goods in the April 2010 – March 2011 financial year. Mauritius has remained the largest source ofFDI for India for more than a decade with FDI equity inflows totalling US$55.2 billion in the period April 2000 to April 2011. India and Mauritius co-operate in combating piracy which has emerged as a major threat in theIndian Ocean region and support India's stand against terrorism.[322]
The relationship between Mauritius and India date back to the early 1730s, when artisans were brought fromPuducherry andTamil Nadu.[321] Diplomatic relations between India and Mauritius were established in 1948. Mauritius maintained contacts with India through successive Dutch, French and British rule. From the 1820s, Indian workers started coming to Mauritius to work on sugar plantations. From 1833 when slavery was abolished byParliament, large numbers of Indian workers began to be brought into Mauritius asindentured labourers. On 2 November 1834, the ship named 'Atlas' docked in Mauritius carrying the first batch of Indian indentured labourers.
Morocco has an embassy inNew Delhi. It also has an Honorary Consul based inMumbai. India operates an embassy inRabat. Both nations are part of theNon-Aligned Movement.[323]
In the United Nations, India supported the decolonisation of Morocco and the Moroccan freedom movement. India recognised Morocco on 20 June 1956 and established relations in 1957.[324] The Ministry of External Affairs of theGovernment of India states that "India and Morocco have enjoyed cordial and friendly relations and over the years bilateral relations have witnessed significant depth and growth."[325]
TheIndian Council for Cultural Relations promotes Indian culture in Morocco.[326] Morocco seeks to increase its trade ties with India and is seeking Indian investment in various sectors[327] The bilateral relations between India and Morocco strengthened after the Moroccan Ambassador to India spent a week inSrinagar, the capital city ofJammu and Kashmir. This showed Moroccan solidarity with India regarding Kashmir.[327]
Both countries established diplomatic relations on 25 June 1975.[328]
India has ahigh commissioner inMaputo[329] and Mozambique has a high commissioner inNew Delhi.
Relations between India and Namibia are warm and cordial.[330]
India was one ofSWAPO's earliest supporters during theNamibian liberation movement. The first SWAPO embassy was established in India in 1986. India's observer mission was converted to a fullHigh Commissioner on Namibia's Independence Day of 21 March 1990.[330] India has helped train theNamibian Air Force since its creation in 1995. The two countries work closely in mutual multilateral organisations such as theUnited Nations, theNon-Aligned Movement and theCommonwealth of Nations. Namibia supports theexpansion of theUnited Nations Security Council to include a permanent seat for India.[330]
In 2008–09, trade between the two countries stood at approximately US$80 million. Namibia's main imports from India were drugs and pharmaceuticals, chemicals, agricultural machinery, automobile and automobile parts, glass and glassware, and plastic and linoleum products. India primarily imported nonferrous metals, ores, and metal scraps. Indian products are also exported to neighbouring South Africa and re-imported to Namibia as South African imports. Namibian diamonds are often exported to European diamond markets before being again imported to India. In 2009, the first direct sale of Namibian diamonds to India took place.[330] In 2008, two Indian companies won a US$105 million contract fromNamPower to lay ahigh-voltage direct current bi-polar line fromKatima Mulilo toOtjiwarongo.[330] Namibia is a beneficiary of theIndian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) programme for telecommunications professionals from developing countries.
India has ahigh commissioner inWindhoek[331] and Namibia has a high commissioner inNew Delhi. Namibia's high commissioner is also accredited for Bangladesh, the Maldives and Sri Lanka.[332]
Both countries established diplomatic relations on 18 July 1977.[242]
India has close relations with this oil-rich West African country. Twenty percent of India's crude oil needs are met, by Nigeria. 40,000 barrels per day (6,400 m3/d) of oil, is the amount of oil, that India receives from Nigeria. Trade, between these two countries stands at $875 million in 2005–2006. Indian companies have also invested in manufacturing,pharmaceuticals, iron ore, steel, information technology, and communications, amongst other things. Both India and Nigeria, are members of theCommonwealth of Nations,G-77, and theNon-Aligned Movement. Former Nigerian President,Olusegun Obasanjo was the guest of honour, at theRepublic Day parade, in 1999, and the Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh visited Nigeria in 2007 and addressed the Nigerian Parliament.
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Indo-Rwandan relations are the foreign relations between theRepublic of India and theRepublic of Rwanda. India is represented in Rwanda through its honorary consulate inKigali. Rwanda has been operating itsEmbassy inNew Delhi since 1998 and appointed its first resident Ambassador in 2001.[333]
India–Seychelles relations are bilateral relations between theRepublic of India and theRepublic of Seychelles. India has aHigh Commission inVictoria while Seychelles maintains a High Commission inNew Delhi.[334]
India and South Africa, have always had strong relations even though India revoked diplomatic relations in protest of the apartheid regime in the mid-20th century. The history of British rule connects both lands. There is a large group ofIndian South Africans.Mahatma Gandhi, spent many years in South Africa, during which time, he fought for the rights of the ethnic Indians.Nelson Mandela was inspired by Gandhi. After India's independence, India strongly condemnedapartheid and refused diplomatic relations while apartheid was conducted as state policy in South Africa.
The two countries, now have close economic, political, and sports relations. Trade between the two countries grew from $3 million in 1992–1993 to $4 billion in 2005–2006, and aim to reach trade of $12 billion by 2010. One-third of India's imports from South Africa isgold bar. Diamonds, that are mined from South Africa, are polished in India. Nelson Mandela was awarded theGandhi Peace Prize. The two countries are also members of theIBSA Dialogue Forum, with Brazil. India hopes to get large amounts ofuranium, from resource-rich South Africa, for India's growing civilian nuclear energy sector.
India recognised South Sudan on 10 July 2011, a day after South Sudan became an independent state. Right now, relations are economic. Pramit Pal Chaudhuri wrote in theHindustan Times that South Sudan "has other[clarification needed] attractions. As the Indian Foreign Ministry's literature notes, South Sudan is reported to have "some of the largest oil reserves in Africa outside Nigeria and Angola".[335] An article inThe Telegraph reported that South Sudan is "one of the poorest [countries] in the world, [but] is oil rich. Foreign ministry officials said New Delhi has [a] keen interest in increasing its investments in the oil fields in South Sudan, which now owns over two-thirds of erstwhile united Sudan's oil fields."[336]
In return for the oil resources that can be provided by South Sudan, India said it was willing to assist in developing infrastructure, training officials in health, education, and rural development. "We have compiled a definite road map using [sic] which India can help South Sudan."[336]
Both countries established diplomatic relations on 7 May 1956.[337]
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Indo-Sudanese relations have always been characterised as longstanding, close, and friendly, even since the early development stages of their countries. At the time of Indian independence, Sudan had contributed 70,000 pounds, which was used to build part of the National Defence Academy in Pune. The main building of NDA is called Sudan Block. The two nations established diplomatic relations shortly after India became known as one of the first Asian countries to recognise the newly independent African country. India and Sudan also share geographic and historical similarities, as well as economic interests. Both countries areformer British colonies, and remotely border Saudi Arabia using a body of water. India and Sudan continue to have cordial relations, despite issues such asIndia's close relationship with Israel, India's solidarity with Egypt over border issues with Sudan, and Sudan's intimate bonds with Pakistan and Bangladesh. India had also contributed some troops as United Nations peacekeeping force inDarfur.
Both countries established diplomatic relations on 31 August 1962.[195]
Togo opened its embassy in New Delhi in October 2010. The High Commission of India in Accra, Ghana is concurrently accredited to Togo. Togolese PresidentGnassingbé Eyadéma made an official state visit to India in September 1994. During the visit, the two countries agreed to establish Joint Commission.[338]
Both countries established diplomatic relations on 9 October 1962.[339]
India and Uganda establisheddiplomatic relations in 1965 and each maintains aHigh Commissioner in the other's capital. The Indian High Commission inKampala has concurrent accreditation to Burundi and Rwanda. Uganda hosts a large Indian community and India–Uganda relations cover a broad range of sectors including political, economic, commercial, cultural, and scientific cooperation.[340]
Relations between India and Uganda began with the arrival of over 30,000 Indians in Uganda in the 19th century who were brought there to construct theMombasa–Kampala railway line. Ugandan independence activists were inspired in their struggle for Ugandan independence by the success of theIndian independence movement and were also supported in their struggle by thePrime Minister of IndiaJawaharlal Nehru.[341][342]Indo-Ugandan relations have been good since Uganda's independence except during the regime ofIdi Amin. Amin in 1972expelled over 55,000people of Indian origin and 5,000 Indians who had formed the commercial andeconomic backbone of the country accusing them of exploiting native Ugandans.[342][343] Since the mid-1980s whenPresidentYoweri Museveni came to power, relations have steadily improved. Today some 20,000 Indians and PIOs live or work in Uganda.[342] Ethnic tensions between Indians and Ugandans have been a recurring issue in bilateral relations given the role of Indians in the Ugandan economy.[344][345]
As of the year 2011, India's total trade with Africa is over US$46 billion and its total investment is over US$11 billion with a US$5.7 billion line of credit for executing various projects in Africa.[346]
India has had good relationships with most sub-Saharan African nations for most of its history. In the Prime Minister's visit to Mauritius in 1997, the two countries secured a deal to new Credit Agreement ofINR 105 million (US$3 million) to finance the import by Mauritius of capital goods, consultancy services and consumer durable from India. The government of India secured a rice and medicine agreement with the people of Seychelles. India continued to build upon its historically close relations with Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania. Visits from political ministers from Ethiopia provided opportunities for strengthening bilateral cooperation between the two countries in the fields of education and technical training, water resources management and development of small industries. This has allowed India to gain benefits from nations that are forgotten by other Western Nations. The South African President,Thabo Mbeki has called for a strategic relationship between India and South Africa to avoid imposition by Western Nations. India continued to build upon its close and friendly relations with Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Swaziland, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. The Minister of Foreign Affairs arranged for the sending of Special Envoys to each of these countries during 1996–97 as a reaffirmation of India's assurance to strengthening cooperation with these countries in a spirit of South-South partnership. These relations have created a position of strength with African nations that other nations may not possess.[347]
India's commonalities with developing nations in Latin America, especially Brazil and Mexico have continued to grow. India and Brazil continue to work together on thereform of the Security Council through theG4 nations while having also increased strategic and economic cooperation through theIBSA Dialogue Forum. The process of finalizing aPreferential Trade Agreement (PTA) withMERCOSUR (Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay) is on the itinerary and negotiations are being held with Chile.[348] Brazilian PresidentLuiz Inácio Lula da Silva was the guest of honor at the 2004Republic Day celebrations in New Delhi.[349]
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Both countries have established diplomatic relations and have an Extradition Arrangement.[350][351]
India and Barbados established diplomatic relations on 30 November 1966 (the date of Barbados' national independence).[352] On that date, the government of India gifted Barbados the throne in Barbados' nationalHouse of Assembly.[353] India is represented in Barbados through its embassy in Suriname[354][355][356] and an Indian consulate inHoletown,St. James.[357] In 2011–12 the Indian-based firm Era's Lucknow Medical College and Hospital, established the American University of Barbados (AUB), as the island's first Medical School for international students. In 2015 the governments of Barbados and India signed a joint Open Skies Agreement.[358] Today around 3,000 persons from India call Barbados home. Two-thirds are from India's Surat district of Gujarat known as Suratis. Most of the Suratis are involved in trading. The rest are of Sindhis ancestry.
India has an Honorary Consulate inBelize City and Belize has an Honorary Consulate inNew Delhi. Bilateral trade stood at US$45.3 Million in 2014 and has steadily increased since.Belize and India have engaged in dialogue inCentral American Integration System (SICA) discussing anti-terrorism, climate change and food security. India signed aTax Information Exchange Agreement in 2013 with Belize. India also provides Belize with US$30 Million as part of its foreign aid commitment to SICA countries. Citizens of Belize are eligible for scholarships in Indian universities underIndian Technical and Economic Cooperation Programme and theIndian Council for Cultural Relations.
The two nations share a close cultural link due to Belize's large East Indian Population, estimated at 4% of the total population.
Indo-Canadian relations are the longstanding bilateral relations between India and Canada, which are built upon a "mutual commitment to democracy", "pluralism", and "people-to-people links", according to the government of Canada. In 2004, bilateral trade between India and Canada was at about C$2.45 billion. However, the botched handling of theAir India investigation and the case, in general, suffered a setback to Indo-Canadian relations. India's Smiling Buddha nuclear test led to connections between the two countries being frozen, with allegations that India broke the terms of theColombo Plan. AlthoughJean Chrétien andRoméo LeBlanc both visited India in the late 1990s, relations were again halted after the Pokhran-II tests.
Canada-India relations have been on an upward trajectory since 2005. Governments at all levels, private-sector organisations, academic institutes in two countries, and people-to-people contacts—especially diaspora networks—have contributed through individual and concerted efforts to significant improvements in the bilateral relationship.
The two governments have agreed on important policy frameworks to advance the bilateral relationship. In particular, the Nuclear Cooperation Agreement (signed in June 2010) and the current successful negotiations of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) constitute a watershed in Canada-India relations.
The two governments have attempted to make up for lost time and are eager to complete CEPA negotiations by 2013 and ensure its ratification by 2014. After the conclusion of CEPA, Canada and India must define the areas for their partnership which will depend on their ability to convert common interests into common action and respond effectively for steady cooperation. For example, during "pull-aside" meetings between Prime MinisterManmohan Singh andStephen Harper at the G-20 summit in Mexico in June 2012, and an earlier meeting in Toronto between External Affairs Minister S. M. Krishna and John Baird, the leaders discussed developing a more comprehensive partnership going beyond food security and including the possibility of tie-ups in the energy sector, hydrocarbon.
Relations between India and Cuba are close and warm. Both nations are part of theNon-Aligned Movement. Cuba has repeatedly called for a more "democratic" representation of the United Nations Security Council and supports India's candidacy as a permanent member of a reformed Security Council.[359]Fidel Castro said that "The maturity of India..., its unconditional adherence to the principles which lay at the foundation of the Non-Aligned Movement give us the assurances that under the wise leadership ofIndira Gandhi (the formerPrime Minister of India), the non-aligned countries will continue advancing in their inalienable role as a bastion for peace, national independence and development..."[360]
India has an embassy in Havana, the capital of Cuba which opened in January 1960. This had particular significance as it symbolised Indian solidarity with the Cuban revolution.[361] India had been one of the first countries in the world to have recognised the new Cuban government after theCuban Revolution.[362]
Cuba has an embassy inNew Delhi, the Indian capital.[363]
Relations between India and Jamaica are generally cordial and close. There are many cultural and political connections inherited from British colonial rule, such as membership in theCommonwealth of Nations, parliamentary democracy, the English language and cricket.[364][365]
Both nations are members of theNon-Aligned Movement, theUnited Nations and theCommonwealth, and Jamaica supports India's candidacy for permanent membership in a reformed UN Security Council.
During the British era, Indians voluntarily went to jobs in Jamaica and the West Indies. This has created a considerable population of people of Indian origin in Jamaica. India has aHigh Commission in Kingston,[364] whilst Jamaica has a consulate in New Delhi[366] and plans to upgrade it to a High Commission soon.
Mexico is a very important and major economic partner of India. Nobel Prize laureate and ambassador to IndiaOctavio Paz wrote his bookIn Light of India which is an analysis of Indian history and culture.[367] Both nations areregional powers and members of theG-20 major economies.
Bilateral relations betweenIndia andNicaragua have been limited toSICA dialogue and visits by Nicaraguan Ministers to India. India maintains an honorary consul general in Nicaragua,[370] concurrently accredited to the Indian embassy in Panama City and Nicaragua used to maintain an embassy in India but was reduced to an honorary consulate general in New Delhi.[371] the current Foreign ministerSamuel Santos López visited India in 2008 for the SICA-India Foreign ministers' meeting and in 2013[372] for high-level talks with the then External Affairs MinisterSalman Khurshid which also expanded bilateral trade with the two countries reaching a total of US$60.12 million during 2012–13.
Bilateral relations between Panama and India have been growing steadily, reflecting the crucial role thePanama Canal plays in global trade and commerce. Moreover, with over 15,000 Indians living in Panama, diplomatic ties have considerably increased over the past decade.
The opening of the expanded Canal in 2016 is expected to provide new prospects for maritime connectivity. In seeking to rapidly strengthen trade relations such as the flow of trade triples between the two countries, India is keen to leverage these transit trade facilities in Panama to access the wider market ofLatin America. Along with pursuing a free trade agreement, India wants to promote investment in various sectors of Panama's economy, including the banking and maritime industry and the multimodal centre of theColón Free Trade Zone.[373]
The bilateral relations between the Republic of India and Paraguay have been traditionally strong due to strong commercial, cultural and strategic cooperation. India is represented in Paraguay through its embassy in Buenos Aires in Argentina. India also has an Honorary Consul-General in Asuncion. Paraguay opened its embassy in India in 2005.[374]
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Bilateral relations between the Republic of India and the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago have considerably expanded in recent years with both nations building strategic and commercial ties. Both nations formally established diplomatic relations in 1962.[375]
Both nations were part of theBritish Empire; India supported the independence of Trinidad and Tobago from British rule and established its diplomatic mission in 1962 – the year that Trinidad and Tobago officially gained independence. They possess diverse natural and economic resources and are the largest economies in their respective regions. Both are members of the Commonwealth of Nations, the United Nations, G-77 and the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM).
The Republic of India operates a High Commission inPort of Spain, whilst the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago operates a High Commission in New Delhi.
Before and during the Second World War, the United States underPresident Roosevelt gave strong support to the Indian independence movement despite being allies to Britain.[376][377]Relations between India and the United States were lukewarm following Indian independence, as India took a leading position in theNon-Aligned Movement, and receivedsupport from the Soviet Union. The US provided support to India in 1962 during its war with China. For most of theCold War, the USA tended to have warmer relations with Pakistan, primarily as a way to contain Soviet-friendly India and to use Pakistan to back the AfghanMujahideen against theSoviet occupation of Afghanistan. AnIndo-Soviet Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation, signed in 1971, also positioned India against the USA.
After theSino-Indian War and theIndo-Pakistani War of 1965, India made considerable changes to its foreign policy. It developed a close relationship with the Soviet Union and started receiving massive military equipment and financial assistance from the USSR. This harmed the Indo-US relationship. The United States saw Pakistan as a counterweight to pro-Soviet India and started giving the former military assistance. This created an atmosphere of suspicion between India and the US. The Indo-US relationship suffered a considerable setback whenthe Soviets took over Afghanistan and India overtly supported the Soviet Union.
Relations between India and the United States came to an all-time low during the early 1970s. Despite reports ofatrocities in East Pakistan, and being told, most notably in theBlood telegram, of genocidal activities being perpetrated by Pakistani forces, the US. Secretary of StateHenry Kissinger and US PresidentRichard Nixon did nothing to discourage then-Pakistani PresidentYahya Khan and thePakistan Army. Kissinger was particularly concerned about Soviet expansion into South Asia as a result of a treaty of friendship that had recently been signed between India and the Soviet Union and sought to demonstrate to the People's Republic of China the value of a tacit alliance with the United States.[378] During theIndo-Pakistani War of 1971,Indian Armed Forces, along with theMukti Bahini, succeeded in liberatingEast Pakistan which soon declared independence. Nixon feared that an Indian invasion ofWest Pakistan would mean total Soviet domination of the region and that it would seriously undermine the global position of the United States and the regional position of America's new tacit ally, China. To demonstrate to China thebona fides of the United States as an ally, and in direct violation of the Congress-imposed sanctions on Pakistan, Nixon sent military supplies to Pakistan, routing them through Jordan and Iran,[379] while also encouraging China to increase its arms supplies to Pakistan.
When Pakistan's defeat in the eastern sector seemed certain, Nixon sent theUSS Enterprise to theBay of Bengal, a move deemed by the Indians as a nuclear threat. TheEnterprise arrived at the station on 11 December 1971. On 6 and 13 December, theSoviet Navy dispatched two groups of ships, armed with nuclear missiles, fromVladivostok; they trailed USTask Force 74 into the Indian Ocean from 18 December 1971 until 7 January 1972. The Soviets also sent nuclear submarines to ward off the threat posed by USSEnterprise in the Indian Ocean.[380]
Though American efforts had no effect in turning the tide of the war, the incident involving USSEnterprise is viewed as the trigger for India's subsequentinterest in developing nuclear weapons.[381] American policy towards the end of the war was dictated primarily by a need to restrict the escalation of the war on the Western sector to prevent the 'dismemberment' of West Pakistan.[382] Years after the war, many American writers criticised the White House policies during the war as being badly flawed and ill-serving to the interests of the United States.[383] India carried outnuclear tests a few years later resulting in sanctions being imposed by the United States, further drifting the two countries apart. In recent years, Kissinger came under fire for comments made during the Indo-Pakistan War in which he described Indians as "bastards".[384] Kissinger has since expressed his regret over the comments.[385]
Since the end of theCold War, India-USA relations have improved dramatically. This has been fostered by the fact that the United States and India are both democracies and have a large and growing trade relationship. During theGulf War, theeconomy of India went through an extremely difficult phase. The Government of Indiaadopted liberalised economic systems. After the break-up of the Soviet Union, India improved diplomatic relations with the members ofNATO, particularly Canada, France, and Germany. In 1992, India established formal diplomatic relations with Israel.
In recent years, India-United States relations have still improved significantly during thePremiership of Narendra Modi since 2014.[386] Both sides are committed to a "Free and Open Indo-Pacific".[387]
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In 1998, India tested nuclear weapons which resulted in several US, Japanese and European sanctions on India. India's then defence minister,George Fernandes, said that India'snuclear programme was necessary as it provided a deterrence to some potential nuclear threats. Most of the sanctions imposed on India were removed by 2001. India has categorically stated that it will never use weapons first but will defend itself if attacked.
The economic sanctions imposed by the United States in response to India's nuclear tests in May 1998 appeared, at least initially, to seriously damage Indo-American relations. PresidentBill Clinton imposed wide-ranging sanctions according to the1994 Nuclear Proliferation Prevention Act. US sanctions on Indian entities involved in the nuclear industry and opposition to international financial institution loans for non-humanitarian assistance projects in India. The United States encouraged India to sign theComprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) immediately and without condition. The United States also called for restraint in missile and nuclear testing and deployment by both India and Pakistan. The non-proliferation dialogue initiated after the 1998 nuclear tests has bridged many of the gaps in understanding between the countries.
Formal relations between both countries were first established in 1949. India has an embassy inBuenos Aires and Argentina has an embassy in New Delhi. The current Indian Ambassador to Argentina (concurrently accredited to Uruguay and Paraguay) isR Viswanathan.
According to theMinistry of External Affairs of theGovernment of India, "Under the 1968 Visa agreement, (Argentine) fees for transit and tourist visas have been abolished. Under the new visa agreement signed during the Argentine Presidential visit in October 2009, it has been agreed that five-year multi-entry business visas would be given free of cost. The Embassy of India in Buenos Aires gives Cafe Con Visa (coffee with visa) to Argentine visitors. The applicants are invited for coffee and a visa is given immediately. This has been praised by the Argentine media, public and the Foreign Minister himself."[388]
Relations between Brazil and India have been extended to diverse areas such as science and technology, pharmaceuticals and space as both are member nations ofBRICS. The two-way trade in 2007 nearly tripled to US$3.12 billion from US$1.2 billion in 2004. India attaches tremendous importance to its relationship with this Latin American giant and hopes to see the areas of cooperation expand in the coming years.
Both countries want the participation of developing countries in the UNSC permanent membership since the underlying philosophy for both of them are: UNSC should be more democratic, legitimate and representative – the G4 is a novel grouping for this realization.
Brazil and India are deeply committed toIBSA (South-South cooperation) initiatives and attach utmost importance to this trilateral cooperation between the three large, multi-ethnic, multi-racial and multi-religious developing countries, which are bound by the common principle of pluralism and democracy.
Both countries established diplomatic ties on 19 January 1959. Since then, the relationship between the two countries has been gradually increasing with more frequent diplomatic visits to promote political, commercial cultural and academic exchanges. Colombia is currently the commercial point of entry into Latin America for Indian companies.[389]
Diplomatic relations between India and Venezuela were established on 1 October 1959.[390] India maintains an embassy inCaracas, while Venezuela maintains an embassy inNew Delhi.
There have been several visits by heads of state and government, and other high-level officials between the countries. PresidentHugo Chávez visited New Delhi on 4–7 March 2005.[390] Chávez met with Indian PresidentAPJ Abdul Kalam and Prime MinisterManmohan Singh. The two countries signed six agreements including one to establish a Joint Commission to promote bilateral relations and another on cooperation in the hydrocarbon sector. Foreign MinisterNicolás Maduro visited India to attend the First Meeting of the India-CELAC Troika Foreign Ministers meeting in New Delhi on 7 August 2012.[391]
The Election Commission of India (ECI) and the National Electoral Council (CNE) of Venezuela signed an MoU during a visit by Indian Election Commissioner V S Sampath to Caracas in 2012. The Minister of State for Corporate Affairs visited Venezuela to attend the state funeral of President Chavez in March 2013.[391] The President and Prime Minister of India expressed condolences on the death of Chávez. TheRajya Sabha, the upper house of Parliament, observed a minute's silence to mark his death. Ambassador Smita Purushottam represented India at the swearing-in ceremony of Chávez's successor Nicolás Maduro on 19 April 2013.[392]
Citizens of Venezuela are eligible for scholarships under theIndian Technical and Economic Cooperation Programme and theIndian Council for Cultural Relations.[391][393]
India is working towards developing strong relations with this resource-rich Central Asian country. The Indian oil company,Oil and Natural Gas Corporation has got oil exploration and petroleum development grants in Kazakhstan. The two countries are collaborating inpetrochemicals, information technology, and space technology. Kazakhstan has offered India five blocks for oil and gas exploration. India and Kazakhstan, are to set up joint projects in construction, minerals and metallurgy. India also signed four other pacts, including an extradition treaty, in the presence of PresidentPrathibha Patil and her Kazakh counterpartNursultan Nazarbayev. Kazakhstan will provideUranium and related products under the MoU between Nuclear Power Corp. of India and Kazatomprom. These MoU also open possibilities of joint exploration of uranium in Kazakhstan, which has the world's second-largest reserves, and India building atomic power plants in the Central Asian country.
Diplomatic relations were established between India and Tajikistan following Tajikistan's independence from the 1991 dissolution of the Soviet Union, which had been friendly with India. Tajikistan occupies a strategically important position in Central Asia, bordering Afghanistan, the People's Republic of China and separated by a small strip of Afghan territory from Pakistan. India's role in fighting the Taliban and Al-Qaeda and its strategic rivalry with both China and Pakistan have made its ties with Tajikistan important to its strategic and security policies. Despite their common efforts, bilateral trade has been comparatively low, valued at US$12.09 million in 2005; India's exports to Tajikistan were valued at US$6.2 million and its imports at US$5.89 million. India's military presence and activities have been significant, beginning with India's extensive support of the anti-TalibanAfghan Northern Alliance (ANA). India began renovating theFarkhor Air Base and stationed aircraft of the Indian Air Force there. TheFarkhor Air Base became fully operational in 2006, and 12 MiG-29 bombers and trainer aircraft are planned to be stationed there.
India has an embassy in Tashkent. Uzbekistan has an embassy in New Delhi. Uzbekistan has had a great impact on Indian culture mostly due to theMughal Empire which was founded byBabur ofFerghana (in present-day Uzbekistan) who created his empire southward first in Afghanistan and then in India.
Despite lingering suspicions remaining from the 1962Sino-Indian War, the 1967Nathu La and Cho La incidents, and continuing boundary disputes overAksai Chin andArunachal Pradesh, Sino-Indian relations have improved gradually since 1988. Both countries have sought to reduce tensions along the frontier, expand trade and cultural ties, and normalise relations.[395] A series of high-level visits between the two nations have helped improve relations. In December 1996,PRC PresidentJiang Zemin visited India during a tour of South Asia. While in New Delhi, he signed with the Indian Prime Minister a series of confidence-building measures for the disputed borders. Sino-Indian relations suffered a brief setback in May 1998 when the Indian Defence minister justified the country's nuclear tests by citing potential threats from the PRC. However, in June 1999, during theKargil crisis, then-External Affairs MinisterJaswant Singh visited Beijing and stated that India did not consider China a threat. By 2001, relations between India and the PRC were on the mend, and the two sides handled the move fromTibet to India of the 17thKarmapa in January 2000 with delicacy and tact. In 2003, India formally recognised Tibet as a part of China, and China recognisedSikkim as a formal part of India in 2004.
Since 2004, the economic rise of both China and India has also helped forge closer relations between the two. Sino-Indian trade reached US$65.47 billion in 2013–14, making China the single largest trading partner of India.[396] The increasing economic reliance between India and China has also bought the two nations closer politically, with both India and China eager to resolve their boundary dispute.[397] They have also collaborated on several issues ranging fromWTO'sDoha round in 2008[398] to regionalfree trade agreement.[399] Similar toIndo-US nuclear deal, India and China have also agreed to cooperate in the field of civiliannuclear energy.[400] However, China's economic interests have clashed with those of India.[401] Both countries are the largest Asian investors in Africa[402] and have competed for control over their large natural resources.[403]There was a tense situation due to the soldiers'stand-off in Doklam, Bhutan; but that was resolved early.[404]
Relations were lost due toGalwan Valley skirmishes[406][407] andits progress. India ceased imports of Chinese products.[408] Various measures were taken, such as several contracts with the Chinese companies involved in railways, networks and several items productions, which were cancelled in response.[409]
The outbreak of theCoronavirus pandemic from Wuhan also hampered the relations.[410] Following the straining of the bonds, both sides blamed each other for the conflict on LAC.[411] On 29–30 August, it was reported that China had allegedly attempted to cross LAC to attain important hilltops, which was filed by Indian troops, as they were an advantage of acquiring important tops near LAC.[412] India banned more than 250 Chinese apps,[413] and on 16 October, it banned the import of ACs, Refrigerators and Coolers from China.[414] Several core commanders' negotiations and talks were held,[415] which resulted in nothing other than vague promises then.Cross-media blaming was common.
There was even a conference held inMoscow, Russia, on 5 September between the Defence Minister of India,Rajnath Singh and Chinese Army General,Wei Fenghe, but that also ended up with no success.[416] The recent meeting of theQuad-alliance was also questioned by China,[417] but was then downed by India.[418]
In mid-January 2021, it was reported that both countries had finally agreed upon the de-escalation from their positions. Footage of Chinese troops removing tents/barracks was released. Both countries also agreed that India would move back to Finger-3, while China retained its position back to Finger-8, and also declared the area from Finger-3 to Finger-8 to be "No man's land".[419]
India-Japan relations have always been strong. India has culturally influenced Japan throughBuddhism. DuringWorld War II, theImperial Japanese Army helpedNetaji Subhash Chandra Bose'sIndian National Army. Relations have remained warm since India's independence, despite Japan imposingsanctions on India after the 1998Pokhran-II nuclear tests (the sanctions were removed in 2001).[420] Japanese companies, likeSony,Toyota, andHonda, have manufacturing facilities in India, and with the growth of the Indian economy, India is a big market for Japanese firms. The most prominent Japanese company to have a big investment in India is automobiles giantSuzuki which is in partnership with Indian automobile companyMaruti Suzuki, the largest car manufacturer in India. Honda was also a partner in "Hero Honda", one of the largest motorcycle sellers in the world (the companies split in 2011[421]).
According to Former Prime MinisterShinzō Abe'sarc of freedom theory, it is in Japan's interests to develop closer ties with India, the world's most populous democracy, while its relations with China remain chilly. To this end, Japan has funded many infrastructure projects in India, most notably inNew Delhi's metro subway system.[422] In December 2006, then Prime MinisterManmohan Singh's visit to Japan culminated in the signing of the "Joint Statement Towards Japan-India Strategic and Global Partnership". Indian applicants were welcomed in 2006 to the JET Programme, starting with just one slot available in 2006 and 41 in 2007. Also, in 2007, theJapan Self-Defense Forces took part in a naval exercise in the Indian Ocean, known asMalabar 2007, which also involved the naval forces of India, Australia, Singapore and the United States.
In October 2008, Japan signed an agreement with India under which it would grant the latter a low-interest loan worth US$4.5 billion to construct a high-speed rail line between Delhi and Mumbai. This is the single largest overseas project being financed by Japan and reflects a growing economic partnership between the two.[423] India and Japan signed a security cooperation agreement[424] in which both will hold military exercises, police the Indian Ocean and conduct military-to-military exchanges on fightingterrorism, making India one of only three countries, the other two being the United States and Australia, with which Japan has such a security pact.[425] There are 25,000 Indians in Japan as of 2008.
The relations between India and Mongolia are still at a nascent stage and Indo-Mongolian cooperation is limited to diplomatic visits, the provision of soft loans and financial aid and collaborations in the IT sector.
India established diplomatic relations in December 1955. India was the first country outside the Soviet bloc to establish diplomatic relations with Mongolia. Since then, there have been treaties of mutual friendship and cooperation between the two countries in 1973, 1994, 2001 and 2004.
India and North Korea have growing trade and diplomatic relations. India had a fully functioning embassy in Pyongyang which was closed down due toCOVID-19 pandemicin the host country while North Korea still operates an embassy inNew Delhi. India has said that it wants the "reunification" of Korea.[426]
The cordial relationship between the two countries extends back to 48AD, when Queen Suro, orPrincess Heo, travelled from the kingdom of Ayodhya to Korea.[427] According to theSamguk Yusa, the princess had a dream about a heavenly king who was awaiting heaven's anointed ride. After Princess Heo had the dream, she asked her parents, the king and queen, for permission to set out and seek the man, which the king and queen urged with the belief that god orchestrated the whole fate.[428] Upon approval, she set out on a boat, carrying gold, silver, a tea plant, and a stone which calmed the waters.[427] Archeologists discovered a stone with two fish kissing each other, a symbol of theGaya kingdom that is unique to theMishra royal family inAyodhya, India. This royal link provides further evidence that there was an active commercial engagement between India and Korea since the queen's arrival in Korea.[427] Current descendants live in the city of Gimhae as well as abroad in the America states of New Jersey and Kentucky. Many of them became prominent and well known around the world like PresidentKim Dae Jung and Prime MinisterKim Jong-pil. The relations between the countries have been relatively limited, although much progress arose during the three decades.
Since the formal establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries in 1973, several trade agreements have been reached. Trade between the two nations has increased exponentially, exemplified by the $530 million during the fiscal year of 1992–1993, and the $10 billion during 2006–2007.[429] During the1997 Asian financial crisis, South Korean businesses sought to increase access to the global markets and began trade investments with India.[429] The last two presidential visits from South Korea to India were in 1996 and 2006,[430] and the embassy works between the two countries are seen as needing improvements.[431] Recently, there have been acknowledgements in the Korean public and political spheres that expanding relations with India should be a major economic and political priority for South Korea. Much of the economic investments of South Korea have been drained into China;[432] however, South Korea is currently the fifth largest source of investment in India.[433] ToThe Times of India, PresidentRoh Moo-hyun voiced his opinion that cooperation between India's software and Korea's IT industries would bring very efficient and successful outcomes.[430] The two countries agreed to shift their focus to the revision of the visa policies between the two countries, expansion of trade, and establishment offree trade agreement to encourage further investment between the two countries. Korean companies such asLG,Hyundai andSamsung have established manufacturing and service facilities in India, and several Korean construction companies won grants for a portion of the many infrastructural building plans in India, such as the "National Highway Development Project".[433] Tata Motor's purchase ofDaewoo Commercial Vehicles at the cost of $102 million highlights India's investments in Korea, which consist mostly of subcontracting.[433]
Both countries established diplomatic relations on 10 December 1947.[135]
Bilateral relations between India and Afghanistan have been traditionally strong and friendly. While India was the only South Asian country to recognise the Soviet-backedDemocratic Republic of Afghanistan in the 1980s, its relations were diminished during theAfghan civil wars and the rule of the IslamistTaliban in the 1990s.[434] India aided the overthrow of the Taliban and became the largest regional provider of humanitarian and reconstruction aid.[61][435] The new democratically elected Afghan government strengthened its ties with India in the wake of persisting tensions and problems with Pakistan, which is continuing to shelter and support the Taliban.[61][435] India pursues a policy of close cooperation to bolster its standing as a regional power and contains its rival Pakistan, which it maintains is supporting Islamic militants in Kashmir and other parts of India.[61] India is the largest regional investor in Afghanistan, having committed more than US$3 billion for reconstruction purposes.[436] After theIslamic Republic of Afghanistan collapsed, Indiaparticipated in the evacuation of non-Muslim minorities and provided food aid to Taliban-ruled Afghanistan.[437]
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India was the second country to recognise Bangladesh as a separate and independent state, doing so on 6 December 1971. India fought alongside the Bangladeshis to liberate Bangladesh from West Pakistan in 1971.
Bangladesh's relationship with India has been difficult in terms ofborder killing, irrigation and land border disputes post-1976. However, India has enjoyed a favourable relationship with Bangladesh during governments formed by the Awami League in 1972 and 1996. The recent solutions to land and maritime disputes have taken out irritants in ties.
At the outset, India's relations with Bangladesh could not have been stronger because of India's unalloyed support for independence and opposition against Pakistan in 1971. During the independence war, many refugees fled to India. When the struggle of resistance matured in November 1971, India also intervened militarily and may have helped bring international attention to the issue throughIndira Gandhi's visit to Washington, D.C. Afterwards India furnished relief and reconstruction aid. India extended recognition to Bangladesh before the end of the war in 1971 (the second country to do so after Bhutan[438]) and subsequently lobbied others to follow suit. India also withdrew its military from the land of Bangladesh whenSheikh Mujibur Rahman requestedIndira Gandhi to do so during the latter's visit to Dhaka in 1972.[citation needed]
Indo-Bangladesh relations have been somewhat less friendly since thefall of the Mujib government in August 1975.[439] over the years over issues such asSouth Talpatti Island, theTin Bigha Corridor and access to Nepal, theFarakka Barrage and water sharing, border conflicts nearTripura and the construction of a fence along most of the border which India explains as security provision against migrants, insurgents and terrorists. Many Bangladeshis feel India likes to play "big brother" to smaller neighbours, including Bangladesh. Bilateral relations warmed in 1996, due to a softer Indian foreign policy and the newAwami League Government. A 30-year water-sharing agreement for theGanges River was signed in December 1996, after an earlier bilateral water-sharing agreement for the Ganges River lapsed in 1988. Both nations also have cooperated on the issue of flood warnings and preparedness. The Bangladesh Government and tribalinsurgents signed a peace accord in December 1997, which allowed for the return of tribal refugees who had fled to India, beginning in 1986, to escape violence caused by an insurgency in their homeland in theChittagong Hill Tracts. TheBangladesh Army maintains a very strong presence in the area to this day. The army is increasingly concerned about the growing problem of thecultivation ofillegal drugs.
There are also small pieces of land along the border region that Bangladesh is diplomatically trying to reclaim. Padua, part ofSylhet Division before 1971, has been under Indian control since the war in 1971. This small strip of land wasre-occupied by the BDR in 2001 but later given back to India after the Bangladesh government decided to solve the problem through diplomatic negotiations. The Indian New Moore island no longer exists, but Bangladesh repeatedly claims it[440] to be part of the Satkhira district of Bangladesh.
In recent years India has increasingly complained that Bangladesh does not secure its border properly. It fears an increasing flow of poor Bangladeshis and it accuses Bangladesh of harbouring Indian separatist groups likeULFA and alleged terrorist groups. The Bangladesh government has refused to accept these allegations.[441][442] India estimates that over 20 millionBangladeshis are living illegally in India.[443] One Bangladeshi official responded that "there is not a single Bangladeshi migrant in India".[444] Since 2002, India has been constructing anIndia – Bangladesh Fence along much of the 2500-mile border.[445] The failure to resolve migration disputes bears a human cost for illegal migrants, such as imprisonment and health risks (namelyHIV/AIDS).[446]
India's prime minister Narendra Modi and his Bangladeshi counterpartSheikh Hasina have completed a landmark deal redrawing their messy shared border and thereby solving disputes between India and Bangladesh. Bangladesh has also given India a transit route to travel through Bangladesh to its North East states. India and Bangladesh also have free trade agreement on 7 June 2015.[447]
Both countries solved their border dispute on 6 June 2015.[448]
TheAgartala-Akhaura rail link between Indian Railway and Bangladesh Railway will reduce the current 1700 km road distance between Kolkata to Agartala via Siliguri to just 350 kilometer by railway.To connect Kolkata withTripura via Bangladesh through railway, the Union Government on 10 February 2016 sanctioned about 580 crore rupees. The project which is expected to be completed by 2017 will pass through Bangladesh.
The project ranks high on Prime Minister's'Act East Policy', and is expected to increase connectivity and boost trade between India and Bangladesh.
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Historically, there have been close ties with India. Both countries signed a friendship treaty in 1949, where India would assist Bhutan in foreign relations. On 8 February 2007, the Indo-Bhutan Friendship Treaty was substantially revised under the Bhutanese King,Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck. Whereas in the Treaty of 1949 Article 2 read as "The Government of India undertakes to exercise no interference in the internal administration of Bhutan. On its part, the Government of Bhutan agrees to be guided by the advice of the Government of India regarding its external relations."
In the revised treaty it now reads as, "In keeping with the abiding ties of close friendship and cooperation between Bhutan and India, the Government of the Kingdom of Bhutan and the Government of the Republic of India shall cooperate closely with each other on issues relating to their national interests. Neither government shall allow the use of its territory for activities harmful to the national security and interest of the other". The revised treaty also includes in it the preamble "Reaffirming their respect for each other's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity", an element that was absent in the earlier version. The Indo-Bhutan Friendship Treaty of 2007 strengthens Bhutan's status as an independent and sovereign nation.
India continues to be the largest trade and development partner of Bhutan. Planned development efforts in Bhutan began in the early 1960s. The First Five Year Plan (FYP) of Bhutan was launched in 1961. Since then, India has been extending financial assistance to Bhutan's FYPs. The 10th FYP ended in June 2013. India's overall assistance to the 10th FYP was a little over Rs. 5000 crores, excluding grants for hydropower projects. India has committed Rs. 4500 crores for Bhutan's 11th FYP along with Rs. 500 crores as an Economic Stimulus Package.[449]
The hydropower sector is one of the main pillars of bilateral cooperation, exemplifying mutually beneficial synergy by providing clean energy to India and exporting revenue to Bhutan (power contributes 14% to the Bhutanese GDP, comprising about 35% of Bhutan's total exports). Three hydroelectric projects (HEPs) totaling 1416 MW, (336 MWChukha HEP, the 60 MW Kurichu HEP, and the 1020 MW Tala HEP), are already exporting electricity to India. In 2008 the two governments identified ten more projects for development with a total generation capacity of 10,000 MW. Of these, three projects totaling 2940 MW (1200 MW Punatsangchu-I, 1020 MW Punatsangchu-II and 720 MW Mangdechu HEPs) are under construction and are scheduled to be commissioned in the last quarter of 2017–2018. Out of the remaining 7 HEPs, 4 projects totaling 2120 MW (600 MW Kholongchhu, 180 MW Bunakha, 570 MW Wangchu and 770 MW Chamkarchu) will be constructed under a Joint Venture model, for which a Framework Inter-Governmental Agreement was signed between both governments in 2014. Of these 4 JV-model projects, pre-construction activities for Kholongchhu HEP have commenced.[449]Tata Power is also building a hydroelectric dam in Bhutan.
India had assisted Bhutan bydeploying its troops in Doklam in 2017- a territory claimed and controlled by the Bhutanese government- to resist a Chinese army's control and construction of military structures.[404]
India enjoys a considerable influence over Maldives' foreign policy and provides extensive security cooperation, especially afterOperation Cactus in 1988 during which India repelled Tamil mercenaries who invaded the country.
As a founder member in 1985 of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation,SAARC, which brings togetherAfghanistan,Bangladesh,Bhutan,India,Maldives,Nepal,Pakistan andSri Lanka, the country plays a very active role in SAARC. The Maldives has taken the lead in calling for a South Asian Free Trade Agreement, the formulation of a Social Charter, the initiation of informal political consultations in SAARC forums, the lobbying for greater action on environmental issues, the proposal of numerous human rights measures such as the regional convention on child rights and for setting up a SAARC Human Rights Resource Centre. The Maldives is also an advocate of greater international profile for SAARC such as through formulating common positions at the UN.
India is starting the process to bring the island country into India's security grid. The move comes after the moderate Islamic nation approached New Delhi earlier this year over fears that one of its island resorts could be taken over by terrorists given its lack of military assets and surveillance capabilities.[450]India also signed an agreement with the Maldives in 2011 which is centred around the following:
Relations faced a strain in January 2024 due to derogatory remarks by Maldivian officials and concerns over racism, targeted towards Indian Prime MinisterNarendra Modi as well as India, triggering the2024 India-Maldives diplomatic row.[451]
This was seen very negatively in India, with citizens calling for a boycott of vacations in Maldives, with many renownedBollywood actors and personalities criticising the Maldivian government. This also led to the death of a young Maldivian teenager,[452] who had to be taken to India via anair ambulance, after the request at the last minute was denied by Maldivian authorities due to the ongoing tensions against the country.[453]
Relations between India and Nepal are close yet fraught with difficulties stemming from border disputes, geography, economics, the problems inherent in big power-small power relations, and common ethnic and linguistic identities that overlap the two countries borders. In 1950 New Delhi andKathmandu initiated their intertwined relationship with theTreaty of Peace and Friendship and accompanying secret letters that defined security relations between the two countries, and an agreement governing both bilateral trade and trade transiting Indian soil. The 1950 treaty and letters stated that "neither government shall tolerate any threat to the security of the other by a foreign aggressor" and obligated both sides "to inform each other of any serious friction or misunderstanding with any neighboring state likely to cause any breach in the friendly relations subsisting between the two governments", and also granted the Indian and Nepali citizens right to get involved in any economic activity such as work and business-related activity in each other's territory. These accords cemented a "special relationship" between India and Nepal that granted Nepalese in India the same economic and educational opportunities as Indian citizens.
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Relations between India and Nepal reached their lowest in 1989 when India imposed a 13-month-long economic blockade on Nepal. Indian PM Narendra Modi visited Nepal in 2014, the first by an Indian PM in nearly 17 years.
In 2015, a blockade of the India-Nepal border affected relations. The blockade is led by ethnic communities angered by Nepal's recently promulgated new constitution.[454] However, the Nepalese government accuses India of deliberately worsening the embargo, but India denies it.[454]
Indiaaided Nepal during the2015 Kathmandu earthquake with the financial aid of $1 billion and launchedOperation Maitri.[455]
The relations were strained during mid-2020, when it was reported that a firing took place by the Nepalese police across the Indo-Nepalese border of Bihar on 12 July.[456]Nepalese Prime MinisterKP Sharma Oli commented aboutthe pandemic of Coronavirus that the "Indian virus was deadlier" than the one whichspread from Wuhan.[457] As time progressed, certain claims were also made on the Indian territories, for example,Kalapani,Limpiyadhura andLipulekh ofUttarakhand.[458] Similarly, the claims were also made culturally, when it was said that Hindu GodRam was Nepalese, that he was born inThori, west ofBirgunj, and thatAyodhya inUttar Pradesh was fake.[459] Rules were made strict forIndians in Nepal[460] along with banning some Indian media.[461]
Indian media stated that the actions of the Oli government were souring the relations, "and these were being done on the direction of China and propelled by Chinese ambassadorHou Yanqi". Speculations were made that since China could not handle India directly, in the aftermath of theLAC skirmish, it was lurking and trapping its neighboring countries and provoking them against India. In August, there were reports about the Chinese "illegal occupations" in Nepal's border states' areas.[462]
Both countries established diplomatic relations on 15 August 1947.[463]
Despite historical, cultural and ethnic links between them, relations between India and Pakistan have been "plagued" by years of mistrust and suspicion ever since thepartition of India in 1947. The principal source of contention between India and its western neighbour has been theKashmir conflict. After an invasion byPashtun tribesmen and Pakistani paramilitary forces, the Hindu Maharaja of theDogra Kingdom ofJammu and Kashmir,Hari Singh, and its Muslim Prime Minister,Sheikh Abdullah, signed anInstrument of Accession with New Delhi. TheFirst Kashmir War started after theIndian Army enteredSrinagar, the capital of the state, to secure the area from the invading forces. The war ended in December 1948 with theLine of Control dividing the erstwhile princely state into territories administered by Pakistan (northern and western areas) and India (southern, central and northeastern areas). Pakistan contested the legality of the Instrument of Accession since the Dogra Kingdom has signed astandstill agreement with it. TheIndo-Pakistani War of 1965 started following the failure of Pakistan'sOperation Gibraltar, which was designed to infiltrate forces into Jammu and Kashmir to precipitate an insurgency against rule by India. The five-week war caused thousands of casualties on both sides. It ended in a United Nations (UN) mandated ceasefire and the subsequent issuance of theTashkent Declaration. India and Pakistanwent to war again in 1971, this time the conflict being overEast Pakistan. Thelarge-scale atrocities committed there by the Pakistan army led to millions of Bengali refugees pouring over into India. India, along with theMukti Bahini, defeated Pakistan and the Pakistani forces surrendered on the eastern front. The war resulted in the creation of Bangladesh. In 1998, India carried out thePokhran-II nuclear tests which was followed by Pakistan'sChagai-I tests. Following theLahore Declaration in February 1999, relations briefly improved. A few months later, however, Pakistani paramilitary forces andPakistan Army, infiltrated in large numbers into theKargil district of Indian Kashmir. This initiated theKargil War after India moved in thousands of troops to successfully flush out the infiltrators. Although the conflict did not result in a full-scale war between India and Pakistan, relations between the two reached an all-time low which worsened even further following the involvement of Pakistan-based terrorists in the hijacking of theIndian Airlines Flight 814 in December 1999. Attempts to normalise relations, such as theAgra summit held in July 2001, failed. Anattack on the Indian Parliament in December 2001, which was blamed on Pakistan, which had condemned the attack[464] caused amilitary standoff between the two countries which lasted for nearly a year raising fears ofnuclear warfare. However, a peace process, initiated in 2003, led to improved relations in the following years.
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Since the initiation of the peace process, several confidence-building measures (CBMs) between India and Pakistan have taken shape. TheSamjhauta Express andDelhi–Lahore Bus service are two of these successful measures which have played a crucial role in expanding people-to-people contact between the two countries.[465] The initiation of theSrinagar–Muzaffarabad Bus service in 2005 and the opening of a historic trade route across the Line of Control in 2008 further reflects increasing eagerness between the two sides to improve relations. Although bilateral trade between India and Pakistan was a modest US$1.7 billion in March 2007, it is expected to cross US$10 billion by 2010. After the2005 Kashmir earthquake, India sent aid to affected areas in Pakistani Kashmir and Punjab as well as Indian Kashmir.[466]
The2008 Mumbai attacks seriously undermined the relations between the two countries. India alleged Pakistan harbouring militants on their soil, while Pakistan vehemently denied such claims.
A new chapter started in India-Pakistan relations when a newNDA government took charge in Delhi after victory in the2014 election and invitedSAARC members' leaders to an oath-taking ceremony. Subsequently, the visit of the Indian prime minister on 25 December informally wished Pakistani Prime MinisterNawaz Sharif on his Birthday and participate in his daughter's wedding. It was hoped that the relationship between the neighbour will improve but anattack on an Indian army camp by Pakistani infiltrators on 18 September 2016[467] and a subsequentsurgical strike by India[468] aggravated the already strained relationship between the nations.
A SAARC summit scheduled in Islamabad was called off because of a boycott by India and other SAARC members subsequently.[469]
The relationship took a further nosedive after anotherattack on CRPF in February 2019 by a terrorist associated with the Pakistan-based terror organisation,Jaish-e-Mohammed, when the terrorist rammed his vehicle packed with explosives against a bus carryingCRPF soldiers in Pulwama, Kashmir, killing 40.[470] India blamed Pakistan which was denied by the Pakistani establishment. India retaliated withan airstrike on Balakot, a region claimed and controlled by Pakistan.[471]
A new chapter in peace was ignited when it was suddenly declared that a back-door peace settlement over ceasing the cross-border firing across LOC was signed between the armies of both sides, and a steady growth in the countries coming together was observed.[472]
Bilateral relations between Sri Lanka and India have enjoyed historically a good relationship. The two countries share near-identical racial and cultural ties. According to traditional Sri Lankan chronicles (Dipavamsa), Buddhism was introduced into Sri Lanka in the 4th century BCE by VenerableMahinda, the son of Indian EmperorAshoka, during the reign of Sri Lanka's KingDevanampiya Tissa. During this time, a sapling of theBodhi Tree was brought to Sri Lanka and the first monasteries and Buddhist monuments were established.
Nevertheless, relationspost-independence were affected by theSri Lankan Civil War and by the failure ofIndian intervention during the civil war as well as India's support for Tamil Tiger militants. India is Sri Lanka's only neighbour, separated by thePalk Strait; both nations occupy a strategic position in South Asia and have sought to build a common security umbrella in the Indian Ocean.[473]
India-Sri Lanka relations have undergone a qualitative and quantitative transformation in the recent past. Political relations are close, trade and investments have increased dramatically, infrastructural linkages are constantly being augmented, defence collaboration has increased and there is a general, broad-based improvement across all sectors of bilateral cooperation. India was the first country to respond to Sri Lanka's request for assistance after the tsunami in December 2004. In July 2006, India evacuated 430 Sri Lankan nationals from Lebanon, first to Cyprus by Indian Navy ships and then to Delhi and Colombo by special Air India flights.
There exists a broad consensus within the Sri Lankan polity on the primacy of India in Sri Lanka's external relations matrix. Both the major political parties in Sri Lanka, theSri Lanka Freedom Party and theUnited Nationalist Party have contributed to the rapid development of bilateral relations in the last ten years. Sri Lanka has supported India's candidature to the permanent membership of the UN Security Council.[474]
Certain aspects of India's relations within the subcontinent are conducted through theSouth Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC). Its members other than India areAfghanistan,Bangladesh,Bhutan,Maldives,Nepal,Pakistan andSri Lanka. Established in 1985, SAARC encourages cooperation in agriculture, rural development, science and technology, culture, health, population control, narcotics control and anti-terrorism.
SAARC has intentionally stressed these "core issues" and avoided more divisive political issues, although the political dialogue is often conducted on the margins of SAARC meetings. In 1993, India and its SAARC partners signed an agreement to gradually lower tariffs within the region. Forward movement in SAARC has come to a standstill because of the tension between India and Pakistan, and the SAARC Summit originally scheduled for, but not held in, November 1999 has not been rescheduled. The Fourteenth SAARC Summit was held during 3–4 April 2007 in New Delhi. The 19th SAARC summit that was scheduled to be held in Islamabadwas cancelled due to terrorist acts, particularly theUri attack.
Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation is now an "organization of member states" that are littorals of the Bay of Bengal or adjacent to it. The BIMSTEC member states – Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand – are among the major South and Southeast Asia countries dependent on theBay of Bengal.[475] India and some other countries, frustrated by the obstacles in SAARC's efforts to promote regional cooperation, have been working to make BIMSTEC the premier vehicle in this regard.[476]
Brunei has a high commission inNew Delhi, and India has a high commission inBandar Seri Begawan. Both countries are full members of theCommonwealth of Nations.
Both nations have been in friendly relations.
The ties between Indonesia and India date back to the times of theRamayana,[477] "Yawadvipa" (Java) is mentioned in India's earliest epic, the Ramayana. Sugriva, the chief ofRama's army dispatched his men to Yawadvipa, the island of Java, in search ofSita.[478] Indonesians had absorbed many aspects of Indian culture since almost two millennia ago. The most obvious trace is the largeadoption of Sanskrit into the Indonesian language. Several Indonesiantoponymy has Indian parallel or origin, such asMadura withMathura,Serayu andSarayu rivers,Kalingga fromKalinga Kingdom, andNgayogyakarta fromAyodhya. IndianisedHindu–Buddhist kingdoms, such asKalingga,Srivijaya,Mataram,Sunda,Kadiri,Singhasari andMajapahit were the predominant governments in Indonesia, and lasted from 200[479] to the 1500s, with the last remaining being inBali. An example of profound Hindu-Buddhist influences inIndonesian history is the 9th-centuryPrambanan andBorobudur temples.
In 1950, the first President of Indonesia –Sukarno called upon the peoples of Indonesia and India to "intensify the cordial relations" that had existed between the two countries "for more than 1000 years" before they had been "disrupted" by colonial powers.[480] In the spring of 1966, the foreign ministers of both countries began speaking again of an era of friendly relations. India had supported Indonesian independence and Nehru had raised the Indonesian question in theUnited Nations Security Council.
India has an embassy in Jakarta[481] and Indonesia operates an embassy in Delhi.[482] India regards Indonesia as a key member ofASEAN. Today, both countries maintain cooperative and friendly relations. India and Indonesia are one of the few (and also one of the largest)democracies in the Asian region which can be projected as a real democracy.[483][better source needed] Both nations had agreed to establish a strategic partnership.[484] As fellow Asian democracies that share common values, it is natural for both countries to nurture and foster strategic alliances. Indonesia and India are member states of theG-20, the E7, theNon-Aligned Movement, and the United Nations.
In recent years, India has endeavoured to build relations, with this smallSoutheast Asian nation. They have strong military relations, and India shall be building an Airforce Academy in Laos.[485]
India has a high commission inKuala Lumpur, and Malaysia has a high commission in New Delhi. Both countries are full members of theCommonwealth of Nations and theAsian Union. India and Malaysia are also connected by various cultural and historical ties that date back to antiquity. The two countries are on friendly terms with each other and Malaysia harbours a small population ofIndian immigrants.Mahathir bin Mohamad the fourth and longest-serving Prime Minister of Malaysia is of Indian origin. His father Mohamad Iskandar, is a Malayalee Muslim who migrated fromKerala and his mother Wan Tampawan, is aMalay.[486]
Relations escalated when the Malaysian PM Mahathir Mohamad questioned the action ofrevocating the special status of Jammu and Kashmir and onCAA-NRC protests. The relations continue to be diminished, also during the palm oil export from Malaysia to India.
Even with thenew government in power, currently, there seems no recovery, as formerPrime MinisterMahathir Mohamad still favored Pakistan.[487]
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India established diplomatic relations after Burma's independence from Great Britain in 1948. For many years, Indo-Burmese relations were strong due to cultural links, flourishing commerce, common interests in regional affairs and the presence of a significantIndian community in Burma.[488] India provided considerable support when Myanmar struggled with regionalinsurgencies. However, the overthrow of the democratic government by theMilitary of Burma led to strains in ties. Along with much of the world, India condemned the suppression of democracy and Myanmar ordered theexpulsion of the Burmese Indian community, increasing itsisolation from the world.[488][489] Only China maintained close links with Myanmar while India supported thepro-democracy movement.[488][490][491]
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However, due to geopolitical concerns, India revived its relations and recognised themilitary junta ruling Myanmar in 1993, overcoming strains over drug trafficking, the suppression of democracy and the rule of themilitary junta in Myanmar. Myanmar is situated to the south of the states ofMizoram,Manipur,Nagaland andArunachal Pradesh inNortheast India. and the proximity of the People's Republic of China gives strategic importance to Indo-Burmese relations. The Indo-Burmese border stretches over 1,600 kilometers[492] and some insurgents inNorth-east India seek refuge in Myanmar. Consequently, India has been keen on increasing military cooperation with Myanmar in its counter-insurgency activities. In 2001, theIndian Army completed the construction of a major road along its border with Myanmar. India has also been building major roads, highways, ports and pipelines within Myanmar in an attempt to increase its strategic influence in the region and also to counter China's growing strides in theIndochina peninsula. Indian companies have also sought active participation in oil and natural gas exploration in Myanmar. In February 2007, India announced a plan to develop theSittwe port, which would enable ocean access from Indian Northeastern states likeMizoram, via theKaladan River.
India is a major customer of Burmese oil and gas. In 2007, Indian exports to Myanmar totaled US$185 million, while its imports from Myanmar were valued at around US$810 million, consisting mostly of oil and gas.[493] India has granted US$100 million credit to fund highway infrastructure projects in Myanmar, while US$57 million has been offered to upgrade Burmese railways. A further US$27 million in grants has been pledged for road and rail projects.[494] India is one of the few countries that has provided military assistance to the Burmese junta.[495] However, there has been increasing pressure on India to cut some of its military supplies to Burma.[496] Relations between the two remain close which was evident in the aftermath ofCyclone Nargis, when India was one of the few countries whose relief and rescue aid proposals were accepted by Myanmar's junta.[497]
India maintains embassies in Rangoon and consulate generals in Mandalay.
Through theSrivijaya andMajapahit empires,Hindu influence has been visible in Philippine history from the 10th to 14th centuries. During the 18th century, there was robust trade between Manila with theCoromandel Coast and Bengal, involving Philippine exports of tobacco, silk, cotton, indigo, sugar cane and coffee.
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Formal diplomatic relations between the Philippines and India were established on 16 November 1949. The first Philippine envoy to India was the late Foreign Secretary Narciso Ramos. Seven years after India's independence in 1947, the Philippines and India signed a Treaty of Friendship on 11 July 1952 in Manila to strengthen the friendly relations existing between the two countries. Soon after, the Philippine Legation in New Delhi was established and then elevated to an embassy. However, due to foreign policy differences as a result of the bipolar alliance structure of the Cold War, the development of bilateral relations was stunted. It was only in 1976 that relations started to normalise whenAditya Birla, one of India's successful industrialists, met with then-President Ferdinand E. Marcos to explore possibilities of setting up joint ventures in the Philippines.Today, like India, the Philippines is the leading voice-operated business process outsourcing (BPO) source in terms of revenue (US$5.7) and number of people (500,000) employed in the sector. In partnership with the Philippines, India has 20 IT/BPO companies in the Philippines. Philippines-India bilateral trade stood at US$986.60 million in 2009. In 2004 it was US$600 million. Both countries aim to reach US$1 billion by 2010. 60,000 Indians are living in the Philippines. The Philippines and India signed in October 2007 the Framework for Bilateral Cooperation which created the PH-India JCBC. It has working groups in trade, agriculture, tourism, health, and renewable energy, a regular policy consultation mechanism and security dialogue.
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India and Singapore share long-standing cultural, commercial and strategic relations, with Singapore being a part of the "Greater India" cultural and commercial region. More than 300,000 people of Indian Tamil "தமிழ்" origin live in Singapore. Following its independence in 1965, Singapore was concerned with China-backed communist threats as well as domination from Malaysia and Indonesia and sought a close strategic relationship with India, which it saw as a counterbalance toChinese influence and a partner in achieving regional security.[498] Singapore had always been an important strategic trading post, giving India trade access toMaritime Southeast Asia and the Far East. Although the rival positions of both nations over theVietnam War and theCold War caused consternation between India and Singapore, their relationship expanded significantly in the 1990s;[498] Singapore was one of the first to respond to theIndian Look East policy of expanding its economic, cultural and strategic ties in Southeast Asia to strengthen its standing as aregional power.[498] Singapore, and especially, the Singaporean Foreign Minister,George Yeo, have taken an interest, in re-establishing the ancient Indian university,Nalanda University.
Singapore is the 8th largest source of investment in India and the largest among ASEAN member nations.[498][499] It is also India's 9th biggest trading partner as of 2005–06.[498] Its cumulative investment in India totals US$3 billion as of 2006 and is expected to rise to US$5 billion by 2010 and US$10 billion by 2015.[498][500][501]India's economic liberalisation and its "Look East" policy have led to a major expansion in bilateral trade, which grew from US$2.2 billion in 2001 to US$9–10 billion in 2006 – a 400% growth in five years – and to US$50 billion by 2010.[498][500][501] Singapore accounts for 38% of India's trade with ASEAN member nations and 3.4% of its total foreign trade.[498] India's main exports to Singapore in 2005 included petroleum, gemstones, jewellery, and machinery and its imports from Singapore included electronic goods, organic chemicals and metals. More than half of Singapore's exports to India are basically "re-exports" – items that had been imported from India.[498][499]
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India'sIndian Look East policy, saw India grow relations withASEAN countries including Thailand, and Thailand's Look West policy, also saw it grow its relations with India. Both countries are members ofBIMSTEC. Indian Prime MinistersRajiv Gandhi,P.V. Narasimha Rao,Atal Bihari Vajpayee, andManmohan Singh, have visited Thailand, which was reciprocated by contemporary Thai Prime MinistersChatichai Choonhavan,Thaksin Sinawatra, andSurayud Chulanont. In 2003, aFree Trade Agreement was signed between the two countries. India is the 13th largest investor in Thailand. The spheres of trade are inchemicals,pharmaceuticals, textiles, nylon, tyre cord, real estate, rayon fibres, paper-grade pulps, steel wires, and rods. However,IT services, and manufacturing, are the main spheres. Through Buddhism, India has culturally influenced Thailand. The Indian epics,Mahabharata, andRamayana, are popular and are widely taught in schools as part of the curriculum in Thailand. The example can also be seen in temples around Thailand, where the story of Ramayana and renowned Indian folk stories are depicted on the temple wall. Thailand has become a big tourist destination for Indians.
Moreover, India and Thailand have been culturally linked for centuries and India has had a deep influence on Thai culture. There are a substantial number of words in Thai that are borrowed from Sanskrit, India's classical language. Pali, which was the language of Magadha and is a medium of Theravada, is another important root of Thai vocabulary. Buddhism, the major religion of Thailand, itself originates from India. The Hindu story of Ramayana is also well known throughout Thailand in the name Ramakien.
Both nations have friendly and collateral relations.
India supported Vietnam's independence from France, opposed US involvement in theVietnam War and supported the unification of Vietnam. India established official diplomatic relations in 1972 and maintained friendly relations, especially in the wake of Vietnam's hostile relations with the People's Republic of China, which had become India's strategic rival.[502]
India granted the "Most favoured nation" status to Vietnam in 1975[502] and both nations signed a bilateral trade agreement in 1978 and the Bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (BIPPA) on 8 March 1997.[503] In 2007, a fresh joint declaration was issued during the state visit of thePrime Minister of VietnamNguyen Tan Dung.[504] Bilateral trade has increased rapidly since the liberalisation of the economies of both Vietnam and India.[502] India is the 13th-largest exporter to Vietnam, with exports having grown steadily from US$11.5 million in 1985–86 to US$395.68 million by 2003.[503] Vietnam's exports to India rose to US$180 million, including agricultural products, handicrafts, textiles, electronics and other goods.[505] Between 2001 and 2006, the volume of bilateral trade expanded at 20–30% per annum to reach $1 billion by 2006.[506][507] Continuing the rapid pace of growth, bilateral trade is expected to rise to $2 billion by 2008, two years ahead of the official target.[507][508] India and Vietnam have also expanded cooperation in information technology, education and collaboration of the respective nationalspace programmes.[504] Direct air links and laxvisa regulations have been established to bolster tourism.[509]
India and Vietnam are members of theMekong–Ganga Cooperation, created to develop to enhance close ties between India and nations of Southeast Asia. Vietnam has supported India's bid to become a permanent member of theUnited Nations Security Council and join theIndo-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC).[510] In the 2003 joint declaration, India and Vietnam envisaged creating an "Arc of Advantage and Prosperity" in Southeast Asia;[504] to this end, Vietnam has backed a more important relationship and role between India and theAssociation of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and its negotiation of an Indo–ASEANfree trade agreement.[502][504] India and Vietnam have also built strategic partnerships, including extensive cooperation in developingnuclear power, enhancing regional security and fighting terrorism,transnational crime and drug trafficking.[511][504][505]
India's interaction withASEAN during the Cold War was very limited. India declined to get associated with ASEAN in the 1960s when full membership was offered even before the grouping was formed.[44]
It is only with the formulation of the Look East policy in the last decade (1992), India started giving this region due importance in the foreign policy. India became a sectoral dialogue partner with ASEAN in 1992, a full dialogue partner in 1995, a member of the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) in 1996, and a summit-level partner (on par with China, Japan and Korea) in 2002.
The first India–ASEAN Business Summit was held in New Delhi in October 2002. The then Prime MinisterA. B. Vajpayee addressed this meeting and since then this business summit has become an annual feature before the India–ASEAN Summits, as a forum for networking and exchange of business experiences between policymakers and business leaders from ASEAN and India.
Four India-ASEAN Summits, first in 2002 at Phnom Penh (Cambodia), second in 2003 at Bali, Indonesia, third in 2004 at Vientiane, Laos, and the fourth in 2005 at Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, have taken place.
The following agreements have been entered into with ASEAN:
The following proposals were announced by the Prime Minister at the 4th ASEAN-India Summit:
The ASEAN region has an abundance of natural resources and significant technological skills. These provide a natural base for the integration between ASEAN and India in both trade and investment. The present level of bilateral trade with ASEAN of nearly US$18 billion is reportedly increasing by about 25% per year. India hopes to reach the level of US$30 billion by 2007. India is also improving its relations with the help of other policy decisions like offers of lines of credit, better connectivity through the air (open skies policy), and rail and road links.[44]
India established diplomatic relations with Armenia in December 1992. It wasn't recognised by some countries including Pakistan, which most of the nations did. As of the earliest days of the silk route, there have been strong cultural, moral and ancient other traditional relations among the nations. It fully supports India's bid for a permanent seat inUNSC and even completely supports India onKashmir conflicts. There exists a small community ofArmenians in India while there is also a small community of Indians.
India has an embassy inBaku and Azerbaijan has an embassy inNew Delhi. Both have been connected through ancient cultural links and trade routes (especially theSilk Route).
India is a close ally of Bahrain, the Kingdom along with its GCC partners are (according to Indian officials) among the most prominent backers of India's bid for a permanent seat on the UN Security Council,[512] and Bahraini officials have urged India to play a greater role in international affairs. For instance, over concerns about Iran's nuclear programme Bahrain's Crown Prince appealed to India to play an active role in resolving the crisis.[513]
Ties between India and Bahrain go back generations, with many of Bahrain's most prominent figures having close connections: poet and constitutionalistEbrahim Al-Arrayedh grew up in Bombay, while 17th-century Bahraini theologians SheikhSalih Al-Karzakani and Sheikh Ja'far bin Kamal al-Din were influential figures in the Kingdom ofGolkonda[514] and the development of Shia thought in the sub-continent.
Bahraini politicians have sought to enhance these long-standing ties, with Parliamentary SpeakerKhalifa Al Dhahrani in 2007 leading a delegation of parliamentarians and business leaders to meet the then Indian PresidentPratibha Patil, the then opposition leaderL K Advani, and take part in training and media interviews.[515] Politically, it is easier for Bahrain's politicians to seek training and advice from India than it is from the United States or other Western alternatives.
Adding further strength to the ties,Sheikh Hamad Bin Isa Al-Khalifa visited India during which MOUs and bilateral deals worth $450 million were approved.[516] India expressed its support for Bahrain's bid for a non-permanent seat in theUNSC in 2026–27.[517]
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India supported Cyprus during its struggle for independence from British colonial rule. India supported the Greeks in Cyprus during the Turkish invasion of Cyprus in 1974 and lobbied for the international recognition of the Government of Nicosia as the sole legal representative of the entire nation. India has consistently supported and voted for a peaceful resolution of the Cyprus dispute at the United Nations.
Independent India and Iran established diplomatic links on 15 March 1950.[522] After theIranian Revolution of 1979, Iran withdrew fromCENTO and dissociated itself from US-friendly countries, including Pakistan, which automatically meant an improved relationship with the Republic of India.
Currently, the two countries have friendly relations in many areas. There are significant trade ties, particularly in crude oil imports into India and diesel exports to Iran. Iran frequently objected to Pakistan's attempts to draft anti-India resolutions at international organisations such as theOIC. India welcomed Iran's inclusion as an observer state in theSAARC regional organisation.Lucknow continues to be a major centre of Shiite culture and Persian study in the subcontinent.
In the 1990s, India and Iran both supported theNorthern Alliance in Afghanistan against theTaliban regime. They continue to collaborate in supporting the broad-based anti-Taliban government led byHamid Karzai and backed by the United States.
However, one complex issue in Indo-Iran relations is the issue of Iran's nuclear programme. In this intricate issue, India tries to make a delicate balance. According toRejaul Laskar, an Indian expert on international relations, "India's position on Iran's nuclear programme has been consistent, principled and balanced, and makes an endeavour to reconcile Iran's quest for energy security with the international community's concerns on proliferation. So, while India acknowledges and supports Iran's ambitions to achieve energy security and in particular, its quest for peaceful use of nuclear energy, it is also India's principled position that Iran must meet all its obligations under international law, particularly its obligations under the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and other such treaties to which it is a signatory"[523]
Following an attack on an Israeli diplomat in India in February 2012, theDelhi Police contended that the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps had some involvement in the attack. This was subsequently confirmed in July 2012, after a report by the Delhi Police found evidence that members of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps had been involved in the 13 February bomb attack in the capital.[524]
Iraq was one of the few countries in the Middle East with which India established diplomatic relations at the embassy level immediately after itsindependence in 1947.[525] Both nations signed the "Treaty of Perpetual Peace and Friendship" in 1952 and an agreement of cooperation on cultural affairs in 1954.[525] India was amongst the first to recognise theBa'ath Party-led government, and Iraq remained neutral during theIndo-Pakistani War of 1965. However, Iraq sided alongside other Persian Gulf states in supporting Pakistan against India during theIndo-Pakistani War of 1971, which saw the creation of Bangladesh.[525] The eight-year-longIran–Iraq War caused a steep decline in trade and commerce between the two nations.[525]
During the 1991Persian Gulf War, India remained neutral but permitted refuelling for US aircraft.[525] It opposedUN sanctions on Iraq, but the period of war and Iraq's isolation further diminished India's commercial and diplomatic ties.[525] From 1999 onwards, Iraq and India began to work towards a stronger relationship. Iraq had supported India's right to conductnuclear tests following itstests of five nuclear weapons on 11 and 13 May 1998.[525] In 2000, the then-Vice-President of IraqTaha Yassin Ramadan visited India, and on 6 August 2002 President Saddam Hussein conveyed Iraq's "unwavering support" to India over theKashmir conflict with Pakistan.[525][526] India and Iraq established joint ministerial committees and trade delegations to promote extensive bilateral cooperation.[527][528] Although initially disrupted during the2003 invasion of Iraq, diplomatic and commercial ties between India and the new democratic government of Iraq have since been normalised.[528]
The establishment of Israel at the end of World War II was a complex issue. Based on its own experience during partition, when 14 million people were displaced[529][530] and an estimated 200,000 to 500,000 people were killed in Punjab Province,[531] India had recommended a single state, as did Iran and Yugoslavia (later to undergo its genocidal partition). The state could allocate Arab- and Jewish-majority provinces to prevent the partition of historic Palestine and prevent widespread conflict.[532][better source needed] But, the final UN resolution recommended the partition of Mandatory Palestine into Arab and Jewish states based on religious and ethnic majorities. India opposed this in the final vote as it did not agree with the concept of partition based on religion.[533][better source needed]
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Due to the security threat from a US-backed Pakistan and its nuclear programme in the 1980s, Israel and India started a clandestine relationship that involved cooperation between their respective intelligence agencies.[534] Israel shared India's concerns about the growing danger posed by Pakistan and nuclear proliferation to Iran and other Arab states.[535]
Since the establishment of full diplomatic relations with Israel in 1992, India has improved its relationship with the Jewish state. India is regarded as Israel's strongest ally in Asia, and Israel is India's second-largest arms supplier. Since India achieved itsindependence in 1947, it has supported Palestinian self-determination. India recognised Palestine's statehood following Palestine'sdeclaration on 18 November 1988[536] andIndo-Palestinian relations was first established in 1974.[537] This has not adversely affected India's improved relations with Israel.
India entertained the Israeli Prime Minister in a visit in 2003,[538] and Israel has entertained Indian dignitaries such as Finance MinisterJaswant Singh in diplomatic visits. India and Israel collaborate in scientific and technological endeavours. Israel's Minister for Science and Technology has expressed interest in collaborating with theIndian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) towards using satellites to better manage land and other resources. Israel has also expressed interest in participating in ISRO'sChandrayaan Mission involving an uncrewed mission to the moon.[539] On 21 January 2008, India successfully launched an Israeli spy satellite into orbit from theSriharikota space station in southern India.[540]
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Israel and India share intelligence on terrorist groups. They have developed close defence and security ties since establishing diplomatic relations in 1992. India has bought more than $5 billion worth of Israeli equipment since 2002. In addition, Israel is training Indian military units and in 2008 was discussing an arrangement to give Indian commandos instruction in counter-terrorist tactics and urban warfare.[541] In December 2008, Israel and India signed a memorandum to set up an Indo-Israel Legal Colloquium to facilitate discussions and exchange programmes between judges and jurists of the two countries.[542]
Following the Israeli invasion ofLebanon in 2006, India stated that the Israeli use of force was "disproportionate and excessive".[543]
The India-Israel relationship has been very close and warm under the premiership ofNarendra Modi since 2014. In 2017, he was the first ever Prime Minister of India to visit Israel.[544]
India and Lebanon enjoy cordial and friendly relations based on many complementarities such as a political system based on parliamentary democracy, non-alignment, human rights, commitment to a just world order, regional and global peace, a liberal market economy and a vibrant entrepreneurial spirit. India has a peacekeeping force as part of theUnited Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). One infantry battalion is deployed in Lebanon and about 900 personnel are stationed in the Eastern part ofSouthern Lebanon.[545] The force also provided non-patrol aid to citizens.[546]India and Lebanon have had very good relations since the 1950s.
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India–Oman relations are foreign relations between India and the Sultanate of Oman. India has an embassy in Muscat, Oman. The Indian consulate was opened in Muscat in February 1955 and five years later it was upgraded to a consulate general and later developed into a full-fledged embassy in 1971. The first Ambassador of India arrived in Muscat in 1973. Oman established its embassy in New Delhi in 1972 and a consulate general in Mumbai in 1976.
$5.6 bn Oman-India energy pipeline plans progressing: Fox Petroleum Group envisions a roughly five-year timeframe for the execution of the pipeline project.[547]
Ajay Kumar, the chairman and managing director of Fox Petroleum, based in New Delhi, which is an associate company of Fox Petroleum FZC in the UAE, said that Mr. Modi had "fired the best weapon of economic development and growth". "He has given a red carpet for global players to invest in India," Mr. Kumar added. "It will boost all sectors of the industry – especially for small-scale manufacturing units and heavy industries too."
[547][548][549][550][551][552]
Bilateral relations between India and Saudi Arabia have strengthened considerably owing to cooperation in regional affairs and trade. Saudi Arabia is the one of largest suppliers of oil to India, which is one of the top seven trading partners and the 5th biggest investor in Saudi Arabia.[553]
India was one of the first nations to establish ties with theThird Saudi State. During the 1930s, India heavily fundedNejd through financial subsidies.[554]
India's strategic relations with Saudi Arabia have been affected by the latter's close ties with Pakistan.[555] Saudi Arabia supported Pakistan's stance on theKashmir conflict during theIndo-Pakistani War of 1971 at the expense of its relations with India.[556] TheSoviet Union's close relations with India also served as a source of consternation.[555][556] During thePersian Gulf War (1990–91), India officially maintainedneutrality. Saudi Arabia's close military and strategic ties with Pakistan have also been a source of continuing strain.[555][556]
Since the 1990s, both nations have taken steps to improve ties. Saudi Arabia has supported grantingobserver status to India in theOrganisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and has expanded its cooperation with India to fightterrorism.[557] In January 2006, KingAbdullah of Saudi Arabia made a special visit to India, becoming the first Saudi monarch in 51 years to do so.[555] The Saudi king and formerPrime Minister of IndiaManmohan Singh signed an agreement forging a strategic energy partnership that was termed the "Delhi Declaration".[558] The pact provides for a "reliable, stable and increased volume of crude oil supplies to India through long-term contracts."[559] Both nations also agreed on joint ventures and the development of oil and natural gas in public and private sectors.[559] An Indo-Saudi joint declaration in the Indian capitalNew Delhi described the king's visit as "heralding a new era in India-Saudi Arabia relations".[557]
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Bilateral relations between India andSyria are historic and the two have ancient civilizational ties. Both countries were on theSilk Road through which civilizational exchanges took place for centuries.Syriac Christianity, originating in ancient Syria, spread further to the East and created the firstChristian communities in ancient India. The ancient Syriac language among the Syrian Christians of Kerala was also brought to Kerala by St Thomas in the 1st century CE. Even today the language continues to be taught in colleges and universities in Kerala.
A common nationalism and secular orientation, membership of NAM and similar perceptions on many issues further strengthened the bond between the two states. India supported "Syria's legitimate right to regain the occupied Golan Heights". In turn, this was reciprocated with Syrian recognition that Kashmir is a bilateral issue as well as general support of India's concerns and even candidature at various international forums.
Due to controversial issues such as Turkey's close relationship with Pakistan, relations between the two countries have often been blistered at certain times, but better at others. India and Turkey's relationship alters from unsureness to collaboration when the two nations work together to combat terrorism in Central and South Asia, and the Middle East. India and Turkey are also connected by history, seeing as they have known each other since the days of theOttoman Empire, and seeing as India was one of the countries to send aid to Turkey following itswar of independence. The Indian real estate firm GMR has invested in and is working towards the modernisation ofIstanbul'sSabiha Gökçen International Airport.
The relations took a nose-dive afterTurkish PresidentRecep Tayyip Erdoğan spoke against India on theKashmir issue and supported Pakistan, during his address atUnited Nations General Assembly after Pakistan PMImran Khan, in September 2019. In February 2020, he visited Islamabad and held talks with Imran Khan, on "improving and bolding the relations with Islamabad". At the end of the month, during theriots in Delhi andCAA-NRC protests in India, he criticized the government for its policies. He also criticized the move of the Indian Government on theGalwan Valley skirmishes with China onLAC.
India–United Arab Emirates relations refer to the bilateral relations that exist between the Republic of India and the United Arab Emirates. After the creation of the Federation in 1971, India-UAE relations flourished. Today UAE and India share political, economic and cultural links. There are over a million Indians in the United Arab Emirates, being by far the largest migrant group in the country.[1] A large Indian expatriate community resides and engages in the UAE in economically productive activities and has played a significant role in the evolution of the UAE. In 2008–09, India emerged as the largest trade partner of the UAE with bilateral trade between the two countries exceeding US$44.5 billion. [9] UAE and India are each other's main trading partners. The trade totals over $75 billion (AED275.25 billion).
India and theArab states of the Persian Gulf enjoy strong cultural and economic ties. This is reflected in the fact that more than 50% of the oil consumed by India comes from the Persian Gulf countries[560] and Indian nationals form the largest expatriate community in the Arabian peninsula.[561][better source needed] The annual remittance by Indian expatriates in the region amounted to US$20 billion in 2007.[562] India is one of the largest trading partners of theCCASG with non-oil trade between India andDubai alone amounting to US$19 billion in 2007.[563] The Persian Gulf countries have also played an important role in addressing India's energy security concerns, with Saudi Arabia and Kuwait regularly increasing their oil supply to India to meet the country's rising energy demand. In 2005, Kuwait increased its oil exports to India by 10% increasing the net oil trade between the two to US$4.5 billion.[564] In 2008, Qatar decided to invest US$5 billion in India's energy sector.[565]
India has maritime security arrangements in place with Oman and Qatar.[566] In 2008, a landmark defence pact was signed, under which India committed its military assets to protect "Qatar from external threats".[567] There has been progress in a proposed deep-sea gas pipeline from Qatar, via Oman, to India.[568]
Austria–India relations refers to the bilateral ties between Austria and India. Indo-Austrian relations were established in May 1949 by the firstPrime Minister of IndiaJawaharlal Nehru and theChancellor of AustriaLeopold Figl.[569] Historically, Indo-Austrian ties have been particularly strong and India intervened in June 1953 in Austria's favour whilst negotiations were going on with the Soviet Union about the Austrian State Treaty.[570] There is a fully functioning Indian embassy in Vienna, Austria's capital, which is concurrently accredited to the United Nations offices in the city.[571] Austria is represented in India by its embassy and Trade Commission in New Delhi, India's capital, as well as honorary consulates in Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai and Goa.[572]
Belarus has an embassy inNew Delhi.[573] Since 14 May 1992, India has an embassy inMinsk.[574]
Belgium has anembassy in New Delhi, consulates inChennai andMumbai, and an honorary consulate inKolkata.[575] India has anembassy in Brussels.[576]
Bulgaria has an embassy in New Delhi and an honorary consulate inKolkata.[577] India has an embassy inSofia.[578]
Since February 1995, Croatia has an embassy inNew Delhi and an honorary consulate inMumbai.[579] Since 28 April 1996, India has an embassy inZagreb.[580]
Czech-Indian relations were established in 1921 by a consulate in Bombay.[581] The Czech Republic has an embassy in New Delhi.[582] Consulates of the Czech Republic in India are inChennai,Mumbai andKolkata. India has an embassy in Prague.[583]
Denmark has an embassy inNew Delhi, and India has an embassy inCopenhagen.[584][585]
Tranquebar, a town in the southern Indian state ofTamil Nadu, was a Danish colony in India from 1620 to 1845. It is spelledTrankebar orTranquebar inDanish, which comes from the nativeTamil, Tarangambadi, meaning "place of the singing waves". It was sold, along with the other Danish settlements in mainland India, most notablySerampore (now inWest Bengal), toGreat Britain in 1845. TheNicobar Islands were also colonised by Denmark until sold to the British in 1868, who made them part of the British Indian Empire.
After Independence in 1947, Indian prime ministerJawaharlal Nehru's visit to Denmark in 1957 laid the foundation for a friendly relationship between India and Denmark that has endured ever since. Thebilateral relations between India and Denmark are cordial and friendly, based on synergies in political, economic, academic and research fields. There have been periodic high-level visits between the two countries.[586]
Anders Fogh Rasmussen, formerPrime Minister of Denmark, accompanied by a large business delegation, paid astate visit to India from 4 to 8 February 2008. He visitedInfosys,Biocon andIIM Bangalore inBangalore andAgra. He launched an 'India Action Plan', which called for strengthening of the political dialogue, strengthening of cooperation in trade and investments, research in science and technology,energy,climate andenvironment, culture, education, student exchanges and attracting skilled manpower and IT experts to Denmark for short periods. The two countries signed an Agreement for the establishment of a Bilateral Joint Commission for Cooperation.
In July 2012, theGovernment of India decided to scale down its diplomatic ties with Denmark after that country's refusal to appeal in their Supreme Court against a decision of its lower court rejecting the extradition ofPurulia arms drop case prime accused Kim Davy a.k.a.Niels Holck. Agitated over Denmark's refusal to act on India's repeated requests to appeal in their apex court to facilitate Davy'sextradition to India, the government issued a circular directing all senior officials not to meet or entertain any Danish diplomat posted in India.[587]
India's first recognition of Estonia came on 22 September 1921 when the former had just acquired membership in theLeague of Nations. India re-recognised Estonia on 9 September 1991 and diplomatic relations were established on 2 December of the same year inHelsinki. Neither country has a resident ambassador. Estonia is represented in India by an embassy in New Delhi one honorary consulate inMumbai. India is represented in Estonia through its embassy in Helsinki (Finland) and an honorary consulate inTallinn.
France and India established diplomatic relations before India'sindependence from the British Empire on 17 February 1947.[588] France's Indian possessions were returned to India after a treaty of cession was signed by the two countries in May 1956. On 16 August 1962, India and France exchanged the instruments of ratification under which France ceded to India full sovereignty over the territories it held.Pondicherry and the other enclaves of Karaikal, Mahe and Yanam came to be administered as the Union Territory of Puducherry on 1 July 1963.
France, Russia and Israel were the only countries that did not condemnIndia's decision to go nuclear in 1998.[589] In 2003, France became the largest supplier of nuclear fuel and technology to India and remains a large military and economic trade partner. India's candidacy for permanent membership in the UN Security Council has found very strong support from former French President Nicolas Sarkozy. The Indian Government's decisions to purchase FrenchScorpène-class submarines worth US$3 billion and 43Airbus aircraft forAir India worth US$2.5 billion have further cemented the strategic, military and economic cooperation between India and France.
France's decision to ban schoolchildren from wearing headdresses and veils had the unintended consequence of affecting Sikh children who have been refused entry into public schools. The Indian Government, citing the historic traditions of the Sikh community, has requested French authorities to review the situation to not exclude Sikh children from education.
PresidentNicolas Sarkozy andFrançois Hollande visited India in January 2008 and 2016 respectively as the Chief Guest of the annualRepublic Day parade in New Delhi. France was the first country to sign a nuclear energy cooperation agreement with India; this was done during Prime Minister Singh's visit, following the waiver by theNuclear Suppliers Group. During theBastille Day celebrations on 14 July 2009, a detachment of 400 Indian troops marched alongside the French troops and the thenIndian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was the guest of honour.[590]
India has an embassy inHelsinki.[591] Finland has an embassy inNew Delhi and three honorary consulates inKolkata,Chennai, andMumbai.[592]
During theCold War India maintained diplomatic relations with both West Germany and East Germany. Since the fall of the Berlin Wall, and the reunification of Germany, relations have further improved.
Germany is India's largest trade partner in Europe. Between 2004 and 2013, Indo-German trade grew in volume but dropped in importance.[593] According to Indian Ministry of Commerce MX data: Total trade between India and Germany was $5.5 billion (3.8% share of Indian trade and ranked 6) in 2004 and $21.6 billion (2.6% share of Indian trade and ranked 9) in 2013. Indian exports to Germany were $2.54 billion (3.99% ranked 6) in 2004 and $7.3billion (2.41% ranked 10) in 2013. Indian imports from Germany were $2.92 billion (3.73% ranked 6) in 2004 and $14.33 billion (2.92% ranked 10) in 2013.
Indo-German ties are transactional. The strategic relationship between Germany and India suffers from sustained anti-Asian sentiment,[594][citation needed]institutionalized discrimination against minority groups,[595][596][597][598] and xenophobic incidents against Indians in Germany. The2007 Mügeln mob attack on Indians and the2015 Leipzig University internship controversy have clouded the predominantly commercial-oriented relationship between the two countries. Stiff competition between foreign manufactured goods within the Indian market has seen machine tools, automotive parts and medical supplies from GermanMittelstand ceding ground to high-technology imports manufactured by companies located inASEAN &BRICS countries.[599][600][601][602] TheVolkswagen emissions scandal drew the spotlight on corrupt behaviour in German boardrooms[603][604][605] and brought back memories of theHDW bribery scandal surrounding the procurement ofShishumar-class submarines by the Indian Navy. The India-Germany strategic relationship is limited by the insignificance of German geopolitical influence in Asian affairs. Germany has no strategic footprint in Asia. Germany like India is working towards gaining permanent seats in theUnited Nations Security Council.
For the Ancient Greeks "India" (Greek: Ινδία) meant only the upper Indus until the time of Alexander the Great. Afterwards, "India" meant to the Greeks most of the northern half of the Indian subcontinent. The Greeks referred to the Indians as "Indói" (Greek: Ἰνδοί), literally meaning "the people of the Indus River". Indians called the Greeks Yonas or "Yavanas" from Ionians.
Indo-Greek kingdoms were founded by the successor of Alexander the Great. (Greek conquests in India)ThePeriplus of the Erythraean Sea was a manual written in Greek for navigators who carried trade between Roman Empire and other regions, including ancient India. It gives detailed information about the ports, routes and commodities. The Greek ethnographer and explorer of the Hellenistic period,Megasthenes was the ambassador ofSeleucus I in India. In his work, Indika (Greek: Ινδικά), he wrote the history of Indians and their culture. Megasthenes also mentioned the prehistoric arrival of the GodDionysus andHerakles (Megasthenes' Herakles) in India.
There is now tangible evidence indicating that the settlement of Greek merchants in Bengal must have begun as early as the beginning of the seventeenth century.[606] Dimitrios Galanos (Greek: Δημήτριος Γαλανός, 1760–1833) was the earliest recorded Greek Indologist. His translations of Sanskrit texts into Greek made knowledge of the philosophical and religious ideas of India available to many Europeans. A "Dimitrios Galanos" Chair for Hellenic Studies was established at Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi, India in September 2000.
In modern times, diplomatic relations between Greece and India were established in May 1950. The new Greek Embassy building in New Delhi was inaugurated on 6 February 2001.[607] As of 2020, the relationship between the two countries is closer than ever and is considered historical and strategic by both parties.[608][609][better source needed]
The Indian embassy is located inBudapest.
Iceland and India established diplomatic relations in 1972. The Embassy of Iceland in London was accredited to India and the Embassy of India inOslo, Norway, was accredited to Iceland. However, it was only after 2003 that the two countries began close diplomatic and economic relationships.[610] In 2003,President of IcelandÓlafur Ragnar Grímsson visited India on a diplomatic mission. This was the first visit by an Icelandic President to India. During the visit, Iceland pledged support to New Delhi's candidature for a permanent seat in theUnited Nations Security Council thus becoming the firstNordic country to do so. This was followed by an official visit ofPresident of IndiaA. P. J. Abdul Kalam to Iceland in May 2005.[611] Following this, a new embassy of Iceland was opened in New Delhi on 26 February 2006.[610] Soon, anIndian Navy team visited Iceland on a friendly mission.[612]Gunnar Pálsson is the ambassador of Iceland to India. The Embassy's area of accreditation, apart from India includes Bangladesh, Indonesia, the Seychelles, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritius and Nepal.[613] India appointedS. Swaminathan as the first resident ambassador to Iceland in March 2008.[614]
Indo-Irish relations picked up steam during their respective campaigns for independence from the British Empire. Political relations between the two states have largely been based on socio-cultural ties, although political and economic ties have also helped build relations. Indo-Irish relations were greatly strengthened byPandit Nehru,Éamon de Valera,Rabindranath Tagore,W. B. Yeats,James Joyce, and, above all,Annie Besant. Politically, relations have not been cold or warm. Mutual benefit has led to economic ties that are fruitful for both states.[citation needed] Visits by government leaders have kept relations cordial at regular intervals.
Both countries established diplomatic relations on 25 March 1948[619]
India maintains an embassy inRome and a consulate-general inMilan. Italy has an embassy inNew Delhi, and consulate-generals inMumbai andCalcutta.
Indo-Italian relations have historically been cordial. In recent times, their state has mirrored the political fortunes ofSonia Maino-Gandhi, the Italian-born leader of theIndian National Congress andde facto leader of theUPA government ofManmohan Singh.
Since 2012 the relationship has been affected by the ongoingEnrica Lexie case: two Indian fishermen were killed on the Indian fishing vesselSt. Antony as a result of gunshot wounds following a confrontation with the Italian oil tankerEnrica Lexie in international waters, off theKerala coast.
After a period of tension, in 2017Italian Prime MinisterPaolo Gentiloni visited India and met hisIndian counterpartNarendra Modi; they held extensive talks to strengthen the political cooperation and to boost the bilateral trade.[620]
There are around 150,000 people ofIndian Origins living in Italy. Around 1,000 Italian citizens reside in India, mostly working on behalf of Italian industrial groups.
Relations were established in 1947, following India's independence. Luxembourg operates an embassy inNew Delhi whilst India operates a Consulate General inLuxembourg City. Bilateral Trade stood at US$37 Million in 2014 and trade continues to grow every year. Diplomats from both countries have visited the other several times. In 2019, Luxembourg plans to host the annualAsian Infrastructure Investment Bank and open an economic mission in India.
Malta opened aHigh Commission of Malta, New Delhi inNew Delhi in 2007. Malta also has an honorary consulate in Mumbai. India is represented in Malta by its high commission inValletta.
The Indian embassy to Moldova is accredited byBucharest, Romania. Moldova maintains an honorary consulate inNew Delhi and a consulate inMumbai.Both countries have taken steps to deepen their ties, which are still maintained at a modest level. Both countries have been found supporting each other on many international platforms like the United Nations through reciprocal support mechanisms. India-Moldova bilateral trade has been rather modest.
India–Netherlands relations refer to foreign relations between India and theNetherlands. India maintains an embassy inThe Hague, Netherlands and the Netherlands maintains anembassy inNew Delhi and aconsulate general inMumbai. Both countries established diplomatic relations on 17 April 1947.[125]
In 2012,Trond Giske met with Minister of FinancePranab Mukherjee, to save[621]Telenor's investments to put forth Norway's "strong wish" that there must not be a waiting period between the confiscation of telecom licenses and the re-sale of those.[622] The leader ofTelenor attended the meeting.
Mother Teresa, honoured in the Catholic Church as Saint Teresa of Calcutta became an Indian citizen in 1951, and was born in Skopje (in present-day North Macedonia) in 1910. India has an embassy in Sofia, Bulgaria jointly accredited to the Republic of Macedonia. Both Macedonia has an embassy inNew Delhi and an honorary consulate inKolkata,Mumbai,Chennai andBangalore.
Historically, relations have generally been close and friendly, characterised by understanding and cooperation on the international front.[623]
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India and Portugal have a long history of relations ever since thePortuguese colonisation inBritish Raj.
Both countries established diplomatic relations on 13 April 1947[125]
India's ties with the Russian Federation are time-tested and based on continuity, trust and mutual understanding. There is a national consensus in both countries on the need to preserve and strengthen India-Russia relations and further consolidate the strategic partnership between the two countries. A Declaration on Strategic Partnership was signed between present Russian PresidentVladimir Putin and former Indian Prime MinisterAtal Bihari Vajpayee in October 2000 the partnership is also referred to asa"special and privileged strategic partnership".
Russia and India have decided not to renew the 1971 Indo-Soviet Peace and Friendship Treaty and have sought to follow what both describe as a more pragmatic, less ideological relationship. Russian President Yeltsin's visit to India in January 1993 helped cement this new relationship. Ties have grown stronger with President Vladimir Putin's 2004 visit. The pace of high-level visits has since increased, as discussed in major defence purchases. Russia is working on the development of theKudankulam Nuclear Power Plant, which will be capable of producing 1000 MW of electricity.Gazprom is working for the development of oil and natural gas, in theBay of Bengal. India and Russia, have collaborated extensively, on space technology. Other areas of collaboration include software,Ayurveda, etc. India and Russia, have set a determination in increasing trade to $10 billion. Cooperation between clothing manufacturers of the two countries continues to strengthen. India and Russia signed an agreement on joint efforts to increase investment and trade volumes in the textile industry in both countries. In signing the document included representatives of the Russian Union of Entrepreneurs of Textile and Light Industry Council and apparel exports of India (AEPC). A cooperation agreement provides, inter alia, the exchange of technology and know-how in textile production. For this purpose, a special Commission on Affairs Textile (Textile Communication Committee). Counter-terrorism techniques are also in place between Russia and India. In 2007 President Vladimir Putin was the guest of honour at theRepublic Day celebration on 26 January 2007. 2008, has been declared by both countries as the Russia-India Friendship Year. Bollywood films are quite popular in Russia. The Indian public sector oil companyONGC boughtImperial Energy Corporation in 2008. In December 2008, during President Medvedev's visit, to New Delhi, India and Russia, signed a nuclear energy cooperation agreement. In March 2010, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin signed an additional 19 pacts with India which included civilian nuclear energy, space and military cooperation and the final sale of Admiral Gorshkov (Aircraft Carrier) along with MiG-29K fighter jets.
During theannexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation, India refused to support American sanctions against Russia and one of India's national security advisersShivshankar Menon was reported to have said "There are legitimate Russian and other interests involved and we hope they are discussed and resolved."[626]
On 7 August 2014, India and Russia held a joint counter-terrorism exercise near the Moscow boundary with China and Mongolia. It involved the use of tanks and armoured vehicles.[627]
India and Russia have so far conducted three rounds of INDRA exercises. The first exercise was carried out in 2005 in Rajasthan, followed by Prshkov in Russia. The third exercise was conducted at Chaubattia in Kumaon Hills in October 2010.[627][628]
India has an embassy inBucharest[629] and an honorary consulate inTimișoara. Romania has an embassy in New Delhi and an honorary consulate inKolkata.[630]
India has an embassy inBratislava and Slovakia has an embassy inNew Delhi.
Diplomatic ties with Spain started in 1956.[636] The first Spanish embassy was established in Delhi in 1958. India and Spain have had a cordial relationship with each other, especially after the establishment of democracy in Spain in 1978. Spain has been a main tourist spot for Indians over the years. Many presidents includingPrathibha Patil visited Spain. The royal family of Spain has always liked the humble nature of the Indian government and they have thus paid several visits to India. There was no direct flight from India to Spain but it all changed in 1986 when Iberian travels started to fly directly from Mumbai to Madrid. However, it was stopped in 22 months. In 2006 this issue of the direct flight was reconsidered to improve the ties between India and Spain. "Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara" was shot completely in Spain in 2011. The tourism ministry of Spain is using this movie to promote tourism to Spain in India.
India is one of Switzerland's most important partners in Asia. Bilateral and political contacts are constantly developing, and trade and scientific cooperation between the two countries are flourishing.[641] Switzerland was the first country in the World to sign a Friendship treaty with India in 1947.[642]
Diplomatic relations between India and Ukraine were established in January 1992. The Indian Embassy inKyiv was opened in May 1992 and Ukraine opened its mission in New Delhi in February 1993. The Consulate General of India inOdesa functioned from 1962 until its closure in March 1999.
UK& India has a high commission in London and two consulates-general inBirmingham andEdinburgh.[646] The United Kingdom has a high commission in New Delhi and five deputy high commissions inMumbai,Chennai,Bangalore,Hyderabad andKolkata.[647] Since 1947, India's relations with the United Kingdom have been bilateral, as well as through theCommonwealth of Nations framework. Although the Sterling Area no longer exists and the Commonwealth is much more an informal forum, India and the UK still have many enduring links. This is in part due to the significant number of people ofIndian origin living in the UK. The large South Asian population in the UK results in steady travel and communication between the two countries. TheBritish Raj allowed for both cultures to imbibe tremendously from the other. The English language and cricket are perhaps the two most evident British exports, whilst in the UK food from the Indian subcontinent is very popular.[648] The United Kingdom's favourite food is often reported to beIndian cuisine, although no official study reports this.[648]
Economically the relationship between Britain and India is also strong. India is the second largest investor in Britain after the US.[649][650] Britain is also one of the largest investors in India.[651]
Formal bilateral relations between India and Vatican City have existed since 12 June 1948. An Apostolic Delegation existed in India from 1881. The Holy See has anunciature in New Delhi whilst India has accredited its embassy inBern, Switzerland to the Holy See as well. India's Ambassador in Bern has traditionally been accredited to the Holy See.
The connections between theCatholic Church and India can be traced back to the apostleSt. Thomas, who, according to tradition, came to India in 52 CE in the 9th century, the patriarch of the Nestorians inPersia sent bishops to India. There is a record of an Indian bishop visitingRome in the early part of the 12th century.
Thediplomatic mission was established as theApostolic Delegation to the East Indies in 1881, and includedCeylon, and was extended toMalaca in 1889, then to Burma in 1920, and eventually includedGoa in 1923. It was raised to an Internunciature by PopePius XII on 12 June 1948 and to a full Apostolic Nunciature byPope Paul VI on 22 August 1967.
There have been three Papal visits to India. The first Pope to visit India wasPope Paul VI, who visitedMumbai in 1964 to attend theEucharistic Congress. PopeJohn Paul II visited India in February 1986 and November 1999. Several Indian dignitaries have, from time to time, called on the Pope in theVatican. These include Prime MinisterIndira Gandhi in 1981 and Prime MinisterI. K. Gujral in September 1987.Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Prime Minister, called on the Pope in June2000 during his official visit to Italy. Vice-PresidentBhairon Singh Shekhawat represented the country at the funeral of Pope John Paul II.
India was one of the first countries to develop relations with the European Union. The Joint Political Statement of 1993 and the 1994 Cooperation Agreement were the foundational agreements for the bilateral partnership. In 2004, India and European Union became "Strategic Partners". A Joint Action Plan was agreed upon in 2005 and updated in 2008. India-EU Joint Statements were published in 2009 and 2012 following the India-European Union Summits.[652]
India and the European Commission initiated negotiations on aBroad-based Trade and Investment Agreement (BTIA) in 2007. Seven rounds of negotiations have been completed without reaching a Free Trade Agreement.[653]
According to the Government of India, trade between India and the EU was $57.25 billion between April and October 2014 and stood at $101.5 billion for the fiscal period of 2014–2015.[654]
The European Union is India's second largest trade bloc, accounting for around 20% of Indian trade (Gulf Cooperation Council is the largest trade bloc with almost $160 billion in total trade[655]). India was the European Union's8th largest trading partner in 2010. EU-India trade grew from €28.6 billion in 2003 to €72.7 billion in 2013.[656]
France, Germany and UK collectively represent the major part of EU-India trade.[657] Annual trade in commercial services tripled from €5.2billion in 2002 to €17.9 billion in 2010.[658] Denmark, Sweden, Finland and the Netherlands are the other more prominent European Union countries that trade with India.[659][660]
India & Australia are both Commonwealth members. Sporting and cultural ties are significant. Australian cricketers often undertake large commercial ventures in India, enhanced with theIPL, and, to a lesser degree, theICL. Bollywood productions enjoy a large market in Australia. In 2007, PMJohn Howard visited Mumbai and its entertainment industry, in efforts to increaseTourism in India to Australia.[661]
There are ongoing strategic attempts to form an "Asian NATO" with India,Japan, theUS andAustralia through theQuadrilateral Security Dialogue.[662][663] During the first decade of the 21st century, the deepening of strategic relations between the two nations was prevented by a range of policy disagreements, such as India's refusal to sign theNPT and Australia's consequent refusal to provide India withuranium. Australia's parliament later allowed for the sale of uranium to India, following changes in government.[664] Closer strategic cooperation between India, Japan, the United States and Australia also began during the second half of the 2010s, which some analysts attributed to a desire to balance Chinese initiatives in the Indo-Pacific region.[665]
Fiji's relationship with the Republic of India is often seen by observers against the backdrop of the sometimes tense relations between itsindigenous people and the 44 percent of the population who are ofIndian descent. India has used its influence in international forums such as theCommonwealth of Nations and United Nations on behalf of ethnic Indians in Fiji, lobbying forsanctions against Fiji in the wake of the1987 coups and the2000 coup, both of which removed governments, one dominated and one led, by Indo-Fijians.
India andNauru relations have been established since the island nation's independence in 1968. Leaders of both countries have been meeting on the sidelines of some of the international forums of which both nations are part such as the United Nations and the Non-Aligned Movement. India is one of the largest donors to the island by improving the education ministry and creating transportation and computer connections for the MPs and theSpeaker of the Parliament of Nauru. There were numerous visits by thePresident of Nauru to the republic to further strengthen ties and cooperation.[666]
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Bilateral relations were established between India and New Zealand in 1952.[667] India has a High Commission inWellington with anHonorary Consulate inAuckland, while New Zealand has a High Commission inNew Delhi along with aConsulate inMumbai,trade offices in New Delhi and Mumbai and an Honorary Consulate inChennai.
India–New Zealand relations were cordial but not extensive afterIndian independence. More recently, New Zealand has shown interest in extending ties with India due toIndia's impressive GDP growth.
India and Papua New Guinea established relations in 1975, following PNG's independence from Australia. Since 1975, relations have grown between the two nations. India maintains a High Commission inPort Moresby while Papua New Guinea maintains a High Commission inNew Delhi In the 2010 Fiscal Year, Trade between the two nations grew to US$239 Million. PNG has sent numerous military officers and students to be trained and educated in India's academies and universities respectively. In recent years, India and PNG have signed an Economic Partnership Agreement, allowing India to further invest in PNG's infrastructure, telecommunications and educational institutions.
Both countries established diplomatic relations in June 1970.[668]
India has its High Commission in Wellington, New Zealand, accredited to Vanuatu.
Since itsdeclaration of independence fromSerbia,Kosovo sought recognition from the major of the world's most influential countries, among them, India.Indian views regarding the developments followed initial constringent to comment but dismissed to give recognition of statehood. There are almost negligible interactions.
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After India achieved itsindependence in 1947, the country moved to support Palestinian self-determination following thepartition of India. In light of a religious partition between India and Pakistan, the impetus to boost ties withMuslim states around the world was a further tie to India's support for thePalestinian cause. Though it started to waver in the late 1980s and 1990s, as the recognition of Israel led to diplomatic exchanges, the ultimate support for the Palestinian cause, was still an underlying concern.Beyond the recognition of Palestinian self-determination ties have been largely dependent upon socio-cultural bonds, while economic relations were neither cold nor warm.
India recognised Palestine's statehood following itsdeclaration on 18 November 1988;[536] although relations were first established in 1974.[537]
PNA President Abbas paid a State visit to India in September 2012, during which India pledged $10 million as aid. Indian officials said it was the third such donation, adding that New Delhi was committed to helping other development projects. India also pledged support to Palestine's bid for full and equal membership of the UN.
India recognized the Republic of China (R.O.C) from 1947 to 1950. On 1 April 1950, India officially recognised the People's Republic of China (P.R.C) as "China" and continued to recognise the PRC's "One China" policy in which the island of Taiwan is a part of the Chinese territory. However, the bilateral relations between India and Taiwan have improved since the 1990s despite both nations not maintaining official diplomatic relations. Taiwan and India maintain non-governmental interaction viaIndia-Taipei Association and Taipei Economic and Cultural Centre respectively. In July 2020, the Indian government appointed a top career diplomat, Joint Secretary Gourangalal Das, the former head of the U.S. division in India's Ministry of External Affairs, as its new envoy to Taiwan.
India participates in the following international organisations:[669]
India became independent within theBritish Commonwealth in August 1947 as theDominion of India after thepartition of India into India and theDominion of Pakistan. King George VI, the lastEmperor of India became theKing of India with theGovernor-General of India as his viceregal representative.
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India became the very firstCommonwealth republic on 26 January 1950, as a result of theLondon Declaration.
India played an important role in the multilateral movements of colonies and newly independent countries that developed into theNon-Aligned Movement.Nonalignment had its origins in India'scolonial experience and the nonviolentIndian independence movement led by theCongress, which left India determined to be the master of its fate in an international system dominated politically byCold War alliances and economically by Westerncapitalism and Sovietcommunism. The principles of nonalignment, as articulated by Nehru and his successors, were the preservation of India's freedom of action internationally through refusal to align India with any bloc or alliance, particularly those led by the United States or theSoviet Union; nonviolence and international cooperation as a means of settling international disputes. Nonalignment was a consistent feature of Indian foreign policy by the late 1940s and enjoyed strong, almost unquestioning support among the Indian elite.
The term "Non-Alignment" was coined byV K Menon in his speech at the UN in 1953 which was later used by Indian Prime Minister,Jawaharlal Nehru during his speech in 1954 inColombo, Sri Lanka. In this speech, Nehru described the five pillars to be used as a guide forChina–India relations, which were first put forth byPRC PremierZhou Enlai. CalledPanchsheel (five restraints), these principles would later serve as the basis of the Non-Aligned Movement. The five principles were:
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Jawaharlal Nehru's concept of nonalignment brought India considerable international prestige among newly independent states that shared India's concerns about the military confrontation between thesuperpowers and the influence of the former colonial powers.New Delhi used nonalignment to establish a significant role for itself as a leader of the newly independent world in such multilateral organisations as theUnited Nations (UN) and the Nonaligned Movement. The signing of the Treaty of Peace, Friendship, and Cooperation between India and the Soviet Union in 1971 and India's involvement in the internal affairs of its smaller neighbours in the 1970s and 1980s tarnished New Delhi's image as a nonaligned nation and led some observers to note that in practice, nonalignment applied only to India's relations with countries outside South Asia.
TheQuadrilateral Security Dialogue (QSD, also known as theQuad) is an informal strategic dialogue between theUnited States,India,Japan andAustralia that is maintained by talks between member countries. The dialogue was initiated in 2007 byJapanese Prime MinisterShinzo Abe, with the support ofAmerican Vice PresidentDick Cheney,Australian Prime MinisterJohn Howard and FormerIndian Prime MinisterManmohan Singh. The dialogue was paralleled by joint military exercises of an unprecedented scale, titledExercise Malabar. The diplomatic and military arrangement was widely viewed as a response to increased Chinese economic and military power.On 12 March 2021,the first summit meeting was held virtually betweenU.S PresidentJoe Biden, Indian Prime MinisterNarendra Modi, Japanese Prime MinisterYoshihide Suga and Australian Prime MinisterScott Morrison.
India was among the original members of theUnited Nations that signed theDeclaration by United Nations at Washington on 1 January 1942 and also participated in theUnited Nations Conference on International Organization inSan Francisco from 25 April to 26 June 1945. As a founding member of the United Nations, India strongly supports the purposes and principles of the UN and has made significant contributions to implementing the goals of theCharter and the evolution of the UN's specialised programmes and agencies.[671] India is a charter member of the United Nations and participates in all of itsspecialised agencies and organisations. India has contributed troops toUnited Nations peacekeeping efforts inKorea,[672][673] Egypt and theCongo in its earlier years and in Somalia, Angola, Haiti, Liberia, Lebanon and Rwanda in recent years, and more recently in theSouth Sudan conflict.[674] India has beena member of theUN Security Council for eight terms (a total of 16 years).[675] India is a member of theG4 group of nations who back each other in seeking a permanent seat on the security council and advocate in favour ofthe reformation of the UNSC. India is also part of theGroup of 77.
Described by the WTO's former chief,Pascal Lamy, as one of the organisation's "big brothers",[676] India was instrumental in bringing down theDoha Development Round of talks in 2008.[76] It has played an important role in representing as many as 100 developing nations during WTO summits.[677]
Thedissolution of the Soviet Union and the emergence of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) had major repercussions for Indian foreign policy. Substantial trade with the former Soviet Union plummeted after the Soviet collapse and has yet to recover. Longstanding military supply relationships were similarly disrupted due to questions over financing, although Russia continues to be India's largest supplier of military systems and spare parts.
The relationship with USSR was tested (and proven) during the 1971 war with Pakistan, which led to the subsequent liberation of Bangladesh. Soon after the victory of the Indian Armed Forces, one of the foreign delegates to visit India wasAdmiral S.G. Gorshkov, Chief of the Soviet Navy. During his visit to Mumbai (Bombay), he came on board INSVikrant. During a conversation with Vice Admiral Swaraj Prakash, Gorshkov asked the Vice Admiral, "Were you worried about a battle against the American carrier?" He answered himself: "Well, you had no reason to be worried, as I had a Soviet nuclear submarine trailing the American task force all the way into the Indian Ocean."[678]
India had formal relations with theSocialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia until 1992 with theBreakup of Yugoslavia.
India's territorial disputes with neighbouring Pakistan and the People's Republic of China have played a crucial role in its foreign policy. India is also involved in minorterritorial disputes with neighbouring Bangladesh, Nepal and Maldives. India currently maintains twomanned stations in Antarctica but has made some unofficialterritorial claims, which are yet to be clarified.
India is involved in the following border disputes:
Kalapani village of India is claimed byNepal andSusta village inNawalparasi district of Nepal is claimed by India.[679] The dispute between India and Nepal involves about 75 km2 (30 sq mi) of area in Kalapani, where China, India, and Nepal meet. Indian forces occupied the area in 1962 after China and India fought their border war. Three villages are located in the disputed zone: Kuti [Kuthi, 30°19'N, 80°46'E], Gunji, and Knabe. India and Nepal disagree about how to interpret the 1816 Sugauli treaty between the British East India Company and Nepal, which delimited the boundary along the Maha Kali River (Sarda River in India). The dispute intensified in 1997 as the Nepali parliament considered a treaty on the hydroelectric development of the river. India and Nepal differ as to which stream constitutes the source of the river. Nepal regards the Limpiyadhura as the source; India claims the Lipu Lekh. Nepal has reportedly tabled an 1856 map from the British India Office to support its position. The countries have held several meetings about the dispute and discussed jointly surveying to resolve the issue.[680] Although the Indo-Nepali dispute appears to be minor, it was aggravated in 1962 by tensions between China and India. Because the disputed area lies near the Sino-Indian frontier, it gains strategic value.[681]
Two regions are claimed by both India and China. Aksai Chin is in the disputed territory ofLadakh, at the junction ofIndia,Tibet andXinjiang, India claims the 38,000-square-kilometre territory, currently administered by China afterSino-Indian War. India also considers the cessation ofShaksam Valley to China by Pakistan as illegal and a part ofits territory.Arunachal Pradesh is a state of India in the country's northeast, bordering onBhutan,Burma and China'sTibet, though it is under Indian administration since1914, China claims the 90,000-square-kilometre area asSouth Tibet. Also, the boundary between theNorth Indian states ofHimachal Pradesh andUttarakhand with China'sTibet is not properly demarcated with some portions under the de facto administration of India.[682]
List of countries commemorating anniversaries of diplomatic relations with India through philately
| Year | Country | Anniversary Milestone | Type | Sub type | Image | Date of issue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1972 |  Soviet Union | 25th Anniversary | Postal Stationery | Unilateral Issue | 1972 | |
| 2000 | China | 50th Anniversary | Postal Stationery | Unilateral Issue | 1st Apr | |
| 2002 | Japan | 50th Anniversary | Stamp | Unilateral Issue | 26th Apr | |
| 2002 | South Korea | 30th Anniversary | Stamp | Joint Issue | 10th Dec | |
| 2003 | South Africa | 10th Anniversary | Stamp | Unilateral Issue | 16th Oct | |
| 2005 | China | 55th Anniversary of Diplomatic Relations | Postmark | Unilateral Issue | 29th Apr | |
| 2007 | Japan | Japan - India Friendship | Stamp | Unilateral Issue | 23 May | |
| 2008 | Ethiopia | 60th Anniversary | Stamp | Unilateral Issue | 30th Dec | |
| 2009 | Philippines | 60th Anniversary | Stamp | Joint Issue | 16th Nov | |
| 2010 | Cuba | 50th Anniversary | Stamp | Unilateral Issue | 10th Feb | |
| 2012 | Israel | 20th Anniversary | Stamp | Joint Issue | 5th Nov | |
| 2012 | Russia | 60th Anniversary | Postal Stationery | Unilateral Issue | 2012 | |
| 2013 | Peru | 50th Anniversary | Stamp | Unilateral Issue | 19th Mar | |
| 2013 | Kazakhstan | 20th Anniversary | Stamp | Unilateral Issue | 2nd Jul | |
| 2014 | Bulgaria | 60th Anniversary | Postal Stationery | Unilateral Issue | 2014 | |
| 2014 | Myanmar | The Five Principles of Peaceful Co-existence by Myanmar, China & India | Stamp + Postal Stationery | Unilateral Issue | 2014 | |
| 2016 | Oman | 60th Anniversary | Stamp | Unilateral Issue | 5th Apr | |
| 2017 | Moldova | 25th Anniversary | Postal Stationery | Unilateral Issue | 2017 | |
| 2017 | Russia | 70th Anniversary | Postal Stationery | Unilateral Issue | 2017 | |
| 2017 | Belarus | 25th Anniversary | Stamp | Joint Issue | 12th Sep | |
| 2018 | Brazil | 70th Anniversary | Stamp | Unilateral Issue | 2nd Oct | |
| 2018 | Bhutan | 50th Anniversary | Stamp | Unilateral Issue | 21st Feb | |
| 2018 | Georgia | 25th Anniversary | Stamp | Unilateral Issue | 14th Jun | |
| 2018 | Mauritius | 50th Anniversary | Stamp | Unilateral Issue | 18th Aug | |
| 2018 | Serbia | 70th Anniversary | Stamp | Joint Issue | 15th Sep | |
| 2019 | Indonesia | 70th Anniversary | Stamp (Personalized) | Unilateral Issue | 2019 | |
| 2019 | Colombia | 60th Anniversary | Stamp | Unilateral Issue | 28th Jan | |
| 2019 |  Afghanistan | Friendship | Stamps | Unilateral Issue | 2019 | |
| 2020 | China | 70th Anniversary | Postal Stationery | Unilateral Issue | 1st Apr | |
| 2020 | Cuba | 60th Anniversary of Diplomatic Relations | Postmark | Unilateral Issue | 16th Nov | |
| 2020 | Mongolia | 65th Anniversary | Stamp | Unilateral Issue | 24th Dec | |
| 2021 | Bangladesh | 50th Anniversary | Stamp | Joint Issue | 27th Mar | |
| 2021 | Germany | 70th Anniversary | Stamp | Joint Issue | 10th Jun | |
| 2021 | Senegal | 60th Anniversary | Stamp | Unilateral Issue | 5th Nov | |
| 2021 | Tajikistan | 75th Anniversary of India's Independence | Stamp | Unilateral Issue | 16th Sep | |
| 2022 | Iraq | Iraqi - India relations | Stamp | Unilateral Issue | 17th Feb | |
| 2022 | Cuba | 75th Anniversary of India's Independence | Postmark | Unilateral Issue | 27th Jun | |
| 2022 | United Arab Emirates | 75th Anniversary of India's Independence | Stamp | Joint Issue | 30th Jun | |
| 2022 | Belarus | 30th Anniversary | Postal Stationery | Unilateral Issue | 3rd Aug | |
| 2022 | Egypt | 75th Anniversary of India's Independence | Stamp | Unilateral Issue | 18th Aug | |
| 2022 | Peru | 75th Anniversary of India's Independence | Stamp | Unilateral Issue | 26th Aug | |
| 2022 | Andorra | 75th Anniversary of India's Independence | Stamp | Unilateral Issue | 3rd Oct | |
| 2022 | Moldova | 75th Anniversary of India's Independence | Postmark | Unilateral Issue | 7th Oct | |
| 2022 | Serbia | 75th Anniversary of India's Independence | Postmark | Unilateral Issue | 29th Nov | |
| 2022 | Cyprus | 75th Anniversary of India's Independence | Stamp (Personalized) | Unilateral Issue | 29th Dec | |
| 2023 | Kyrgyzstan | 30th Anniversary of Diplomatic Relations | Stamp | Unilateral Issue | 30th Jan | |
| 2023 | Luxembourg | 75 Years of Friendship Between Luxembourg and India | Miniature Sheet | Joint Issue | 15th Mar | |
| 2023 | Uzbekistan | 75 Years of India's Independence | Miniature Sheet | Unliateral Issue | 7th Aug | |
| 2023 | Vietnam | 50th Anniversary of Diplomatic Relations | Stamps | Joint Issue | 16th Oct | |
| 2023 | Mauritius | 75th Anniversary of Diplomatic Relations | Stamps | Joint Issue | 2nd Nov | |
| 2023 | Sri Lanka | 100 years of Establishment of the Assistant High Commission of India in Kandy | Stamp (Personalized) | Unilateral Issue | 7th Dec | |
| 2023 | Oman | Celebrating Friendship | Miniature Sheet & Stamps | Joint Issue | 15th Dec | |
| 2024 | Romania | 75th Anniversary of Diplomatic Relations | Stamps | Joint Issue | 17th Sep | |
| 2024 | Peru | 60 years of Diplomatic Relations | Postmark | Unliateral Issue | 14th Dec | |
| 2025 | Portugal | 50th Anniversary of Re-establishment of Diplomatic Relations | Miniature Sheet | Joint Issue | 7th Apr |
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... P. K. Banerjee ( Minister , Indian Embassy , Washington ) is Ambassador to Costa Rica .
Swaziland-India. The High Commissioner for India to Swaziland, Mr. S. K. Chowdhry, has presented his credentials to King Sobhuza II. (SWZ 5/11)
Mr. Arif Quamarain was appointed India's High Commissioner to Zimba- bwe . Diplomatic relations with Zimbabwe were formally established on April 18 when Zimbabwe became an indepen- dent State .
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| Dependencies and other territories | |
