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Foreign relations of India

India, officially the Republic of India, has full diplomatic relations with 201 states, including Palestine, the Holy See, and Niue.[note 1][1] The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) is the government agency responsible for the conduct of foreign relations of India. With the world's third largest military expenditure, second largest armed force, fifth largest economy by GDP nominal rates and third largest economy in terms of purchasing power parity, India is a prominent regional power and a rising 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 the neighborhood-first policy embodied by SAARC as well as the Look East policy to forge more extensive economic and strategic relationships with other East Asian countries. It has also maintained a policy of strategic ambiguity, which involves its "no first use" nuclear policy and its neutral stance on the Russo-Ukrainian War.

India is a member of several intergovernmental organizations, such as the United Nations, the Asian Development Bank, BRICS, and the G-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 the Non-Aligned Movement.[6] India has also played an important and influential role in other international organisations, such as the East Asia Summit,[7] World Trade Organization,[8] International Monetary Fund (IMF),[9] G8+5[10] and IBSA Dialogue Forum.[11] India is also a member of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation. As a former British colony, India is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations and continues to maintain relationships with other Commonwealth countries.

History

India's relations with the world have evolved since the British Raj (1857–1947) when the British 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, the Indian 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. As Prime Minister and Minister of External Affairs from 1947, Nehru articulated India's approach to the world.

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, 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 the Indo-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 its friendship 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, the Indian colonial government maintained semi-autonomous diplomatic relations. It had colonies (such as the Aden Settlement), that sent and received full missions.[14] India was a founder member of both the League of Nations[15] and the United Nations.[16] After India gained independence from the United Kingdom in 1947, it soon joined the Commonwealth of Nations and strongly supported independence movements in other colonies, like the Indonesian National Revolution.[17] The partition and various territorial disputes, particularly that over Kashmir, would strain its relations with Pakistan for years to come. During the Cold War, India adopted a foreign policy of not aligning itself with any major power bloc. However, India developed close ties 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] the European Union trading bloc,[20] Japan,[21] Israel,[22] Mexico,[23] and Brazil.[24] India has also forged close ties with the member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations,[25] the African Union,[26] the Arab 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] The foreign policy of Narendra Modi indicated a shift towards focusing on the Asian region and, more broadly, trade deals.

Policy

 
  India
  States with a present and permanent Indian diplomatic mission

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]

Role of the Prime Minister

Jawaharlal Nehru, India's first Prime Minister, promoted a strong personal role for the Prime Minister but a weak institutional structure. 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 the Five 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]

 
Jawaharlal Nehru, the 1st Prime Minister of India, addressing the United Nations (1948)

India's second prime minister, Lal Bahadur Shastri (1964–66), expanded the Prime 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—the Research 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 of Indira 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]

The Prime Minister is however free to appoint advisers and special committees to examine various foreign policy options and areas of interest.[citation needed] In a recent instance, Manmohan Singh appointed K. Subrahmanyam in 2005 to head a special government 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 the public domain.

 
Pranab Mukherjee, the former Finance Minister of India and former President of India with former US President George W. Bush in 2008.

India's historical inclination towards a "non-aligned" foreign policy has witnessed a shift under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership since 2014, as New Delhi has displayed a heightened level of "assertiveness" in its international engagements.[40]

Ministry of External Affairs

The Ministry of External Affairs is the Indian government's agency responsible for the foreign relations of India. The Minister of External Affairs holds cabinet rank as a member of the Council of Ministers.

Subrahmanyam Jaishankar is the current Minister of External Affairs. The Ministry has a Minister of State V Muraleedharan. The Indian Foreign Secretary is the head of the Indian 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]

Act East Policy

In the post-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 nineties of the last century unveiled the look east policy. Initially, it focused on renewing political and economic contacts with the countries of East and South-East Asia.

 
The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh at the opening ceremony of third Summit of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC), at Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar on March 04, 2014

At present,[when?] under the Look 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 the BIMSTEC and the Ganga–Mekong Cooperation and now becoming a member of the East 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 the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government and the subsequent United Progressive Alliance (UPA) governments.[45]

In the mid-1990s, India attracted the world's attention to Pakistan-backed terrorism in Kashmir. The Kargil 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 as terrorist groups by the United States and European Union.

In 1998, India tested nuclear weapons for the second time (see Pokhran-II) which resulted in several US, Japanese and European sanctions on India. India's then defence minister, George Fernandes, said that India's nuclear 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]

 
India has often represented the interests of developing countries on various international platforms. Shown here are Vladimir Putin, Narendra Modi, Dilma Rousseff, Xi Jinping, and Jacob Zuma, 2014.

After September 11 attacks in 2001, Indian intelligence agencies provided the US with significant information on Al-Qaeda and related groups' activities in Pakistan and Afghanistan. India's extensive contribution to the War 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-India bilateral 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 a nuclear cooperation agreement with India even though the latter is not a part of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. The US argued that India's strong nuclear non-proliferation record made it an exception, however, this has not persuaded other Nuclear Suppliers Group members to sign similar deals with India. During a state visit to India in November 2010, US President Barack Obama announced US support for India's bid for permanent membership to UN Security Council[53] as well as India's entry to Nuclear Suppliers Group, Wassenaar Arrangement, Australia Group and Missile Technology Control Regime.[54][55] As of January 2018, India has become a member of Wassenaar Arrangement, Australia Group and Missile Technology Control Regime.[56]

Strategic partners

India's growing economy, strategic location, a mix of friendly and diplomatic foreign policy and large and vibrant diaspora has won it more allies than enemies.[57] India has friendly relations with several countries in the developing 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.

 
The Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Deputy Supreme Commander of U.A.E. Armed Forces, General Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan being received by the President, Shri Pranab Mukherjee and the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi

Countries considered India's closest include the United 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 an airbase in Tajikistan,[71] signed a landmark defence accord with Qatar in 2008,[72] and has leased out Assumption Island from Seychelles 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 the G8+5, IBSA and WTO. 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 the Doha Development Round.[76][77] Indian Look East policy has helped it develop greater economic and strategic partnerships with Southeast Asian countries, South Korea, Japan, and Taiwan. India also enjoys friendly relations with the Persian Gulf countries and most members of the African Union.

The Foundation for National Security Research in New Delhi published India'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 the 2023 G20 summit is a transportation project that would facilitate Indian trade to the Middle East and Europe.[79]

Partnership agreements

India has signed strategic partnership agreements with more than two dozen countries/supranational entities listed here in the chronological order of the pacts:

Agreements
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   Rwanda 2017 [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   Israel 2017 [101]
23   Japan 2014 [102]
24   Seychelles 2014 [103]
25   Mongolia 2015 [104]
26   Singapore 2015 [105]
27   United Arab Emirates 2015 [106]
28   European Union 2004 [107]
29   ASEAN 2012 [108]
30   Egypt 2023 [109]
31   Greece 2023 [110]

Future agreements

Currently, India is taking steps towards establishing strategic partnerships with Canada[111] and Argentina.[112] Although India has not signed any formal strategic partnership agreements with Bhutan and Qatar, its foreign ministry often describes relations with these countries as 'strategic'.[113][114]

Diplomatic relations

List of countries which India maintains diplomatic relations with:

 
# Country Date[115]
1   Australia 7 March 1941[116]
2   Canada 6 April 1945[117]
3   United States 1 November 1946[118]
4   United Kingdom November 1946[119]
5   Russia 14 April 1947[120]
6   Netherlands 17 April 1947[121]
7     Nepal 13 June 1947[122]
8   Thailand 1 August 1947[123]
9   France 15 August 1947[124]
10   Norway 15 August 1947[125]
11   Pakistan 15 August 1947[126]
12   Turkey 15 August 1947[127]
13   Egypt 18 August 1947
14   Belgium 20 September 1947[128]
15   Czech Republic 18 November 1947[129]
16   Afghanistan 10 December 1947[130]
17   Iraq 1947[131]
18   Ireland 1947
19   Jordan 1947
20   Saudi Arabia 1947
21   Myanmar 4 January 1948[132]
22   Italy 25 March 1948[133]
23   Brazil 6 April 1948[134]
  Holy See 12 June 1948[135]
24   Ethiopia 1 July 1948[136]
25   Luxembourg 1 July 1948[137]
26    Switzerland 14 August 1948
27   Lebanon 15 September 1948[138]
28   Hungary 18 November 1948[139]
29   Serbia 5 December 1948[140]
30   Romania 14 December 1948[141]
31   Sri Lanka 1948[142]
32   Argentina 3 February 1949[143]
33   Chile March 1949[144]
34   Indonesia 1 April 1949[145]
35   Portugal 22 June 1949[146]
36   Finland 10 September 1949[147]
37   Denmark September 1949
38   Philippines 26 November 1949
39   Austria 1949
40   Sweden 1949[148]
41   Iran 15 March 1950
42   China 1 April 1950
43   Syria May 1950[149]
44   Mexico 1 August 1950[150]
45   Germany 7 March 1951[151]
46   New Zealand 7 April 1952[152]
47   Japan 28 April 1952
48   Cambodia 30 May 1952[153]
49   Libya 20 July 1952[154]
50   Poland 30 March 1954[155]
51   Bulgaria 22 December 1954[156]
52   Mongolia 24 December 1955[157]
53   Laos 2 February 1956[158]
54   Sudan 7 May 1956[159]
55   Greece 14 May 1956[160]
56   Albania 1956
57   Ghana 6 March 1957[161]
58   Malaysia 8 October 1957[162]
59   Morocco 1957
60   Nigeria November 1958
61   Bolivia 1958[163]
62   Tunisia 1958
63   Colombia 19 January 1959
64   Venezuela 1 November 1959[164]
65   Cuba 12 January 1960[165]
66   Liberia 7 July 1960[166]
67   Guinea 8 July 1960[166]
68   Democratic Republic of the Congo August 1960[167]
69   Madagascar 1960
70   Uruguay 1960[168]
71   Somalia 10 March 1961[169]
72   Senegal 2 April 1961[170]
73   Sierra Leone 28 April 1961[171]
74   Paraguay 13 September 1961[172]
75   Ivory Coast 5 November 1961[173]
76   Tanzania 9 December 1961[174]
77   Mali 24 January 1962[175]
78   Cyprus 10 February 1962
79   Yemen 15 March 1962[176]
80   Burkina Faso 23 March 1962[177]
81   Kuwait 26 March 1962[178]
82   Panama 1 July 1962[179]
83   Algeria July 1962
84   Jamaica 12 August 1962[180]
85   Togo 31 August 1962[181]
86   Trinidad and Tobago 31 August 1962[182]
87   Uganda 9 October 1962[183]
88   Peru 25 March 1963[184]
89   Cameroon 4 April 1963[185]
90   Benin 25 June 1963[186]
91   Kenya 14 December 1963[187]
92   Malawi 19 October 1964[188]
93   Malta 10 March 1965[189]
94   Zambia April 1965[190]
95   Gambia 25 June 1965[191]
96   Singapore 24 August 1965[192]
97   Mauritania 22 October 1965[193]
98   Maldives 1 November 1965[194]
99   Guyana 26 May 1966
100   Spain 7 November 1956[195]
101   Barbados 30 November 1966[196]
102   Republic of the Congo 26 August 1967[197]
103   Bhutan January 1968[198]
104   Mauritius 12 March 1968[199]
105   Equatorial Guinea 1968
106   Ecuador 1969
107   Samoa June 1970
108   Fiji 10 October 1970[200]
109   Tonga 23 December 1970[201]
110   Lesotho 8 June 1971[202]
111   Oman 25 July 1971[203]
112   Bahrain 12 October 1971[204]
113   Bangladesh 6 December 1971[205][206]
114   Vietnam 7 January 1972
115   Qatar 12 April 1972[207]
116   Iceland 11 May 1972[208]
117   Guatemala 16 May 1972
118   Botswana 1972[209]
119   United Arab Emirates 1972
120   Guinea-Bissau 7 October 1973[210]
121   North Korea 10 December 1973
122   South Korea 10 December 1973
  State of Palestine 1974
123   Mozambique 25 June 1975[211]
124   Nauru 12 September 1975[212]
125   Grenada 1 October 1975[213]
126   Bahamas 16 October 1975[214]
127   Chad 18 October 1975[215]
128   São Tomé and Príncipe 1975
129   Suriname 23 January 1976[216]
130   Papua New Guinea 19 May 1976[217]
131   Central African Republic 7 June 1976[218]
132   Seychelles 29 June 1976[219]
133   Comoros June 1976
134   Cape Verde 6 June 1977[220]
135   Niger 18 July 1977[221]
136   El Salvador 12 February 1979[222]
137   Angola 2 June 1979[223]
138   Zimbabwe June 1980[224]
139   Djibouti 7 December 1981[225]
140   Antigua and Barbuda 1981[226]
141   Dominica 28 March 1982[227]
142   Saint Lucia 1982[228]
143   Belize 28 March 1983
144   Nicaragua March 1983
145   Saint Kitts and Nevis 1983[229]
146   Brunei 10 May 1984
147   Kiribati 7 August 1985[230]
148   Costa Rica 1985[231]
  Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (cancelled) 1985[232]
149   Vanuatu 1986
150   Solomon Islands 1 May 1987[233]
151   Namibia 19 December 1990[234]
152   Estonia 2 December 1991[235]
153   Latvia 20 December 1991
154   Ukraine 17 January 1992[236]
155   Israel 21 January 1992[237]
156   Kazakhstan 22 February 1992
157   Lithuania 25 February 1992
158   Azerbaijan 28 February 1992[238]
159   Kyrgyzstan 18 March 1992
160   Uzbekistan 18 March 1992
161   Moldova 20 March 1992
162   Belarus 17 April 1992[239]
163   Turkmenistan 20 April 1992[240]
164   Slovenia 18 May 1992[241]
165   Croatia 9 July 1992
166   Bosnia and Herzegovina 10 August 1992[242]
167   Tajikistan 28 August 1992
168   Armenia 31 August 1992
169   Georgia 28 September 1992
170   Slovakia 1 January 1993[243]
171   Eritrea 17 September 1993[244]
172   South Africa 22 November 1993
173   Liechtenstein 1993
174   Honduras 28 September 1994[245]
175   Andorra 22 November 1994[246]
176   Palau 10 April 1995[247]
177   North Macedonia 9 February 1995[248]
178   Haiti 27 September 1996
179   Federated States of Micronesia 29 November 1996[249]
180   Marshall Islands 2 February 1997[250]
  Cook Islands May 1998[251][252]
181   Dominican Republic 4 May 1999[253]
182   Rwanda 1999[254]
183   East Timor 24 January 2003[255]
184   Montenegro 2 August 2006
185   Monaco 21 September 2007
186   San Marino 26 September 2011[256]
187   South Sudan 13 March 2012[257]
  Niue 30 August 2012[258]
188   Burundi Unknown
189   Eswatini Unknown
190   Gabon Unknown
191   Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Unknown
192   Tuvalu Unknown

Africa

 
The Vice President, Shri M. Hamid Ansari calling on the President of Algeria, Mr. Abdelaziz Bouteflika, in Algiers, Algeria on October 19, 2016
Algeria

Burkina Faso

Both countries established diplomatic relations on 24 March 1962[259]

Burundi
Chad

Both countries established diplomatic relations on 18 October 1975[215]

Comoros
Congo

Both countries established diplomatic relations on 26 August 1967.[264]

DR Congo

Djibouti

Both countries established diplomatic relations on 7 December 1981[265]

Ethiopia

Both countries established diplomatic relations on 1 July 1948.[266]

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 its ITEC programmer, providing it with several lines of credit and launching the Pan-African e-Network project there in 2007. The Second India–Africa Forum Summit was held in Addis Ababa in 2011. India is also Ethiopia's second-largest source of foreign direct investments.

Egypt

Both countries established diplomatic relations on 18 August 1947.[267]

 
Abdel Nasser and his children with Jawaharlal Nehru. In 1955, Egypt under Gamal Abdel Nasser and India under Jawaharlal Nehru became the founders of the Non-Aligned Movement. During the 1956 War, Nehru stood supporting Egypt to the point of threatening to withdraw his country from the Commonwealth of Nations.

Modern Egypt-India relations go back to the contacts between Saad Zaghloul and Mohandas Gandhi on the common goals of their respective movements of independence.[268] In 1955, Egypt under Gamal Abdul Nasser and India under Jawaharlal Nehru became the founders of the Non-Aligned Movement. During the 1956 War, Nehru stood supporting Egypt to the point of threatening to withdraw his country from the Commonwealth of Nations. In 1967, following the Arab–Israeli conflict, India supported Egypt and the Arabs. In 1977, New Delhi described the visit of President Anwar 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 the Gas 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.[269] After the Arab Spring of 2011, with ousting of Hosni Mubarak, Egypt asked for the help of India in conducting nationwide elections.[citation needed]

Gabon

Gabon maintains an embassy in New Delhi. The Embassy of India in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo is jointly accredited to Gabon.[270]

Ghana

Both countries established diplomatic relations on 6 March 1957.[271]

Relations between Ghana 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.[272] Ghana imports automobiles and buses from India and companies like Tata Motors and Ashok Leyland have a significant presence in the country.[273][274] Ghanaian exports to India consist of gold, cocoa and timber while Indian exports to Ghana comprise pharmaceuticals, agricultural machinery, electrical equipment, plastics, steel and cement.[275]

The Government of India has extended $228 million in lines 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.[276] 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 the India–Africa Forum Summit.[275]

India is among the largest foreign investors in Ghana's economy. At the end of 2011, Indian investments in Ghana amounted to $550 million covering some 548 projects.[276] 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.[277] India's Rashtriya Chemicals and Fertilisers is in the process of setting up a fertiliser plant in Ghana at Nyankrom in the Shama District of the Western 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.[278][279] There are also plans to develop a sugar processing plant entailing an investment of US$36 million.[280] Bank of Baroda, Bharti Airtel, Tata Motors and Tech Mahindra are amongst the major Indian companies in Ghana.[281]

There are about seven to eight thousand Indians and Persons of Indian Origin living in Ghana today with some of them having been there for over 70 years.[275] Ghana is home to a growing indigenous Hindu population that today numbers 3000 families. Hinduism first came to Ghana only in the late 1940s with the Sindhi traders who migrated here following India's Partition. It has been growing in Ghana and neighbouring Togo since the mid-1970s when an African Hindu monastery was established in Accra.[282][283]

Guinea

Both countries established diplomatic relations on 8 July 1960.[166]

Ivory Coast

The bilateral relations between India and Ivory Coast have expanded considerably in recent years as India seeks to develop an extensive commercial and strategic partnership in the West African region. The Indian diplomatic mission in Abidjan was opened in 1979. Ivory Coast opened its resident mission in New Delhi in September 2004.[284] Both nations are currently fostering efforts to increase trade, investments and economic cooperation.[285]

 
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi presenting a guide for Indian Businesses: "Doing Business in Kenya" to the President of Kenya, Mr. Uhuru Kenyatta, at the India-Kenya Business Forum, at Nairobi, Kenya on July 11, 2016.
Kenya

Both countries established diplomatic relations on 14 December 1963[286]

As littoral states of the Indian Ocean, trade links and commercial ties between India and Kenya go back several centuries. Kenya has a large minority of Indians and Persons of Indian Origin living there who are descendants of labourers who were brought in by the British to construct the Uganda Railway and Gujarati merchants.[287] 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, the balance 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 include pharmaceuticals, steel, machinery and automobiles while Kenyan exports to India are primary commodities such as soda ash, vegetables and tea. Indian companies have a significant presence in Kenya with Indian corporates like the Tata Group, Essar Group, Reliance Industries and Bharti Airtel operating there.

Lesotho

Both countries established diplomatic relations on 8 June 1971.[288]

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 a Permanent 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 the LDF.

Liberia

Both countries established diplomatic relations on 7 July 1960.[289]

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 in Abidjan (Ivory Coast) and an active honorary consulate in Monrovia since 1984. Liberia was represented in India through its resident mission in New Delhi which subsequently closed due to budgetary constraints.[290]

Libya

Both countries established diplomatic relations on 20 July 1952.[291]

Malawi

Both countries established diplomatic relations on 19 October 1964.[188]

Mali

Both countries established diplomatic relations on 24 January 1962.[292]

Mauritania

Both countries established diplomatic relations on 22 October 1965.[293]

India is represented in Mauritania by its embassy in Bamako, Mali.[294][295] India also has an honorary consulate in Nouakchott.[296]

Mauritius

Both countries established diplomatic relations on 12 March 1968.[297]

 
Admiral RK Dhowan inspecting guard of honour in Mauritius

The relations between India and Mauritius existed since 1730, diplomatic relations were established in 1948 before Mauritius became an independent state.[298] 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 of Indian origin, most known as Indo-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 of FDI 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 the Indian Ocean region and support India's stand against terrorism.[299]

The relationship between Mauritius and India date back to the early 1730s, when artisans were brought from Puducherry and Tamil Nadu.[298] 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 by Parliament, large numbers of Indian workers began to be brought into Mauritius as indentured labourers. On 2 November 1834, the ship named 'Atlas' docked in Mauritius carrying the first batch of Indian indentured labourers.

Morocco

Morocco has an embassy in New Delhi. It also has an Honorary Consul based in Mumbai. India operates an embassy in Rabat. Both nations are part of the Non-Aligned Movement.[300]

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.[301] The Ministry of External Affairs of the Government 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."[302]

The Indian Council for Cultural Relations promotes Indian culture in Morocco.[303] Morocco seeks to increase its trade ties with India and is seeking Indian investment in various sectors[304] The bilateral relations between India and Morocco strengthened after the Moroccan Ambassador to India spent a week in Srinagar, the capital city of Jammu and Kashmir. This showed Moroccan solidarity with India regarding Kashmir.[304]

Mozambique

Both countries established diplomatic relations on 25 June 1975.[305]

India has a high commissioner in Maputo[306] and Mozambique has a high commissioner in New Delhi.

Namibia

Relations between India and Namibia are warm and cordial.[307]

India was one of SWAPO's earliest supporters during the Namibian liberation movement. The first SWAPO embassy was established in India in 1986. India's observer mission was converted to a full High Commissioner on Namibia's Independence Day of 21 March 1990.[307] India has helped train the Namibian Air Force since its creation in 1995. The two countries work closely in mutual multilateral organisations such as the United Nations, the Non-Aligned Movement and the Commonwealth of Nations. Namibia supports the expansion of the United Nations Security Council to include a permanent seat for India.[307]

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.[307] In 2008, two Indian companies won a US$105 million contract from NamPower to lay a high-voltage direct current bi-polar line from Katima Mulilo to Otjiwarongo.[307] Namibia is a beneficiary of the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) programme for telecommunications professionals from developing countries.

India has a high commissioner in Windhoek[308] and Namibia has a high commissioner in New Delhi. Namibia's high commissioner is also accredited for Bangladesh, the Maldives and Sri Lanka.[309]

Niger

Both countries established diplomatic relations on 18 July 1977.[221]

Nigeria

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 the Commonwealth of Nations, G-77, and the Non-Aligned Movement. Former Nigerian President, Olusegun Obasanjo was the guest of honour, at the Republic Day parade, in 1999, and the Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh visited Nigeria in 2007 and addressed the Nigerian Parliament.

 
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi meeting the President of Rwanda, Mr. Paul Kagame, at Kigali, Rwanda on July 23, 2018
Rwanda

Indo-Rwandan relations are the foreign relations between the Republic of India and the Republic of Rwanda. India is represented in Rwanda through its honorary consulate in Kigali. Rwanda has been operating its Embassy in New Delhi since 1998 and appointed its first resident Ambassador in 2001.[310]

Seychelles

India–Seychelles relations are bilateral relations between the Republic of India and the Republic of Seychelles. India has a High Commission in Victoria while Seychelles maintains a High Commission in New Delhi.[311]

South Africa

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 of Indian 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 condemned apartheid and refused diplomatic relations while apartheid was conducted as state policy in South Africa.

 
Mahatma Gandhi (middle row centre) with the leaders of the non-violent resistance movement 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 is gold bar. Diamonds, that are mined from South Africa, are polished in India. Nelson Mandela was awarded the Gandhi Peace Prize. The two countries are also members of the IBSA Dialogue Forum, with Brazil. India hopes to get large amounts of uranium, from resource-rich South Africa, for India's growing civilian nuclear energy sector.

South Sudan

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 the Hindustan 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".[312] An article in The 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."[313]

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."[313]

Sudan

Both countries established diplomatic relations on 7 May 1956.[314]

 
INS Tarkash sailing with Sudan Navy ships Almazz (PC 411) & Nimer (PC 413) as part of Maritime Partnership Exercise.

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 are former British colonies, and remotely border Saudi Arabia using a body of water. India and Sudan continue to have cordial relations, despite issues such as India'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 in Darfur.

Togo

Both countries established diplomatic relations on 31 August 1962.[181]

Togo opened its embassy in New Delhi in October 2010. The High Commission of India in Accra, Ghana is concurrently accredited to Togo. Togolese President Gnassingbé Eyadéma made an official state visit to India in September 1994. During the visit, the two countries agreed to establish Joint Commission.[315]

Uganda

Both countries established diplomatic relations on 9 October 1962.[316]

India and Uganda established diplomatic relations in 1965 and each maintains a High Commissioner in the other's capital. The Indian High Commission in Kampala 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.[317]

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 the Mombasa–Kampala railway line. Ugandan independence activists were inspired in their struggle for Ugandan independence by the success of the Indian independence movement and were also supported in their struggle by the Prime Minister of India Jawaharlal Nehru.[318][319] Indo-Ugandan relations have been good since Uganda's independence except during the regime of Idi Amin. Amin in 1972 expelled over 55,000 people of Indian origin and 5,000 Indians who had formed the commercial and economic backbone of the country accusing them of exploiting native Ugandans.[319][320] Since the mid-1980s when President Yoweri Museveni came to power, relations have steadily improved. Today some 20,000 Indians and PIOs live or work in Uganda.[319] Ethnic tensions between Indians and Ugandans have been a recurring issue in bilateral relations given the role of Indians in the Ugandan economy.[321][322]

Zambia
Zimbabwe
African Union

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.[323]

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 of INR 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.[324]

Americas

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 the reform of the Security Council through the G4 nations while having also increased strategic and economic cooperation through the IBSA Dialogue Forum. The process of finalizing a Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) with MERCOSUR (Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay) is on the itinerary and negotiations are being held with Chile.[325] Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva was the guest of honor at the 2004 Republic Day celebrations in New Delhi.[326]

North

Antigua and Barbuda
 
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi meeting Barbadian Prime Minister Mia Mottley at COP26 in Glasgow, Scotland; November 2021

Both countries have established diplomatic relations and have an Extradition Arrangement.[327][328]

Barbados

India and Barbados established diplomatic relations on 30 November 1966 (the date of Barbados' national independence).[329] On that date, the government of India gifted Barbados the throne in Barbados' national House of Assembly.[330] India is represented in Barbados through its embassy in Suriname[331][332][333] and an Indian consulate in Holetown, St. James.[334] 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.[335] 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.

Belize

India has an Honorary Consulate in Belize City and Belize has an Honorary Consulate in New Delhi. Bilateral trade stood at US$45.3 Million in 2014 and has steadily increased since. Belize and India have engaged in dialogue in Central American Integration System (SICA) discussing anti-terrorism, climate change and food security. India signed a Tax 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 under Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation Programme and the Indian 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.

Canada
 
Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau receiving a welcome ceremony in Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi, with PM Narendra Modi along with his family. (2018)

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 the Air 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 the Colombo Plan. Although Jean Chrétien and Roméo 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.

 
Stamp of India - 2017 - Diwali - Joint Issue With Canada

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 Minister Manmohan Singh and Stephen 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.

Cuba

Relations between India and Cuba are close and warm. Both nations are part of the Non-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.[336] 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 of Indira Gandhi (the former Prime Minister of India), the non-aligned countries will continue advancing in their inalienable role as a bastion for peace, national independence and development..."[337]

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.[338] India had been one of the first countries in the world to have recognised the new Cuban government after the Cuban Revolution.[339]

Cuba has an embassy in New Delhi, the Indian capital.[340]

Jamaica

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 the Commonwealth of Nations, parliamentary democracy, the English language and cricket.[341][342]

Both nations are members of the Non-Aligned Movement, the United Nations and the Commonwealth, 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 a High Commission in Kingston,[341] whilst Jamaica has a consulate in New Delhi[343] and plans to upgrade it to a High Commission soon.

Mexico
 
Indians in Mexico City

Mexico is a very important and major economic partner of India. Nobel Prize laureate and ambassador to India Octavio Paz wrote his book In Light of India which is an analysis of Indian history and culture.[344] Both nations are regional powers and members of the G-20 major economies.

Nicaragua

Bilateral relations between India and Nicaragua have been limited to SICA dialogue and visits by Nicaraguan Ministers to India. India maintains an honorary consul general in Nicaragua,[347] 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.[348] the current Foreign minister Samuel Santos López visited India in 2008 for the SICA-India Foreign ministers' meeting and in 2013[349] for high-level talks with the then External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid which also expanded bilateral trade with the two countries reaching a total of US$60.12 million during 2012–13.

Panama
 
The Vice President, Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu being bid farewell by the Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Luis Miguel Hincapie, on his departure, in Panama on May 10, 2018

Bilateral relations between Panama and India have been growing steadily, reflecting the crucial role the Panama 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 of Latin 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 the Colón Free Trade Zone.[350]

Paraguay

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.[351]

 
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi meeting the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, Dr. Keith C. Rowley, on the sidelines of CHOGM 2018, in London on April 19, 2018
Trinidad & Tobago

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.[352]

Both nations were part of the British 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 in Port of Spain, whilst the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago operates a High Commission in New Delhi.

United States of America
 
US President Richard Nixon and Prime Minister of India Indira Gandhi in 1971. They had a deep personal antipathy that coloured bilateral relations.

Before and during the Second World War, the United States under President Roosevelt gave strong support to the Indian independence movement despite being allies to Britain.[353][354] Relations between India and the United States were lukewarm following Indian independence, as India took a leading position in the Non-Aligned Movement, and received support from the Soviet Union. The US provided support to India in 1962 during its war with China. For most of the Cold 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 Afghan Mujahideen against the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan. An Indo-Soviet Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation, signed in 1971, also positioned India against the USA.

After the Sino-Indian War and the Indo-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 when the 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 of atrocities in East Pakistan, and being told, most notably in the Blood telegram, of genocidal activities being perpetrated by Pakistani forces, the US. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger and US President Richard Nixon did nothing to discourage then-Pakistani President Yahya Khan and the Pakistan 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.[355] During the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971, Indian Armed Forces, along with the Mukti Bahini, succeeded in liberating East Pakistan which soon declared independence. Nixon feared that an Indian invasion of West 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 the bona 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,[356] while also encouraging China to increase its arms supplies to Pakistan.

When Pakistan's defeat in the eastern sector seemed certain, Nixon sent the USS Enterprise to the Bay of Bengal, a move deemed by the Indians as a nuclear threat. The Enterprise arrived at the station on 11 December 1971. On 6 and 13 December, the Soviet Navy dispatched two groups of ships, armed with nuclear missiles, from Vladivostok; they trailed US Task 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 USS Enterprise in the Indian Ocean.[357]

 
Kamala Harris is the 49th Vice President of the United States. She is the first female, the first person of colour, as well as the first Indian American vice president.

Though American efforts had no effect in turning the tide of the war, the incident involving USS Enterprise is viewed as the trigger for India's subsequent interest in developing nuclear weapons.[358] 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.[359] 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.[360] India carried out nuclear 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".[361] Kissinger has since expressed his regret over the comments.[362]

After the Cold War

Since the end of the Cold 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 the Gulf War, the economy of India went through an extremely difficult phase. The Government of India adopted liberalised economic systems. After the break-up of the Soviet Union, India improved diplomatic relations with the members of NATO, 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 the Premiership of Narendra Modi since 2014.[363] Both sides are committed to a "Free and Open Indo-Pacific".[364]

 
Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a bilateral meeting with U.S. President Joe Biden, at the White House
Pokhran tests reaction

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's nuclear 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. President Bill Clinton imposed wide-ranging sanctions according to the 1994 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 the Comprehensive 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.

 
Nobel Laurate Rabindranath Tagore and Argentine writer Victoria Ocampo on the grounds of Villa Ocampo

South

Argentina

Formal relations between both countries were first established in 1949. India has an embassy in Buenos Aires and Argentina has an embassy in New Delhi. The current Indian Ambassador to Argentina (concurrently accredited to Uruguay and Paraguay) is R Viswanathan.

According to the Ministry of External Affairs of the Government 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."[365]

Brazil

Relations between Brazil and India have been extended to diverse areas such as science and technology, pharmaceuticals and space as both are member nations of BRICS. 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.

 
The President Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam and the Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee receiving the Chief Guest, the President of the Federative Republic of Brazil Mr. Luiz Inacio Lula Da Silva on Republic Day Parade-2004

Brazil and India are deeply committed to IBSA (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.

Bolivia
Chile
Colombia

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.[366]

Ecuador
 
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi meeting the President of the Republic of Peru, Mr. Ollanta Humala, on the sidelines of the Sixth BRICS Summit, at Brasilia, in Brazil on July 16, 2014
Guyana
Paraguay
Peru
Suriname
Uruguay
Venezuela

Diplomatic relations between India and Venezuela were established on 1 October 1959.[367] India maintains an embassy in Caracas, while Venezuela maintains an embassy in New Delhi.

 
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, ONGC Executive Director Narendra Kumar Verma and PDVSA President Eulogio Del Pino

There have been several visits by heads of state and government, and other high-level officials between the countries. President Hugo Chávez visited New Delhi on 4–7 March 2005.[367] Chávez met with Indian President APJ Abdul Kalam and Prime Minister Manmohan 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 Minister Nicolás Maduro visited India to attend the First Meeting of the India-CELAC Troika Foreign Ministers meeting in New Delhi on 7 August 2012.[368]

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.[368] The President and Prime Minister of India expressed condolences on the death of Chávez. The Rajya 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.[369]

Citizens of Venezuela are eligible for scholarships under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation Programme and the Indian Council for Cultural Relations.[368][370]

Asia

 
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi receives a guard of honour during his visit to Kazakhstan in July 2015.

Central

Kazakhstan

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 in petrochemicals, 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 President Prathibha Patil and her Kazakh counterpart Nursultan Nazarbayev. Kazakhstan will provide Uranium 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.

Kyrgyzstan
 
Kyrgyz President Almazbek Atambayev presents a copy of Manas-Semetei-Seitek to Indian Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi at Hyderabad House, in New Delhi on December 20, 2016.
Tajikistan

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-Taliban Afghan Northern Alliance (ANA). India began renovating the Farkhor Air Base and stationed aircraft of the Indian Air Force there. The Farkhor Air Base became fully operational in 2006, and 12 MiG-29 bombers and trainer aircraft are planned to be stationed there.

Turkmenistan
 
Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Turkmenistan
Uzbekistan

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 the Mughal Empire which was founded by Babur of Ferghana (in present-day Uzbekistan) who created his empire southward first in Afghanistan and then in India.

East

China
 
A Chinese container ship unloads cargo at the Jawaharlal Nehru Port in India. Bilateral trade between the two countries has surpassed US$65 billion by 2015 making China the single largest trading partner of India.[371]

Despite lingering suspicions remaining from the 1962 Sino-Indian War, the 1967 Nathu La and Cho La incidents, and continuing boundary disputes over Aksai Chin and Arunachal 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.[372] A series of high-level visits between the two nations have helped improve relations. In December 1996, PRC President Jiang 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 the Kargil crisis, then-External Affairs Minister Jaswant 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 from Tibet to India of the 17th Karmapa in January 2000 with delicacy and tact. In 2003, India formally recognised Tibet as a part of China, and China recognised Sikkim as a formal part of India in 2004.

 
The Current Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi and President of China Xi Jinping, at G7 Summit, China (2016)

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.[373] 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.[374] They have also collaborated on several issues ranging from WTO's Doha round in 2008[375] to regional free trade agreement.[376] Similar to Indo-US nuclear deal, India and China have also agreed to cooperate in the field of civilian nuclear energy.[377] However, China's economic interests have clashed with those of India.[378] Both countries are the largest Asian investors in Africa[379] and have competed for control over their large natural resources.[380] There was a tense situation due to the soldiers' stand-off in Doklam, Bhutan; but that was resolved early.[381]

 
Liu Shaoqi, the then Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress with Indira Gandhi when she was the President of Indian National Congress.[382]

Relations were lost due to Galwan Valley skirmishes[383][384] and its progress. India ceased imports of Chinese products.[385] 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.[386]

The outbreak of the Coronavirus pandemic from Wuhan also hampered the relations.[387] Following the straining of the bonds, both sides blamed each other for the conflict on LAC.[388] 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.[389] India banned more than 250 Chinese apps,[390] and on 16 October, it banned the import of ACs, Refrigerators and Coolers from China.[391] Several core commanders' negotiations and talks were held,[392] which resulted in nothing other than vague promises then. Cross-media blaming was common.

There was even a conference held in Moscow, 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.[393] The recent meeting of the Quad-alliance was also questioned by China,[394] but was then downed by India.[395]

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".[396]

 
Two Japanese Naval warships took part in Malabar 2007 off India's western coast, one of the few such multilateral exercises Japan has ever taken part in symbolising close military cooperation between India and Japan.
Japan

India-Japan relations have always been strong. India has culturally influenced Japan through Buddhism. During World War II, the Imperial Japanese Army helped Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose's Indian National Army. Relations have remained warm since India's independence, despite Japan imposing sanctions on India after the 1998 Pokhran-II nuclear tests (the sanctions were removed in 2001). [397] Japanese companies, like Sony, Toyota, and Honda, 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 giant Suzuki which is in partnership with Indian automobile company Maruti 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[398]).

 
Stamp of India - 2002 - Colnect 834423 - India Japan 50th Anniversary Diplomatic Relations

According to Former Prime Minister Shinzō Abe's arc 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 in New Delhi's metro subway system.[399] In December 2006, then Prime Minister Manmohan 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, the Japan Self-Defense Forces took part in a naval exercise in the Indian Ocean, known as Malabar 2007, which also involved the naval forces of India, Australia, Singapore and the United States.

 
Former PM Shinzo Abe and PM Narendra Modi

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.[400] India and Japan signed a security cooperation agreement[401] in which both will hold military exercises, police the Indian Ocean and conduct military-to-military exchanges on fighting terrorism, making India one of only three countries, the other two being the United States and Australia, with which Japan has such a security pact.[402] There are 25,000 Indians in Japan as of 2008.

Mongolia

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.

North Korea

India and North Korea have growing trade and diplomatic relations. India had a fully functioning embassy in Pyongyang which was closed down due to COVID-19 pandemic in the host country while North Korea still operates an embassy in New Delhi. India has said that it wants the "reunification" of Korea.[403]

South Korea
 
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi and the President of the Republic of South Korea, Mr. Moon Jae-in take Delhi Metro ride on the way to inaugurate the Samsung manufacturing plant, World's Largest Mobile Factory, in Noida, Uttar Pradesh.

The cordial relationship between the two countries extends back to 48AD, when Queen Suro, or Princess Heo, travelled from the kingdom of Ayodhya to Korea.[404] According to the Samguk 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.[405] Upon approval, she set out on a boat, carrying gold, silver, a tea plant, and a stone which calmed the waters.[404] Archeologists discovered a stone with two fish kissing each other, a symbol of the Gaya kingdom that is unique to the Mishra royal family in Ayodhya, 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.[404] 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 President Kim Dae Jung and Prime Minister Kim Jong-pil. The relations between the countries have been relatively limited, although much progress arose during the three decades.

 
Stamp of India - 2019 - Joint Issue with South Korea commemorating relationship when Queen Suro, or Princess Heo, travelled from the kingdom of Ayodhya to Korea.

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.[406] During the 1997 Asian financial crisis, South Korean businesses sought to increase access to the global markets and began trade investments with India.[406] The last two presidential visits from South Korea to India were in 1996 and 2006,[407] and the embassy works between the two countries are seen as needing improvements.[408] 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;[409] however, South Korea is currently the fifth largest source of investment in India.[410] To The Times of India, President Roh Moo-hyun voiced his opinion that cooperation between India's software and Korea's IT industries would bring very efficient and successful outcomes.[407] The two countries agreed to shift their focus to the revision of the visa policies between the two countries, expansion of trade, and establishment of free trade agreement to encourage further investment between the two countries. Korean companies such as LG, Hyundai and Samsung 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".[410] Tata Motor's purchase of Daewoo Commercial Vehicles at the cost of $102 million highlights India's investments in Korea, which consist mostly of subcontracting.[410]

 
Indian PM Narendra Modi, hosting President of Afghanistan, Ashraf Ghani, in New Delhi (2018)

South

Afghanistan

Both countries established diplomatic relations on 10 December 1947.[130]

Bilateral relations between India and Afghanistan have been traditionally strong and friendly. While India was the only South Asian country to recognise the Soviet-backed Democratic Republic of Afghanistan in the 1980s, its relations were diminished during the Afghan civil wars and the rule of the Islamist Taliban in the 1990s.[411] India aided the overthrow of the Taliban and became the largest regional provider of humanitarian and reconstruction aid.[61][412] 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][412] 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.[413] After the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan collapsed, India participated in the evacuation of non-Muslim minorities and provided food aid to Taliban-ruled Afghanistan.[414]

Bangladesh
 
PM Narendra Modi, along with PM of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina, and Chief Minister of West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee, in an agreement between Indian and Bangladeshi Government, with Minister of External Affairs (India), S. Jaishankar, and Bangladesh Govt. officials

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 of border 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 through Indira 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[415]) and subsequently lobbied others to follow suit. India also withdrew its military from the land of Bangladesh when Sheikh Mujibur Rahman requested Indira Gandhi to do so during the latter's visit to Dhaka in 1972.[citation needed]

 
Lt Gen Niazi signing the Instrument of Surrender under the gaze of Lt Gen Aurora, effectively ending Bangladesh Liberation War and creating the new state of Bangladesh.

Indo-Bangladesh relations have been somewhat less friendly since the fall of the Mujib government in August 1975.[416] over the years over issues such as South Talpatti Island, the Tin Bigha Corridor and access to Nepal, the Farakka Barrage and water sharing, border conflicts near Tripura 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 new Awami League Government. A 30-year water-sharing agreement for the Ganges 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 tribal insurgents 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 the Chittagong Hill Tracts. The Bangladesh Army maintains a very strong presence in the area to this day. The army is increasingly concerned about the growing problem of the cultivation of illegal drugs.

There are also small pieces of land along the border region that Bangladesh is diplomatically trying to reclaim. Padua, part of Sylhet Division before 1971, has been under Indian control since the war in 1971. This small strip of land was re-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[417] to be part of the Satkhira district of Bangladesh.

 
Stamp of India - 1973- Flower with Flag - India commemorating the creation of Republic 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 like ULFA and alleged terrorist groups. The Bangladesh government has refused to accept these allegations.[418][419] India estimates that over 20 million Bangladeshis are living illegally in India.[420] One Bangladeshi official responded that "there is not a single Bangladeshi migrant in India".[421] Since 2002, India has been constructing an India – Bangladesh Fence along much of the 2500-mile border.[422] The failure to resolve migration disputes bears a human cost for illegal migrants, such as imprisonment and health risks (namely HIV/AIDS).[423]

India's prime minister Narendra Modi and his Bangladeshi counterpart Sheikh 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.[424]

Both countries solved their border dispute on 6 June 2015.[425]

To connect Kolkata with Tripura 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 Agartala-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.

The project ranks high on Prime Minister's 'Act East Policy', and is expected to increase connectivity and boost trade between India and Bangladesh.

 
The King of Bhutan, Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, at Prime Minister's Residence with PM Narendra Modi in New Delhi on 1 November 2017.
Bhutan

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.

 
Indian PM Narendra Modi meets with Bhutanese PM Tshering Tobgay

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.[426]

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 MW Chukha 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.[426] Tata Power is also building a hydroelectric dam in Bhutan.

India had assisted Bhutan by deploying 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.[381]

 
PM Narendra Modi meeting President of Maldives, Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, in Malé (2018)
Maldives

India enjoys a considerable influence over Maldives' foreign policy and provides extensive security cooperation, especially after Operation 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 together Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri 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.[427] India also signed an agreement with the Maldives in 2011 which is centred around the following:

  • India shall permanently base two helicopters in the country to enhance its surveillance capabilities and ability to respond swiftly to threats. One helicopter from the Coast Guard was handed over during A. K. Antony's visit while another from the Navy will be cleared for transfer shortly.
  • Maldives has coastal radars on only two of its 26 atolls. India will help set up radars on all 26 for seamless coverage of approaching vessels and aircraft.
  • The coastal radar chain in the Maldives will be networked with the Indian coastal radar system. India has already undertaken a project to install radars along its entire coastline. The radar chains of the two countries will be interlinked and a central control room in India's Coastal Command will get a seamless radar picture.
  • The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) will carry out regular Dornier sorties over the island nation to look out for suspicious movements or vessels. The Southern Naval Command will facilitate the inclusion of Maldives into the Indian security grid.
  •  
    PM Narendra Modi, with Former Prime Minister of Nepal, KP Sharma Oli, in BIMSTEC Summit 2018 at Kathmandu.
    Military teams from Maldives will visit the tri-services Andaman & Nicobar Command (ANC) to observe how India manages security and surveillance of the critical island chain.
Nepal

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 and Kathmandu initiated their intertwined relationship with the Treaty 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.

 
Local Nepalese and Army persons are being evacuated by the Indian Air Force (IAF) Mi-17 V5 helicopter at the directions of Nepalese authority as part of relief & rescue operations following the 2015 Kathmandu Earthquake.

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.[428] However, the Nepalese government accuses India of deliberately worsening the embargo, but India denies it.[428]

India aided Nepal during the 2015 Kathmandu earthquake with the financial aid of $1 billion and launched Operation Maitri.[429]

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.[430] Nepalese Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli commented about the pandemic of Coronavirus that the "Indian virus was deadlier" than the one which spread from Wuhan.[431] As time progressed, certain claims were also made on the Indian territories, for example, Kalapani, Limpiyadhura and Lipulekh of Uttarakhand.[432] Similarly, the claims were also made culturally, when it was said that Hindu God Ram was Nepalese, that he was born in Thori, west of Birgunj, and that Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh was fake.[433] Rules were made strict for Indians in Nepal[434] along with banning some Indian media.[435]

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 ambassador Hou Yanqi". Speculations were made that since China could not handle India directly, in the aftermath of the LAC 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.[436]

 
Jawahar Lal Nehru and Muhammed Ali Jinnah walking in the grounds of Government House, Simla, British India.[382]
Pakistan

Both countries established diplomatic relations on 15 August 1947.[437]

Despite historical, cultural and ethnic links between them, relations between India and Pakistan have been "plagued" by years of mistrust and suspicion ever since the partition of India in 1947. The principal source of contention between India and its western neighbour has been the Kashmir conflict. After an invasion by Pashtun tribesmen and Pakistani paramilitary forces, the Hindu Maharaja of the Dogra Kingdom of Jammu and Kashmir, Hari Singh, and its Muslim Prime Minister, Sheikh Abdullah, signed an Instrument of Accession with New Delhi. The First Kashmir War started after the Indian Army entered Srinagar, the capital of the state, to secure the area from the invading forces. The war ended in December 1948 with the Line 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 a standstill agreement with it. The Indo-Pakistani War of 1965 started following the failure of Pakistan's Operation 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 the Tashkent Declaration. India and Pakistan went to war again in 1971, this time the conflict being over East Pakistan. The large-scale atrocities committed there by the Pakistan army led to millions of Bengali refugees pouring over into India. India, along with the Mukti 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 the Pokhran-II nuclear tests which was followed by Pakistan's Chagai-I tests. Following the Lahore Declaration in February 1999, relations briefly improved. A few months later, however, Pakistani paramilitary forces and Pakistan Army, infiltrated in large numbers into the Kargil district of Indian Kashmir. This initiated the Kargil 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 the Indian Airlines Flight 814 in December 1999. Attempts to normalise relations, such as the Agra summit held in July 2001, failed. An attack on the Indian Parliament in December 2001, which was blamed on Pakistan, which had condemned the attack[438] caused a military standoff between the two countries which lasted for nearly a year raising fears of nuclear warfare. However, a peace process, initiated in 2003, led to improved relations in the following years.

 
PM Narendra Modi meeting Former Prime Minister of Pakistan, Nawaz Sharif, at Raiwind, Pakistan
(2015, last formal dialogue)

Since the initiation of the peace process, several confidence-building measures (CBMs) between India and Pakistan have taken shape. The Samjhauta Express and Delhi–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.[439] The initiation of the Srinagar–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 the 2005 Kashmir earthquake, India sent aid to affected areas in Pakistani Kashmir and Punjab as well as Indian Kashmir.[440]

The 2008 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 new NDA government took charge in Delhi after victory in the 2014 election and invited SAARC members' leaders to an oath-taking ceremony. Subsequently, the visit of the Indian prime minister on 25 December informally wished Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on his Birthday and participate in his daughter's wedding. It was hoped that the relationship between the neighbour will improve but an attack on an Indian army camp by Pakistani infiltrators on 18 September 2016[441] and a subsequent surgical strike by India[442] aggravated the already strained relationship between the nations.

 
The evening flag lowering ceremony at the India-Pakistan International Border near Wagah. Taken from the Pakistani side.

A SAARC summit scheduled in Islamabad was called off because of a boycott by India and other SAARC members subsequently.[443]

The relationship took a further nosedive after another attack 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 carrying CRPF soldiers in Pulwama, Kashmir, killing 40.[444] India blamed Pakistan which was denied by the Pakistani establishment. India retaliated with an airstrike on Balakot, a region claimed and controlled by Pakistan.[445]

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.[446]

Sri Lanka

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 Venerable Mahinda, the son of Indian Emperor Ashoka, during the reign of Sri Lanka's King Devanampiya Tissa. During this time, a sapling of the Bodhi Tree was brought to Sri Lanka and the first monasteries and Buddhist monuments were established.

 
The Former President of Sri Lanka, at Prime Minister's Residence, New Delhi with PM Narendra Modi (2018)

Nevertheless, relations post-independence were affected by the Sri Lankan Civil War and by the failure of Indian intervention during the civil war as well as India's support for Tamil Tiger militants. India is Sri Lanka's only neighbour, separated by the Palk Strait; both nations occupy a strategic position in South Asia and have sought to build a common security umbrella in the Indian Ocean.[447]

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, the Sri Lanka Freedom Party and the United 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.[448]

 
India and its neighbor countries.
SAARC

Certain aspects of India's relations within the subcontinent are conducted through the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC). Its members other than India are Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri 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 Islamabad was cancelled due to terrorist acts, particularly the Uri attack.

 
Members of BIMSTEC.
BIMSTEC

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 the Bay of Bengal.[449] 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.[450]

Southeast

Brunei

Brunei has a high commission in New Delhi, and India has a high commission in Bandar Seri Begawan. Both countries are full members of the Commonwealth of Nations.

Cambodia

Both nations have been in friendly relations.

 
Jawaharlal Nehru and his daughter Indira Gandhi with Sukarno, Megawati Sukarnoputri and Guruh Sukarnoputra, Indonesia, 1950.
Indonesia

The ties between Indonesia and India date back to the times of the Ramayana,[451] "Yawadvipa" (Java) is mentioned in India's earliest epic, the Ramayana. Sugriva, the chief of Rama's army dispatched his men to Yawadvipa, the island of Java, in search of Sita.[452] Indonesians had absorbed many aspects of Indian culture since almost two millennia ago. The most obvious trace is the large adoption of Sanskrit into the Indonesian language. Several Indonesian toponymy has Indian parallel or origin, such as Madura with Mathura, Serayu and Sarayu rivers, Kalingga from Kalinga Kingdom, and Ngayogyakarta from Ayodhya. Indianised HinduBuddhist kingdoms, such as Kalingga, Srivijaya, Mataram, Sunda, Kadiri, Singhasari and Majapahit were the predominant governments in Indonesia, and lasted from 200[453] to the 1500s, with the last remaining being in Bali. An example of profound Hindu-Buddhist influences in Indonesian history is the 9th-century Prambanan and Borobudur temples.

 
PM Narendra Modi meets Indonesian President Joko Widodo, in Jakarta (2018)

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.[454] 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 the United Nations Security Council.

India has an embassy in Jakarta[455] and Indonesia operates an embassy in Delhi.[456] India regards Indonesia as a key member of ASEAN. 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.[457][better source needed] Both nations had agreed to establish a strategic partnership.[458] 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 the G-20, the E7, the Non-Aligned Movement, and the United Nations.

Laos

In recent years, India has endeavoured to build relations, with this small Southeast Asian nation. They have strong military relations, and India shall be building an Airforce Academy in Laos.[459]

 
Stamp of India - IOCOM Submarine Telephone Cable
Malaysia

India has a high commission in Kuala Lumpur, and Malaysia has a high commission in New Delhi. Both countries are full members of the Commonwealth of Nations and the Asian 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 of Indian 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 from Kerala and his mother Wan Tampawan, is a Malay.[460]

Relations escalated when the Malaysian PM Mahathir Mohamad questioned the action of revocating the special status of Jammu and Kashmir and on CAA-NRC protests. The relations continue to be diminished, also during the palm oil export from Malaysia to India.

Even with the new government in power, currently, there seems no recovery, as former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad still favored Pakistan.[461]

 
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi calling on the President of Myanmar, Mr. U. Thein Sein, at Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar on November 11, 2014
Myanmar

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 significant Indian community in Burma.[462] India provided considerable support when Myanmar struggled with regional insurgencies. However, the overthrow of the democratic government by the Military of Burma led to strains in ties. Along with much of the world, India condemned the suppression of democracy and Myanmar ordered the expulsion of the Burmese Indian community, increasing its isolation from the world.[462][463] Only China maintained close links with Myanmar while India supported the pro-democracy movement.[462][464][465]

foreign, relations, india, india, officially, republic, india, full, diplomatic, relations, with, states, including, palestine, holy, niue, note, ministry, external, affairs, government, agency, responsible, conduct, foreign, relations, india, with, world, thi. India officially the Republic of India has full diplomatic relations with 201 states including Palestine the Holy See and Niue note 1 1 The Ministry of External Affairs MEA is the government agency responsible for the conduct of foreign relations of India With the world s third largest military expenditure second largest armed force fifth largest economy by GDP nominal rates and third largest economy in terms of purchasing power parity India is a prominent regional power and a rising 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 the neighborhood first policy embodied by SAARC as well as the Look East policy to forge more extensive economic and strategic relationships with other East Asian countries It has also maintained a policy of strategic ambiguity which involves its no first use nuclear policy and its neutral stance on the Russo Ukrainian War India is a member of several intergovernmental organizations such as the United Nations the Asian Development Bank BRICS and the G 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 the Non Aligned Movement 6 India has also played an important and influential role in other international organisations such as the East Asia Summit 7 World Trade Organization 8 International Monetary Fund IMF 9 G8 5 10 and IBSA Dialogue Forum 11 India is also a member of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation As a former British colony India is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations and continues to maintain relationships with other Commonwealth countries Contents 1 History 2 Policy 2 1 Role of the Prime Minister 2 2 Ministry of External Affairs 2 3 Act East Policy 3 Strategic partners 3 1 Partnership agreements 3 2 Future agreements 4 Diplomatic relations 5 Africa 6 Americas 6 1 North 6 2 South 7 Asia 7 1 Central 7 2 East 7 3 South 7 3 1 Southeast 7 4 West 8 Europe 9 Oceania 10 De Facto 11 International organizations 12 Former 13 Border disputes 14 Diplomatic relations with India through philately 15 See also 16 Notes 16 1 Explanatory notes 16 2 Citations 17 Further reading 18 External linksHistoryMain article History of Indian foreign relations See also Indus Mesopotamia relations Ancient Greece Ancient India relations Indo Roman relations Indo Roman trade relations and Indian maritime history India s relations with the world have evolved since the British Raj 1857 1947 when the British 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 the Indian 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 As Prime Minister and Minister of External Affairs from 1947 Nehru articulated India s approach to the world 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 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 the Indo 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 its friendship 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 the Indian colonial government maintained semi autonomous diplomatic relations It had colonies such as the Aden Settlement that sent and received full missions 14 India was a founder member of both the League of Nations 15 and the United Nations 16 After India gained independence from the United Kingdom in 1947 it soon joined the Commonwealth of Nations and strongly supported independence movements in other colonies like the Indonesian National Revolution 17 The partition and various territorial disputes particularly that over Kashmir would strain its relations with Pakistan for years to come During the Cold War India adopted a foreign policy of not aligning itself with any major power bloc However India developed close ties 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 the European Union trading bloc 20 Japan 21 Israel 22 Mexico 23 and Brazil 24 India has also forged close ties with the member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations 25 the African Union 26 the Arab 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 The foreign policy of Narendra Modi indicated a shift towards focusing on the Asian region and more broadly trade deals Policy nbsp India States with a present and permanent Indian diplomatic missionIndia 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 Role of the Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru India s first Prime Minister promoted a strong personal role for the Prime Minister but a weak institutional structure 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 the Five 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 nbsp Jawaharlal Nehru the 1st Prime Minister of India addressing the United Nations 1948 India s second prime minister Lal Bahadur Shastri 1964 66 expanded the Prime 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 the Research 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 of Indira 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 The Prime Minister is however free to appoint advisers and special committees to examine various foreign policy options and areas of interest citation needed In a recent instance Manmohan Singh appointed K Subrahmanyam in 2005 to head a special government 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 the public domain nbsp Pranab Mukherjee the former Finance Minister of India and former President of India with former US President George W Bush in 2008 India s historical inclination towards a non aligned foreign policy has witnessed a shift under Prime Minister Narendra Modi s leadership since 2014 as New Delhi has displayed a heightened level of assertiveness in its international engagements 40 Ministry of External Affairs The Ministry of External Affairs is the Indian government s agency responsible for the foreign relations of India The Minister of External Affairs holds cabinet rank as a member of the Council of Ministers Subrahmanyam Jaishankar is the current Minister of External Affairs The Ministry has a Minister of State V Muraleedharan The Indian Foreign Secretary is the head of the Indian 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 Act East Policy Main article Indian Look East policy In the post 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 nineties of the last century unveiled the look east policy Initially it focused on renewing political and economic contacts with the countries of East and South East Asia nbsp The Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh at the opening ceremony of third Summit of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation BIMSTEC at Nay Pyi Taw Myanmar on March 04 2014At present when under the Look 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 the BIMSTEC and the Ganga Mekong Cooperation and now becoming a member of the East 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 the National Democratic Alliance NDA government and the subsequent United Progressive Alliance UPA governments 45 In the mid 1990s India attracted the world s attention to Pakistan backed terrorism in Kashmir The Kargil 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 as terrorist groups by the United States and European Union In 1998 India tested nuclear weapons for the second time see Pokhran II which resulted in several US Japanese and European sanctions on India India s then defence minister George Fernandes said that India s nuclear 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 nbsp India has often represented the interests of developing countries on various international platforms Shown here are Vladimir Putin Narendra Modi Dilma Rousseff Xi Jinping and Jacob Zuma 2014 After September 11 attacks in 2001 Indian intelligence agencies provided the US with significant information on Al Qaeda and related groups activities in Pakistan and Afghanistan India s extensive contribution to the War 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 India bilateral 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 a nuclear cooperation agreement with India even though the latter is not a part of the Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty The US argued that India s strong nuclear non proliferation record made it an exception however this has not persuaded other Nuclear Suppliers Group members to sign similar deals with India During a state visit to India in November 2010 US President Barack Obama announced US support for India s bid for permanent membership to UN Security Council 53 as well as India s entry to Nuclear Suppliers Group Wassenaar Arrangement Australia Group and Missile Technology Control Regime 54 55 As of January 2018 India has become a member of Wassenaar Arrangement Australia Group and Missile Technology Control Regime 56 Strategic partnersIndia s growing economy strategic location a mix of friendly and diplomatic foreign policy and large and vibrant diaspora has won it more allies than enemies 57 India has friendly relations with several countries in the developing 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 nbsp The Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Deputy Supreme Commander of U A E Armed Forces General Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan being received by the President Shri Pranab Mukherjee and the Prime Minister Shri Narendra ModiCountries considered India s closest include the United 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 an airbase in Tajikistan 71 signed a landmark defence accord with Qatar in 2008 72 and has leased out Assumption Island from Seychelles 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 the G8 5 IBSA and WTO 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 the Doha Development Round 76 77 Indian Look East policy has helped it develop greater economic and strategic partnerships with Southeast Asian countries South Korea Japan and Taiwan India also enjoys friendly relations with the Persian Gulf countries and most members of the African Union The Foundation for National Security Research in New Delhi published India 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 the 2023 G20 summit is a transportation project that would facilitate Indian trade to the Middle East and Europe 79 Partnership agreements India has signed strategic partnership agreements with more than two dozen countries supranational entities listed here in the chronological order of the pacts Agreements S no Country Year of Agreement signed Reference1 nbsp France 1997 80 2 nbsp Russia 2000 81 3 nbsp Germany 2001 82 4 nbsp Mauritius 2003 83 5 nbsp Iran 2003 84 6 nbsp United Kingdom 2004 85 7 nbsp United States 2004 86 8 nbsp Rwanda 2017 87 9 nbsp Indonesia 2005 88 10 nbsp China 2005 89 11 nbsp Brazil 2006 90 12 nbsp Vietnam 2007 91 13 nbsp Oman 2008 92 14 nbsp Kazakhstan 2009 93 15 nbsp Australia 2009 94 16 nbsp Malaysia 2010 95 17 nbsp South Korea 2010 96 18 nbsp Saudi Arabia 2010 97 19 nbsp Uzbekistan 2011 98 20 nbsp Afghanistan 2011 99 21 nbsp Tajikistan 2012 100 22 nbsp Israel 2017 101 23 nbsp Japan 2014 102 24 nbsp Seychelles 2014 103 25 nbsp Mongolia 2015 104 26 nbsp Singapore 2015 105 27 nbsp United Arab Emirates 2015 106 28 nbsp European Union 2004 107 29 nbsp ASEAN 2012 108 30 nbsp Egypt 2023 109 31 nbsp Greece 2023 110 Future agreements Currently India is taking steps towards establishing strategic partnerships with Canada 111 and Argentina 112 Although India has not signed any formal strategic partnership agreements with Bhutan and Qatar its foreign ministry often describes relations with these countries as strategic 113 114 Diplomatic relationsList of countries which India maintains diplomatic relations with nbsp Country Date 115 1 nbsp Australia 7 March 1941 116 2 nbsp Canada 6 April 1945 117 3 nbsp United States 1 November 1946 118 4 nbsp United Kingdom November 1946 119 5 nbsp Russia 14 April 1947 120 6 nbsp Netherlands 17 April 1947 121 7 nbsp Nepal 13 June 1947 122 8 nbsp Thailand 1 August 1947 123 9 nbsp France 15 August 1947 124 10 nbsp Norway 15 August 1947 125 11 nbsp Pakistan 15 August 1947 126 12 nbsp Turkey 15 August 1947 127 13 nbsp Egypt 18 August 194714 nbsp Belgium 20 September 1947 128 15 nbsp Czech Republic 18 November 1947 129 16 nbsp Afghanistan 10 December 1947 130 17 nbsp Iraq 1947 131 18 nbsp Ireland 194719 nbsp Jordan 194720 nbsp Saudi Arabia 194721 nbsp Myanmar 4 January 1948 132 22 nbsp Italy 25 March 1948 133 23 nbsp Brazil 6 April 1948 134 nbsp Holy See 12 June 1948 135 24 nbsp Ethiopia 1 July 1948 136 25 nbsp Luxembourg 1 July 1948 137 26 nbsp Switzerland 14 August 194827 nbsp Lebanon 15 September 1948 138 28 nbsp Hungary 18 November 1948 139 29 nbsp Serbia 5 December 1948 140 30 nbsp Romania 14 December 1948 141 31 nbsp Sri Lanka 1948 142 32 nbsp Argentina 3 February 1949 143 33 nbsp Chile March 1949 144 34 nbsp Indonesia 1 April 1949 145 35 nbsp Portugal 22 June 1949 146 36 nbsp Finland 10 September 1949 147 37 nbsp Denmark September 194938 nbsp Philippines 26 November 194939 nbsp Austria 194940 nbsp Sweden 1949 148 41 nbsp Iran 15 March 195042 nbsp China 1 April 195043 nbsp Syria May 1950 149 44 nbsp Mexico 1 August 1950 150 45 nbsp Germany 7 March 1951 151 46 nbsp New Zealand 7 April 1952 152 47 nbsp Japan 28 April 195248 nbsp Cambodia 30 May 1952 153 49 nbsp Libya 20 July 1952 154 50 nbsp Poland 30 March 1954 155 51 nbsp Bulgaria 22 December 1954 156 52 nbsp Mongolia 24 December 1955 157 53 nbsp Laos 2 February 1956 158 54 nbsp Sudan 7 May 1956 159 55 nbsp Greece 14 May 1956 160 56 nbsp Albania 195657 nbsp Ghana 6 March 1957 161 58 nbsp Malaysia 8 October 1957 162 59 nbsp Morocco 195760 nbsp Nigeria November 195861 nbsp Bolivia 1958 163 62 nbsp Tunisia 195863 nbsp Colombia 19 January 195964 nbsp Venezuela 1 November 1959 164 65 nbsp Cuba 12 January 1960 165 66 nbsp Liberia 7 July 1960 166 67 nbsp Guinea 8 July 1960 166 68 nbsp Democratic Republic of the Congo August 1960 167 69 nbsp Madagascar 196070 nbsp Uruguay 1960 168 71 nbsp Somalia 10 March 1961 169 72 nbsp Senegal 2 April 1961 170 73 nbsp Sierra Leone 28 April 1961 171 74 nbsp Paraguay 13 September 1961 172 75 nbsp Ivory Coast 5 November 1961 173 76 nbsp Tanzania 9 December 1961 174 77 nbsp Mali 24 January 1962 175 78 nbsp Cyprus 10 February 196279 nbsp Yemen 15 March 1962 176 80 nbsp Burkina Faso 23 March 1962 177 81 nbsp Kuwait 26 March 1962 178 82 nbsp Panama 1 July 1962 179 83 nbsp Algeria July 196284 nbsp Jamaica 12 August 1962 180 85 nbsp Togo 31 August 1962 181 86 nbsp Trinidad and Tobago 31 August 1962 182 87 nbsp Uganda 9 October 1962 183 88 nbsp Peru 25 March 1963 184 89 nbsp Cameroon 4 April 1963 185 90 nbsp Benin 25 June 1963 186 91 nbsp Kenya 14 December 1963 187 92 nbsp Malawi 19 October 1964 188 93 nbsp Malta 10 March 1965 189 94 nbsp Zambia April 1965 190 95 nbsp Gambia 25 June 1965 191 96 nbsp Singapore 24 August 1965 192 97 nbsp Mauritania 22 October 1965 193 98 nbsp Maldives 1 November 1965 194 99 nbsp Guyana 26 May 1966100 nbsp Spain 7 November 1956 195 101 nbsp Barbados 30 November 1966 196 102 nbsp Republic of the Congo 26 August 1967 197 103 nbsp Bhutan January 1968 198 104 nbsp Mauritius 12 March 1968 199 105 nbsp Equatorial Guinea 1968106 nbsp Ecuador 1969107 nbsp Samoa June 1970108 nbsp Fiji 10 October 1970 200 109 nbsp Tonga 23 December 1970 201 110 nbsp Lesotho 8 June 1971 202 111 nbsp Oman 25 July 1971 203 112 nbsp Bahrain 12 October 1971 204 113 nbsp Bangladesh 6 December 1971 205 206 114 nbsp Vietnam 7 January 1972115 nbsp Qatar 12 April 1972 207 116 nbsp Iceland 11 May 1972 208 117 nbsp Guatemala 16 May 1972118 nbsp Botswana 1972 209 119 nbsp United Arab Emirates 1972120 nbsp Guinea Bissau 7 October 1973 210 121 nbsp North Korea 10 December 1973122 nbsp South Korea 10 December 1973 nbsp State of Palestine 1974123 nbsp Mozambique 25 June 1975 211 124 nbsp Nauru 12 September 1975 212 125 nbsp Grenada 1 October 1975 213 126 nbsp Bahamas 16 October 1975 214 127 nbsp Chad 18 October 1975 215 128 nbsp Sao Tome and Principe 1975129 nbsp Suriname 23 January 1976 216 130 nbsp Papua New Guinea 19 May 1976 217 131 nbsp Central African Republic 7 June 1976 218 132 nbsp Seychelles 29 June 1976 219 133 nbsp Comoros June 1976134 nbsp Cape Verde 6 June 1977 220 135 nbsp Niger 18 July 1977 221 136 nbsp El Salvador 12 February 1979 222 137 nbsp Angola 2 June 1979 223 138 nbsp Zimbabwe June 1980 224 139 nbsp Djibouti 7 December 1981 225 140 nbsp Antigua and Barbuda 1981 226 141 nbsp Dominica 28 March 1982 227 142 nbsp Saint Lucia 1982 228 143 nbsp Belize 28 March 1983144 nbsp Nicaragua March 1983145 nbsp Saint Kitts and Nevis 1983 229 146 nbsp Brunei 10 May 1984147 nbsp Kiribati 7 August 1985 230 148 nbsp Costa Rica 1985 231 nbsp Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic cancelled 1985 232 149 nbsp Vanuatu 1986150 nbsp Solomon Islands 1 May 1987 233 151 nbsp Namibia 19 December 1990 234 152 nbsp Estonia 2 December 1991 235 153 nbsp Latvia 20 December 1991154 nbsp Ukraine 17 January 1992 236 155 nbsp Israel 21 January 1992 237 156 nbsp Kazakhstan 22 February 1992157 nbsp Lithuania 25 February 1992158 nbsp Azerbaijan 28 February 1992 238 159 nbsp Kyrgyzstan 18 March 1992160 nbsp Uzbekistan 18 March 1992161 nbsp Moldova 20 March 1992162 nbsp Belarus 17 April 1992 239 163 nbsp Turkmenistan 20 April 1992 240 164 nbsp Slovenia 18 May 1992 241 165 nbsp Croatia 9 July 1992166 nbsp Bosnia and Herzegovina 10 August 1992 242 167 nbsp Tajikistan 28 August 1992168 nbsp Armenia 31 August 1992169 nbsp Georgia 28 September 1992170 nbsp Slovakia 1 January 1993 243 171 nbsp Eritrea 17 September 1993 244 172 nbsp South Africa 22 November 1993173 nbsp Liechtenstein 1993174 nbsp Honduras 28 September 1994 245 175 nbsp Andorra 22 November 1994 246 176 nbsp Palau 10 April 1995 247 177 nbsp North Macedonia 9 February 1995 248 178 nbsp Haiti 27 September 1996179 nbsp Federated States of Micronesia 29 November 1996 249 180 nbsp Marshall Islands 2 February 1997 250 nbsp Cook Islands May 1998 251 252 181 nbsp Dominican Republic 4 May 1999 253 182 nbsp Rwanda 1999 254 183 nbsp East Timor 24 January 2003 255 184 nbsp Montenegro 2 August 2006185 nbsp Monaco 21 September 2007186 nbsp San Marino 26 September 2011 256 187 nbsp South Sudan 13 March 2012 257 nbsp Niue 30 August 2012 258 188 nbsp Burundi Unknown189 nbsp Eswatini Unknown190 nbsp Gabon Unknown191 nbsp Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Unknown192 nbsp Tuvalu UnknownAfricaFurther information Africa India relations nbsp The Vice President Shri M Hamid Ansari calling on the President of Algeria Mr Abdelaziz Bouteflika in Algiers Algeria on October 19 2016AlgeriaMain article Algeria India relationsBurkina FasoBoth countries established diplomatic relations on 24 March 1962 259 BurundiMain article Burundi India relations Burundi has an embassy in New Delhi 260 India is represented in Burundi by its embassy in Kampala Uganda 261 Both countries have a number of bilateral agreements 262 ChadBoth countries established diplomatic relations on 18 October 1975 215 ComorosMain article Comoros India relations Both countries established diplomatic relations in June 1976 263 Both countries are full members of the Indian Ocean Rim Association CongoBoth countries established diplomatic relations on 26 August 1967 264 Main article India Republic of the Congo relations DR CongoMain article Democratic Republic of the Congo India relationsDjiboutiBoth countries established diplomatic relations on 7 December 1981 265 EthiopiaBoth countries established diplomatic relations on 1 July 1948 266 Main article Ethiopia India relations 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 its ITEC programmer providing it with several lines of credit and launching the Pan African e Network project there in 2007 The Second India Africa Forum Summit was held in Addis Ababa in 2011 India is also Ethiopia s second largest source of foreign direct investments EgyptBoth countries established diplomatic relations on 18 August 1947 267 Main article Egypt India relations nbsp Abdel Nasser and his children with Jawaharlal Nehru In 1955 Egypt under Gamal Abdel Nasser and India under Jawaharlal Nehru became the founders of the Non Aligned Movement During the 1956 War Nehru stood supporting Egypt to the point of threatening to withdraw his country from the Commonwealth of Nations Modern Egypt India relations go back to the contacts between Saad Zaghloul and Mohandas Gandhi on the common goals of their respective movements of independence 268 In 1955 Egypt under Gamal Abdul Nasser and India under Jawaharlal Nehru became the founders of the Non Aligned Movement During the 1956 War Nehru stood supporting Egypt to the point of threatening to withdraw his country from the Commonwealth of Nations In 1967 following the Arab Israeli conflict India supported Egypt and the Arabs In 1977 New Delhi described the visit of President Anwar 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 the Gas 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 269 After the Arab Spring of 2011 with ousting of Hosni Mubarak Egypt asked for the help of India in conducting nationwide elections citation needed GabonMain article Gabon India relations Gabon maintains an embassy in New Delhi The Embassy of India in Kinshasa Democratic Republic of Congo is jointly accredited to Gabon 270 GhanaBoth countries established diplomatic relations on 6 March 1957 271 Main article Ghana India relations Relations between Ghana 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 272 Ghana imports automobiles and buses from India and companies like Tata Motors and Ashok Leyland have a significant presence in the country 273 274 Ghanaian exports to India consist of gold cocoa and timber while Indian exports to Ghana comprise pharmaceuticals agricultural machinery electrical equipment plastics steel and cement 275 The Government of India has extended 228 million in lines 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 276 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 the India Africa Forum Summit 275 India is among the largest foreign investors in Ghana s economy At the end of 2011 Indian investments in Ghana amounted to 550 million covering some 548 projects 276 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 277 India s Rashtriya Chemicals and Fertilisers is in the process of setting up a fertiliser plant in Ghana at Nyankrom in the Shama District of the Western 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 278 279 There are also plans to develop a sugar processing plant entailing an investment of US 36 million 280 Bank of Baroda Bharti Airtel Tata Motors and Tech Mahindra are amongst the major Indian companies in Ghana 281 There are about seven to eight thousand Indians and Persons of Indian Origin living in Ghana today with some of them having been there for over 70 years 275 Ghana is home to a growing indigenous Hindu population that today numbers 3000 families Hinduism first came to Ghana only in the late 1940s with the Sindhi traders who migrated here following India s Partition It has been growing in Ghana and neighbouring Togo since the mid 1970s when an African Hindu monastery was established in Accra 282 283 GuineaBoth countries established diplomatic relations on 8 July 1960 166 Ivory CoastMain article India Ivory Coast relations The bilateral relations between India and Ivory Coast have expanded considerably in recent years as India seeks to develop an extensive commercial and strategic partnership in the West African region The Indian diplomatic mission in Abidjan was opened in 1979 Ivory Coast opened its resident mission in New Delhi in September 2004 284 Both nations are currently fostering efforts to increase trade investments and economic cooperation 285 nbsp The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi presenting a guide for Indian Businesses Doing Business in Kenya to the President of Kenya Mr Uhuru Kenyatta at the India Kenya Business Forum at Nairobi Kenya on July 11 2016 KenyaBoth countries established diplomatic relations on 14 December 1963 286 Main article India Kenya relations As littoral states of the Indian Ocean trade links and commercial ties between India and Kenya go back several centuries Kenya has a large minority of Indians and Persons of Indian Origin living there who are descendants of labourers who were brought in by the British to construct the Uganda Railway and Gujarati merchants 287 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 the balance 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 include pharmaceuticals steel machinery and automobiles while Kenyan exports to India are primary commodities such as soda ash vegetables and tea Indian companies have a significant presence in Kenya with Indian corporates like the Tata Group Essar Group Reliance Industries and Bharti Airtel operating there LesothoBoth countries established diplomatic relations on 8 June 1971 288 Main article India Lesotho relations 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 a Permanent 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 the LDF LiberiaBoth countries established diplomatic relations on 7 July 1960 289 Main article India Liberia relations 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 in Abidjan Ivory Coast and an active honorary consulate in Monrovia since 1984 Liberia was represented in India through its resident mission in New Delhi which subsequently closed due to budgetary constraints 290 LibyaBoth countries established diplomatic relations on 20 July 1952 291 Main article India Libya relationsMalawiBoth countries established diplomatic relations on 19 October 1964 188 MaliBoth countries established diplomatic relations on 24 January 1962 292 MauritaniaBoth countries established diplomatic relations on 22 October 1965 293 Main article India Mauritania relations India is represented in Mauritania by its embassy in Bamako Mali 294 295 India also has an honorary consulate in Nouakchott 296 MauritiusBoth countries established diplomatic relations on 12 March 1968 297 Main article India Mauritius relations nbsp Admiral RK Dhowan inspecting guard of honour in MauritiusThe relations between India and Mauritius existed since 1730 diplomatic relations were established in 1948 before Mauritius became an independent state 298 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 of Indian origin most known as Indo 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 of FDI 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 the Indian Ocean region and support India s stand against terrorism 299 The relationship between Mauritius and India date back to the early 1730s when artisans were brought from Puducherry and Tamil Nadu 298 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 by Parliament large numbers of Indian workers began to be brought into Mauritius as indentured labourers On 2 November 1834 the ship named Atlas docked in Mauritius carrying the first batch of Indian indentured labourers MoroccoMain article India Morocco relations Morocco has an embassy in New Delhi It also has an Honorary Consul based in Mumbai India operates an embassy in Rabat Both nations are part of the Non Aligned Movement 300 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 301 The Ministry of External Affairs of the Government 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 302 The Indian Council for Cultural Relations promotes Indian culture in Morocco 303 Morocco seeks to increase its trade ties with India and is seeking Indian investment in various sectors 304 The bilateral relations between India and Morocco strengthened after the Moroccan Ambassador to India spent a week in Srinagar the capital city of Jammu and Kashmir This showed Moroccan solidarity with India regarding Kashmir 304 MozambiqueBoth countries established diplomatic relations on 25 June 1975 305 Main article India Mozambique relations India has a high commissioner in Maputo 306 and Mozambique has a high commissioner in New Delhi NamibiaMain article India Namibia relations Relations between India and Namibia are warm and cordial 307 India was one of SWAPO s earliest supporters during the Namibian liberation movement The first SWAPO embassy was established in India in 1986 India s observer mission was converted to a full High Commissioner on Namibia s Independence Day of 21 March 1990 307 India has helped train the Namibian Air Force since its creation in 1995 The two countries work closely in mutual multilateral organisations such as the United Nations the Non Aligned Movement and the Commonwealth of Nations Namibia supports the expansion of the United Nations Security Council to include a permanent seat for India 307 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 307 In 2008 two Indian companies won a US 105 million contract from NamPower to lay a high voltage direct current bi polar line from Katima Mulilo to Otjiwarongo 307 Namibia is a beneficiary of the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation ITEC programme for telecommunications professionals from developing countries India has a high commissioner in Windhoek 308 and Namibia has a high commissioner in New Delhi Namibia s high commissioner is also accredited for Bangladesh the Maldives and Sri Lanka 309 NigerBoth countries established diplomatic relations on 18 July 1977 221 NigeriaMain article India Nigeria relations 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 the Commonwealth of Nations G 77 and the Non Aligned Movement Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo was the guest of honour at the Republic Day parade in 1999 and the Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh visited Nigeria in 2007 and addressed the Nigerian Parliament nbsp The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi meeting the President of Rwanda Mr Paul Kagame at Kigali Rwanda on July 23 2018RwandaMain article India Rwanda relations Indo Rwandan relations are the foreign relations between the Republic of India and the Republic of Rwanda India is represented in Rwanda through its honorary consulate in Kigali Rwanda has been operating its Embassy in New Delhi since 1998 and appointed its first resident Ambassador in 2001 310 SeychellesMain article India Seychelles relations India Seychelles relations are bilateral relations between the Republic of India and the Republic of Seychelles India has a High Commission in Victoria while Seychelles maintains a High Commission in New Delhi 311 South AfricaMain article India South Africa relationsIndia 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 of Indian 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 condemned apartheid and refused diplomatic relations while apartheid was conducted as state policy in South Africa nbsp Mahatma Gandhi middle row centre with the leaders of the non violent resistance movement 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 is gold bar Diamonds that are mined from South Africa are polished in India Nelson Mandela was awarded the Gandhi Peace Prize The two countries are also members of the IBSA Dialogue Forum with Brazil India hopes to get large amounts of uranium from resource rich South Africa for India s growing civilian nuclear energy sector South SudanMain article India South Sudan relations 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 the Hindustan 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 312 An article in The 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 313 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 313 SudanBoth countries established diplomatic relations on 7 May 1956 314 Main article India Sudan relations nbsp INS Tarkash sailing with Sudan Navy ships Almazz PC 411 amp Nimer PC 413 as part of Maritime Partnership Exercise 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 are former British colonies and remotely border Saudi Arabia using a body of water India and Sudan continue to have cordial relations despite issues such as India 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 in Darfur TogoBoth countries established diplomatic relations on 31 August 1962 181 Main article India Togo relations Togo opened its embassy in New Delhi in October 2010 The High Commission of India in Accra Ghana is concurrently accredited to Togo Togolese President Gnassingbe Eyadema made an official state visit to India in September 1994 During the visit the two countries agreed to establish Joint Commission 315 UgandaBoth countries established diplomatic relations on 9 October 1962 316 Main article India Uganda relations India and Uganda established diplomatic relations in 1965 and each maintains a High Commissioner in the other s capital The Indian High Commission in Kampala 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 317 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 the Mombasa Kampala railway line Ugandan independence activists were inspired in their struggle for Ugandan independence by the success of the Indian independence movement and were also supported in their struggle by the Prime Minister of India Jawaharlal Nehru 318 319 Indo Ugandan relations have been good since Uganda s independence except during the regime of Idi Amin Amin in 1972 expelled over 55 000 people of Indian origin and 5 000 Indians who had formed the commercial and economic backbone of the country accusing them of exploiting native Ugandans 319 320 Since the mid 1980s when President Yoweri Museveni came to power relations have steadily improved Today some 20 000 Indians and PIOs live or work in Uganda 319 Ethnic tensions between Indians and Ugandans have been a recurring issue in bilateral relations given the role of Indians in the Ugandan economy 321 322 ZambiaMain article India Zambia relations ZimbabweMain article India Zimbabwe relations African UnionAs 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 323 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 of INR 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 324 AmericasIndia s commonalities with developing nations in Latin America especially Brazil and Mexico have continued to grow India and Brazil continue to work together on the reform of the Security Council through the G4 nations while having also increased strategic and economic cooperation through the IBSA Dialogue Forum The process of finalizing a Preferential Trade Agreement PTA with MERCOSUR Brazil Argentina Uruguay and Paraguay is on the itinerary and negotiations are being held with Chile 325 Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva was the guest of honor at the 2004 Republic Day celebrations in New Delhi 326 North Antigua and BarbudaMain article Antigua and Barbuda India relations nbsp Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi meeting Barbadian Prime Minister Mia Mottley at COP26 in Glasgow Scotland November 2021Both countries have established diplomatic relations and have an Extradition Arrangement 327 328 BarbadosMain article Barbados India relations India and Barbados established diplomatic relations on 30 November 1966 the date of Barbados national independence 329 On that date the government of India gifted Barbados the throne in Barbados national House of Assembly 330 India is represented in Barbados through its embassy in Suriname 331 332 333 and an Indian consulate in Holetown St James 334 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 335 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 BelizeMain article Belize India relations India has an Honorary Consulate in Belize City and Belize has an Honorary Consulate in New Delhi Bilateral trade stood at US 45 3 Million in 2014 and has steadily increased since Belize and India have engaged in dialogue in Central American Integration System SICA discussing anti terrorism climate change and food security India signed a Tax 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 under Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation Programme and the Indian 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 CanadaMain article Canada India relations nbsp Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau receiving a welcome ceremony in Rashtrapati Bhavan New Delhi with PM Narendra Modi along with his family 2018 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 the Air 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 the Colombo Plan Although Jean Chretien and Romeo 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 nbsp Stamp of India 2017 Diwali Joint Issue With CanadaThe 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 Minister Manmohan Singh and Stephen 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 CubaMain article Cuba India relations Relations between India and Cuba are close and warm Both nations are part of the Non 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 336 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 of Indira Gandhi the former Prime Minister of India the non aligned countries will continue advancing in their inalienable role as a bastion for peace national independence and development 337 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 338 India had been one of the first countries in the world to have recognised the new Cuban government after the Cuban Revolution 339 Cuba has an embassy in New Delhi the Indian capital 340 JamaicaMain article India Jamaica relations 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 the Commonwealth of Nations parliamentary democracy the English language and cricket 341 342 Both nations are members of the Non Aligned Movement the United Nations and the Commonwealth 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 a High Commission in Kingston 341 whilst Jamaica has a consulate in New Delhi 343 and plans to upgrade it to a High Commission soon MexicoMain article India Mexico relations nbsp Indians in Mexico CityMexico is a very important and major economic partner of India Nobel Prize laureate and ambassador to India Octavio Paz wrote his book In Light of India which is an analysis of Indian history and culture 344 Both nations are regional powers and members of the G 20 major economies India has an embassy in Mexico City 345 Mexico has an embassy in New Delhi and a consulate in Mumbai 346 NicaraguaMain article India Nicaragua relations Bilateral relations between India and Nicaragua have been limited to SICA dialogue and visits by Nicaraguan Ministers to India India maintains an honorary consul general in Nicaragua 347 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 348 the current Foreign minister Samuel Santos Lopez visited India in 2008 for the SICA India Foreign ministers meeting and in 2013 349 for high level talks with the then External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid which also expanded bilateral trade with the two countries reaching a total of US 60 12 million during 2012 13 Panama nbsp The Vice President Shri M Venkaiah Naidu being bid farewell by the Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr Luis Miguel Hincapie on his departure in Panama on May 10 2018Main article India Panama relations Bilateral relations between Panama and India have been growing steadily reflecting the crucial role the Panama 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 of Latin 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 the Colon Free Trade Zone 350 ParaguayMain article India Paraguay relationsThe 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 351 nbsp The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi meeting the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago Dr Keith C Rowley on the sidelines of CHOGM 2018 in London on April 19 2018Trinidad amp TobagoMain article India Trinidad and Tobago relations 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 352 Both nations were part of the British 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 in Port of Spain whilst the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago operates a High Commission in New Delhi United States of AmericaMain article India United States relations nbsp US President Richard Nixon and Prime Minister of India Indira Gandhi in 1971 They had a deep personal antipathy that coloured bilateral relations Before and during the Second World War the United States under President Roosevelt gave strong support to the Indian independence movement despite being allies to Britain 353 354 Relations between India and the United States were lukewarm following Indian independence as India took a leading position in the Non Aligned Movement and received support from the Soviet Union The US provided support to India in 1962 during its war with China For most of the Cold 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 Afghan Mujahideen against the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan An Indo Soviet Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation signed in 1971 also positioned India against the USA After the Sino Indian War and the Indo 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 when the 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 of atrocities in East Pakistan and being told most notably in the Blood telegram of genocidal activities being perpetrated by Pakistani forces the US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger and US President Richard Nixon did nothing to discourage then Pakistani President Yahya Khan and the Pakistan 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 355 During the Indo Pakistani War of 1971 Indian Armed Forces along with the Mukti Bahini succeeded in liberating East Pakistan which soon declared independence Nixon feared that an Indian invasion of West 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 the bona 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 356 while also encouraging China to increase its arms supplies to Pakistan When Pakistan s defeat in the eastern sector seemed certain Nixon sent the USS Enterprise to the Bay of Bengal a move deemed by the Indians as a nuclear threat The Enterprise arrived at the station on 11 December 1971 On 6 and 13 December the Soviet Navy dispatched two groups of ships armed with nuclear missiles from Vladivostok they trailed US Task 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 USS Enterprise in the Indian Ocean 357 nbsp Kamala Harris is the 49th Vice President of the United States She is the first female the first person of colour as well as the first Indian American vice president Though American efforts had no effect in turning the tide of the war the incident involving USS Enterprise is viewed as the trigger for India s subsequent interest in developing nuclear weapons 358 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 359 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 360 India carried out nuclear 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 361 Kissinger has since expressed his regret over the comments 362 After the Cold WarSince the end of the Cold 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 the Gulf War the economy of India went through an extremely difficult phase The Government of India adopted liberalised economic systems After the break up of the Soviet Union India improved diplomatic relations with the members of NATO 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 the Premiership of Narendra Modi since 2014 363 Both sides are committed to a Free and Open Indo Pacific 364 nbsp Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a bilateral meeting with U S President Joe Biden at the White HousePokhran tests reactionSee also India United States relations Pokhran Tests and Pokhran II 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 s nuclear 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 President Bill Clinton imposed wide ranging sanctions according to the 1994 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 the Comprehensive 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 nbsp Nobel Laurate Rabindranath Tagore and Argentine writer Victoria Ocampo on the grounds of Villa OcampoSouth ArgentinaMain article Argentina India relationsFormal relations between both countries were first established in 1949 India has an embassy in Buenos Aires and Argentina has an embassy in New Delhi The current Indian Ambassador to Argentina concurrently accredited to Uruguay and Paraguay is R Viswanathan According to the Ministry of External Affairs of the Government 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 365 BrazilMain article Brazil India relationsRelations between Brazil and India have been extended to diverse areas such as science and technology pharmaceuticals and space as both are member nations of BRICS 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 nbsp The President Dr A P J Abdul Kalam and the Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee receiving the Chief Guest the President of the Federative Republic of Brazil Mr Luiz Inacio Lula Da Silva on Republic Day Parade 2004Brazil and India are deeply committed to IBSA 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 BoliviaMain article Bolivia India relations ChileMain article Chile India relations ColombiaMain article Colombia India relations 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 366 EcuadorMain article Ecuador India relations nbsp The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi meeting the President of the Republic of Peru Mr Ollanta Humala on the sidelines of the Sixth BRICS Summit at Brasilia in Brazil on July 16 2014GuyanaMain article Guyana India relations ParaguayMain article India Paraguay relations PeruMain article India Peru relations SurinameMain article India Suriname relations UruguayMain article India Uruguay relations VenezuelaMain article India Venezuela relations Diplomatic relations between India and Venezuela were established on 1 October 1959 367 India maintains an embassy in Caracas while Venezuela maintains an embassy in New Delhi nbsp Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro ONGC Executive Director Narendra Kumar Verma and PDVSA President Eulogio Del PinoThere have been several visits by heads of state and government and other high level officials between the countries President Hugo Chavez visited New Delhi on 4 7 March 2005 367 Chavez met with Indian President APJ Abdul Kalam and Prime Minister Manmohan 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 Minister Nicolas Maduro visited India to attend the First Meeting of the India CELAC Troika Foreign Ministers meeting in New Delhi on 7 August 2012 368 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 368 The President and Prime Minister of India expressed condolences on the death of Chavez The Rajya 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 Chavez s successor Nicolas Maduro on 19 April 2013 369 Citizens of Venezuela are eligible for scholarships under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation Programme and the Indian Council for Cultural Relations 368 370 Asia nbsp Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi receives a guard of honour during his visit to Kazakhstan in July 2015 Central Further information Connect Central Asia KazakhstanMain article India Kazakhstan relations 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 in petrochemicals 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 President Prathibha Patil and her Kazakh counterpart Nursultan Nazarbayev Kazakhstan will provide Uranium 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 Kyrgyzstan nbsp Kyrgyz President Almazbek Atambayev presents a copy of Manas Semetei Seitek to Indian Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi at Hyderabad House in New Delhi on December 20 2016 Main article India Kyrgyzstan relations TajikistanMain article India Tajikistan relations 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 Taliban Afghan Northern Alliance ANA India began renovating the Farkhor Air Base and stationed aircraft of the Indian Air Force there The Farkhor Air Base became fully operational in 2006 and 12 MiG 29 bombers and trainer aircraft are planned to be stationed there Turkmenistan nbsp Prime Minister Narendra Modi in TurkmenistanMain article India Turkmenistan relations UzbekistanMain article India Uzbekistan relations 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 the Mughal Empire which was founded by Babur of Ferghana in present day Uzbekistan who created his empire southward first in Afghanistan and then in India East ChinaMain article China India relations See also India Tibet relations and Hong Kong India relations nbsp A Chinese container ship unloads cargo at the Jawaharlal Nehru Port in India Bilateral trade between the two countries has surpassed US 65 billion by 2015 making China the single largest trading partner of India 371 Despite lingering suspicions remaining from the 1962 Sino Indian War the 1967 Nathu La and Cho La incidents and continuing boundary disputes over Aksai Chin and Arunachal 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 372 A series of high level visits between the two nations have helped improve relations In December 1996 PRC President Jiang 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 the Kargil crisis then External Affairs Minister Jaswant 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 from Tibet to India of the 17th Karmapa in January 2000 with delicacy and tact In 2003 India formally recognised Tibet as a part of China and China recognised Sikkim as a formal part of India in 2004 nbsp The Current Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi and President of China Xi Jinping at G7 Summit China 2016 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 373 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 374 They have also collaborated on several issues ranging from WTO s Doha round in 2008 375 to regional free trade agreement 376 Similar to Indo US nuclear deal India and China have also agreed to cooperate in the field of civilian nuclear energy 377 However China s economic interests have clashed with those of India 378 Both countries are the largest Asian investors in Africa 379 and have competed for control over their large natural resources 380 There was a tense situation due to the soldiers stand off in Doklam Bhutan but that was resolved early 381 nbsp Liu Shaoqi the then Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People s Congress with Indira Gandhi when she was the President of Indian National Congress 382 Relations were lost due to Galwan Valley skirmishes 383 384 and its progress India ceased imports of Chinese products 385 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 386 The outbreak of the Coronavirus pandemic from Wuhan also hampered the relations 387 Following the straining of the bonds both sides blamed each other for the conflict on LAC 388 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 389 India banned more than 250 Chinese apps 390 and on 16 October it banned the import of ACs Refrigerators and Coolers from China 391 Several core commanders negotiations and talks were held 392 which resulted in nothing other than vague promises then Cross media blaming was common There was even a conference held in Moscow 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 393 The recent meeting of the Quad alliance was also questioned by China 394 but was then downed by India 395 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 396 nbsp Two Japanese Naval warships took part in Malabar 2007 off India s western coast one of the few such multilateral exercises Japan has ever taken part in symbolising close military cooperation between India and Japan JapanMain article India Japan relations India Japan relations have always been strong India has culturally influenced Japan through Buddhism During World War II the Imperial Japanese Army helped Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose s Indian National Army Relations have remained warm since India s independence despite Japan imposing sanctions on India after the 1998 Pokhran II nuclear tests the sanctions were removed in 2001 397 Japanese companies like Sony Toyota and Honda 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 giant Suzuki which is in partnership with Indian automobile company Maruti 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 398 nbsp Stamp of India 2002 Colnect 834423 India Japan 50th Anniversary Diplomatic RelationsAccording to Former Prime Minister Shinzō Abe s arc 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 in New Delhi s metro subway system 399 In December 2006 then Prime Minister Manmohan 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 the Japan Self Defense Forces took part in a naval exercise in the Indian Ocean known as Malabar 2007 which also involved the naval forces of India Australia Singapore and the United States nbsp Former PM Shinzo Abe and PM Narendra ModiIn 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 400 India and Japan signed a security cooperation agreement 401 in which both will hold military exercises police the Indian Ocean and conduct military to military exchanges on fighting terrorism making India one of only three countries the other two being the United States and Australia with which Japan has such a security pact 402 There are 25 000 Indians in Japan as of 2008 MongoliaMain article India Mongolia relations 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 North KoreaMain article India North Korea relations India and North Korea have growing trade and diplomatic relations India had a fully functioning embassy in Pyongyang which was closed down due to COVID 19 pandemic in the host country while North Korea still operates an embassy in New Delhi India has said that it wants the reunification of Korea 403 South KoreaMain article India South Korea relations nbsp The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and the President of the Republic of South Korea Mr Moon Jae in take Delhi Metro ride on the way to inaugurate the Samsung manufacturing plant World s Largest Mobile Factory in Noida Uttar Pradesh The cordial relationship between the two countries extends back to 48AD when Queen Suro or Princess Heo travelled from the kingdom of Ayodhya to Korea 404 According to the Samguk 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 405 Upon approval she set out on a boat carrying gold silver a tea plant and a stone which calmed the waters 404 Archeologists discovered a stone with two fish kissing each other a symbol of the Gaya kingdom that is unique to the Mishra royal family in Ayodhya 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 404 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 President Kim Dae Jung and Prime Minister Kim Jong pil The relations between the countries have been relatively limited although much progress arose during the three decades nbsp Stamp of India 2019 Joint Issue with South Korea commemorating relationship when Queen Suro or Princess Heo travelled from the kingdom of Ayodhya to Korea 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 406 During the 1997 Asian financial crisis South Korean businesses sought to increase access to the global markets and began trade investments with India 406 The last two presidential visits from South Korea to India were in 1996 and 2006 407 and the embassy works between the two countries are seen as needing improvements 408 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 409 however South Korea is currently the fifth largest source of investment in India 410 To The Times of India President Roh Moo hyun voiced his opinion that cooperation between India s software and Korea s IT industries would bring very efficient and successful outcomes 407 The two countries agreed to shift their focus to the revision of the visa policies between the two countries expansion of trade and establishment of free trade agreement to encourage further investment between the two countries Korean companies such as LG Hyundai and Samsung 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 410 Tata Motor s purchase of Daewoo Commercial Vehicles at the cost of 102 million highlights India s investments in Korea which consist mostly of subcontracting 410 nbsp Indian PM Narendra Modi hosting President of Afghanistan Ashraf Ghani in New Delhi 2018 South Further information Neighbourhood first policy AfghanistanBoth countries established diplomatic relations on 10 December 1947 130 Main article Afghanistan India relationsBilateral relations between India and Afghanistan have been traditionally strong and friendly While India was the only South Asian country to recognise the Soviet backed Democratic Republic of Afghanistan in the 1980s its relations were diminished during the Afghan civil wars and the rule of the Islamist Taliban in the 1990s 411 India aided the overthrow of the Taliban and became the largest regional provider of humanitarian and reconstruction aid 61 412 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 61 412 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 413 After the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan collapsed India participated in the evacuation of non Muslim minorities and provided food aid to Taliban ruled Afghanistan 414 BangladeshMain article Bangladesh India relations nbsp PM Narendra Modi along with PM of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina and Chief Minister of West Bengal Mamata Banerjee in an agreement between Indian and Bangladeshi Government with Minister of External Affairs India S Jaishankar and Bangladesh Govt officialsIndia 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 of border 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 through Indira 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 415 and subsequently lobbied others to follow suit India also withdrew its military from the land of Bangladesh when Sheikh Mujibur Rahman requested Indira Gandhi to do so during the latter s visit to Dhaka in 1972 citation needed nbsp Lt Gen Niazi signing the Instrument of Surrender under the gaze of Lt Gen Aurora effectively ending Bangladesh Liberation War and creating the new state of Bangladesh Indo Bangladesh relations have been somewhat less friendly since the fall of the Mujib government in August 1975 416 over the years over issues such as South Talpatti Island the Tin Bigha Corridor and access to Nepal the Farakka Barrage and water sharing border conflicts near Tripura 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 new Awami League Government A 30 year water sharing agreement for the Ganges 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 tribal insurgents 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 the Chittagong Hill Tracts The Bangladesh Army maintains a very strong presence in the area to this day The army is increasingly concerned about the growing problem of the cultivation of illegal drugs There are also small pieces of land along the border region that Bangladesh is diplomatically trying to reclaim Padua part of Sylhet Division before 1971 has been under Indian control since the war in 1971 This small strip of land was re 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 417 to be part of the Satkhira district of Bangladesh nbsp Stamp of India 1973 Flower with Flag India commemorating the creation of Republic 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 like ULFA and alleged terrorist groups The Bangladesh government has refused to accept these allegations 418 419 India estimates that over 20 million Bangladeshis are living illegally in India 420 One Bangladeshi official responded that there is not a single Bangladeshi migrant in India 421 Since 2002 India has been constructing an India Bangladesh Fence along much of the 2500 mile border 422 The failure to resolve migration disputes bears a human cost for illegal migrants such as imprisonment and health risks namely HIV AIDS 423 India s prime minister Narendra Modi and his Bangladeshi counterpart Sheikh 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 424 Both countries solved their border dispute on 6 June 2015 425 To connect Kolkata with Tripura 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 Agartala 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 The project ranks high on Prime Minister s Act East Policy and is expected to increase connectivity and boost trade between India and Bangladesh nbsp The King of Bhutan Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck at Prime Minister s Residence with PM Narendra Modi in New Delhi on 1 November 2017 BhutanMain article Bhutan India relations 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 nbsp Indian PM Narendra Modi meets with Bhutanese PM Tshering TobgayIndia 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 426 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 MW Chukha 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 426 Tata Power is also building a hydroelectric dam in Bhutan India had assisted Bhutan by deploying 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 381 nbsp PM Narendra Modi meeting President of Maldives Ibrahim Mohamed Solih in Male 2018 MaldivesMain article India Maldives relations India enjoys a considerable influence over Maldives foreign policy and provides extensive security cooperation especially after Operation 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 together Afghanistan Bangladesh Bhutan India Maldives Nepal Pakistan and Sri 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 427 India also signed an agreement with the Maldives in 2011 which is centred around the following India shall permanently base two helicopters in the country to enhance its surveillance capabilities and ability to respond swiftly to threats One helicopter from the Coast Guard was handed over during A K Antony s visit while another from the Navy will be cleared for transfer shortly Maldives has coastal radars on only two of its 26 atolls India will help set up radars on all 26 for seamless coverage of approaching vessels and aircraft The coastal radar chain in the Maldives will be networked with the Indian coastal radar system India has already undertaken a project to install radars along its entire coastline The radar chains of the two countries will be interlinked and a central control room in India s Coastal Command will get a seamless radar picture The Indian Coast Guard ICG will carry out regular Dornier sorties over the island nation to look out for suspicious movements or vessels The Southern Naval Command will facilitate the inclusion of Maldives into the Indian security grid nbsp PM Narendra Modi with Former Prime Minister of Nepal KP Sharma Oli in BIMSTEC Summit 2018 at Kathmandu Military teams from Maldives will visit the tri services Andaman amp Nicobar Command ANC to observe how India manages security and surveillance of the critical island chain NepalMain article India Nepal relationsRelations 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 and Kathmandu initiated their intertwined relationship with the Treaty 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 nbsp Local Nepalese and Army persons are being evacuated by the Indian Air Force IAF Mi 17 V5 helicopter at the directions of Nepalese authority as part of relief amp rescue operations following the 2015 Kathmandu Earthquake 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 428 However the Nepalese government accuses India of deliberately worsening the embargo but India denies it 428 India aided Nepal during the 2015 Kathmandu earthquake with the financial aid of 1 billion and launched Operation Maitri 429 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 430 Nepalese Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli commented about the pandemic of Coronavirus that the Indian virus was deadlier than the one which spread from Wuhan 431 As time progressed certain claims were also made on the Indian territories for example Kalapani Limpiyadhura and Lipulekh of Uttarakhand 432 Similarly the claims were also made culturally when it was said that Hindu God Ram was Nepalese that he was born in Thori west of Birgunj and that Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh was fake 433 Rules were made strict for Indians in Nepal 434 along with banning some Indian media 435 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 ambassador Hou Yanqi Speculations were made that since China could not handle India directly in the aftermath of the LAC 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 436 nbsp Jawahar Lal Nehru and Muhammed Ali Jinnah walking in the grounds of Government House Simla British India 382 PakistanBoth countries established diplomatic relations on 15 August 1947 437 Main article India Pakistan relationsDespite historical cultural and ethnic links between them relations between India and Pakistan have been plagued by years of mistrust and suspicion ever since the partition of India in 1947 The principal source of contention between India and its western neighbour has been the Kashmir conflict After an invasion by Pashtun tribesmen and Pakistani paramilitary forces the Hindu Maharaja of the Dogra Kingdom of Jammu and Kashmir Hari Singh and its Muslim Prime Minister Sheikh Abdullah signed an Instrument of Accession with New Delhi The First Kashmir War started after the Indian Army entered Srinagar the capital of the state to secure the area from the invading forces The war ended in December 1948 with the Line 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 a standstill agreement with it The Indo Pakistani War of 1965 started following the failure of Pakistan s Operation 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 the Tashkent Declaration India and Pakistan went to war again in 1971 this time the conflict being over East Pakistan The large scale atrocities committed there by the Pakistan army led to millions of Bengali refugees pouring over into India India along with the Mukti 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 the Pokhran II nuclear tests which was followed by Pakistan s Chagai I tests Following the Lahore Declaration in February 1999 relations briefly improved A few months later however Pakistani paramilitary forces and Pakistan Army infiltrated in large numbers into the Kargil district of Indian Kashmir This initiated the Kargil 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 the Indian Airlines Flight 814 in December 1999 Attempts to normalise relations such as the Agra summit held in July 2001 failed An attack on the Indian Parliament in December 2001 which was blamed on Pakistan which had condemned the attack 438 caused a military standoff between the two countries which lasted for nearly a year raising fears of nuclear warfare However a peace process initiated in 2003 led to improved relations in the following years nbsp PM Narendra Modi meeting Former Prime Minister of Pakistan Nawaz Sharif at Raiwind Pakistan 2015 last formal dialogue Since the initiation of the peace process several confidence building measures CBMs between India and Pakistan have taken shape The Samjhauta Express and Delhi 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 439 The initiation of the Srinagar 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 the 2005 Kashmir earthquake India sent aid to affected areas in Pakistani Kashmir and Punjab as well as Indian Kashmir 440 The 2008 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 new NDA government took charge in Delhi after victory in the 2014 election and invited SAARC members leaders to an oath taking ceremony Subsequently the visit of the Indian prime minister on 25 December informally wished Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on his Birthday and participate in his daughter s wedding It was hoped that the relationship between the neighbour will improve but an attack on an Indian army camp by Pakistani infiltrators on 18 September 2016 441 and a subsequent surgical strike by India 442 aggravated the already strained relationship between the nations nbsp The evening flag lowering ceremony at the India Pakistan International Border near Wagah Taken from the Pakistani side A SAARC summit scheduled in Islamabad was called off because of a boycott by India and other SAARC members subsequently 443 The relationship took a further nosedive after another attack 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 carrying CRPF soldiers in Pulwama Kashmir killing 40 444 India blamed Pakistan which was denied by the Pakistani establishment India retaliated with an airstrike on Balakot a region claimed and controlled by Pakistan 445 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 446 Sri LankaMain article India Sri Lanka relationsBilateral 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 Venerable Mahinda the son of Indian Emperor Ashoka during the reign of Sri Lanka s King Devanampiya Tissa During this time a sapling of the Bodhi Tree was brought to Sri Lanka and the first monasteries and Buddhist monuments were established nbsp The Former President of Sri Lanka at Prime Minister s Residence New Delhi with PM Narendra Modi 2018 Nevertheless relations post independence were affected by the Sri Lankan Civil War and by the failure of Indian intervention during the civil war as well as India s support for Tamil Tiger militants India is Sri Lanka s only neighbour separated by the Palk Strait both nations occupy a strategic position in South Asia and have sought to build a common security umbrella in the Indian Ocean 447 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 the Sri Lanka Freedom Party and the United 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 448 nbsp India and its neighbor countries SAARCCertain aspects of India s relations within the subcontinent are conducted through the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation SAARC Its members other than India are Afghanistan Bangladesh Bhutan Maldives Nepal Pakistan and Sri 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 Islamabad was cancelled due to terrorist acts particularly the Uri attack nbsp Members of BIMSTEC BIMSTECBay 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 the Bay of Bengal 449 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 450 Southeast BruneiMain article Brunei India relations Brunei has a high commission in New Delhi and India has a high commission in Bandar Seri Begawan Both countries are full members of the Commonwealth of Nations CambodiaMain article Cambodia India relationsBoth nations have been in friendly relations nbsp Jawaharlal Nehru and his daughter Indira Gandhi with Sukarno Megawati Sukarnoputri and Guruh Sukarnoputra Indonesia 1950 IndonesiaMain article India Indonesia relationsThe ties between Indonesia and India date back to the times of the Ramayana 451 Yawadvipa Java is mentioned in India s earliest epic the Ramayana Sugriva the chief of Rama s army dispatched his men to Yawadvipa the island of Java in search of Sita 452 Indonesians had absorbed many aspects of Indian culture since almost two millennia ago The most obvious trace is the large adoption of Sanskrit into the Indonesian language Several Indonesian toponymy has Indian parallel or origin such as Madura with Mathura Serayu and Sarayu rivers Kalingga from Kalinga Kingdom and Ngayogyakarta from Ayodhya Indianised Hindu Buddhist kingdoms such as Kalingga Srivijaya Mataram Sunda Kadiri Singhasari and Majapahit were the predominant governments in Indonesia and lasted from 200 453 to the 1500s with the last remaining being in Bali An example of profound Hindu Buddhist influences in Indonesian history is the 9th century Prambanan and Borobudur temples nbsp PM Narendra Modi meets Indonesian President Joko Widodo in Jakarta 2018 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 454 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 the United Nations Security Council India has an embassy in Jakarta 455 and Indonesia operates an embassy in Delhi 456 India regards Indonesia as a key member of ASEAN 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 457 better source needed Both nations had agreed to establish a strategic partnership 458 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 the G 20 the E7 the Non Aligned Movement and the United Nations LaosMain article India Laos relationsIn recent years India has endeavoured to build relations with this small Southeast Asian nation They have strong military relations and India shall be building an Airforce Academy in Laos 459 nbsp Stamp of India IOCOM Submarine Telephone CableMalaysiaMain article India Malaysia relations India has a high commission in Kuala Lumpur and Malaysia has a high commission in New Delhi Both countries are full members of the Commonwealth of Nations and the Asian 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 of Indian 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 from Kerala and his mother Wan Tampawan is a Malay 460 Relations escalated when the Malaysian PM Mahathir Mohamad questioned the action of revocating the special status of Jammu and Kashmir and on CAA NRC protests The relations continue to be diminished also during the palm oil export from Malaysia to India Even with the new government in power currently there seems no recovery as former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad still favored Pakistan 461 nbsp The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi calling on the President of Myanmar Mr U Thein Sein at Nay Pyi Taw Myanmar on November 11 2014MyanmarMain article India Myanmar relationsIndia 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 significant Indian community in Burma 462 India provided considerable support when Myanmar struggled with regional insurgencies However the overthrow of the democratic government by the Military of Burma led to strains in ties Along with much of the world India condemned the suppression of democracy and Myanmar ordered the expulsion of the Burmese Indian community increasing its isolation from the world 462 463 Only China maintained close links with Myanmar while India supported the pro democracy movement 462 464 465 img, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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