Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Japan from August 29 to 30 at the invitation of Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba. This will be Modi’s eighth visit to Japan and his first summit with Ishiba. Both leaders will review defence, trade, technology, and regional cooperation under the India-Japan Special Strategic and Global Partnership. From August 31 to September 1, Modi will travel to Tianjin, China, to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit on President Xi Jinping’s invitation. The SCO Summit will see 20 world leaders, and Modi is expected to hold key bilateral meetings during the event. (PC: HT)

Pakistan Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Friday said Islamabad is ready to hold talks with India on “all issues,” including Kashmir. Speaking to reporters in Islamabad, Dar said discussions must cover trade, counter-terrorism, and cultural ties, not just Kashmir. He repeated a similar statement made in July, stressing the “ball is now in India’s court.” India has rejected Pakistan’s call, with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh stating that New Delhi will not talk with nations that glorify terrorism. Singh said dialogue is possible only with “civilised nations, not those driven by hatred and extremism.” (PC: X)

The FBI raided the home of John Bolton, former US national security adviser, a day after he criticised Donald Trump’s India tariff policy. Sources said the search was linked to classified documents, though Bolton was not detained or charged. Earlier, Bolton called Trump an “aberrational president” and slammed his decision to impose steep tariffs on India while sparing China and Russia. He warned that such actions could push India closer to Moscow and Beijing. FBI Director Kash Patel posted, “No one is above the law,” shortly after the raid, fueling political debate in Washington. (PC: India Today)

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday responded to Pakistan Army Chief General Asim Munir’s remark comparing India to a “shining Mercedes” and Pakistan to a “dump truck full of gravel.” Singh said the statement was not just trolling material but a confession of Pakistan’s failed policies and weak leadership. He noted that both nations gained independence at the same time, yet India advanced like a Mercedes while Pakistan remained stuck. Singh warned against ignoring Munir’s comments, calling them a “serious warning.” Munir’s analogy drew heavy criticism in both countries, sparking ridicule on social media. (PC: X)

Chinese Ambassador to India Xu Feihong condemned Washington’s decision to impose up to 50% tariffs on Indian goods, calling the US a “bully” that misuses tariffs as bargaining tools. Speaking in Delhi, Xu urged closer cooperation between India and China, describing them as “double engines” of Asian growth. His remarks follow US penalties tied to India’s purchase of Russian crude and weapons. Amid strained US–India trade ties, Beijing seeks warmer relations, with Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Xu stressing partnership over rivalry. Xu also invited Indian investment in China and pledged joint defense of WTO-led trade rules. (PC: X)

Chinese Ambassador to India Xu Feihong condemned the U.S. for imposing steep tariffs on India, calling Washington a “bully” exploiting trade as a bargaining chip. He criticized the 50% tariffs and additional penalties linked to India’s Russian oil and arms purchases, warning that silence only empowers such tactics. Amid strained U.S.-India trade ties, Xu urged stronger India-China cooperation, praising both nations as “double engines” of Asian growth. He invited Indian enterprises to invest in China and called for fair treatment of Chinese firms in India. Xu affirmed China’s support for multilateral trade under the WTO and expressed optimism about PM Modi’s upcoming visit to China for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit.(PC: BBC)

Reliance Industries, led by Mukesh Ambani, has dramatically increased its share of Russian crude at the Jamnagar refinery—from just 3% in 2021 to about 50% in 2025. The first seven months of 2025 saw imports of 18.3 million tonnes valued at $8.7 billion . Despite the $60 price cap on Russian oil intended to curb Kremlin revenues, weak enforcement and the use of a “shadow fleet” have diluted its impact . Since February 2023, Jamnagar has exported $85.9 billion worth of refined products, with an estimated 42% of those exports ($36 billion) heading to countries sanctioning Russia, including €17 billion to the EU and $6.3 billion to the U.S. (of which $2.3 billion derived from Russian crude). (PC: AP)  

White House Trade Adviser Peter Navarro has accused India of acting as a “laundromat” for Russian oil, claiming Indian refiners profit from processing Moscow’s crude while fueling the Ukraine war. He dismissed India’s energy needs as “nonsense” and warned of a 50% tariff hike on August 27. Navarro criticized India’s trade practices, calling its tariffs “Maharaja-level,” and urged New Delhi to reconsider its role in global peace. Despite praising PM Modi’s leadership, he stressed that India’s actions perpetuate conflict. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar countered, noting the U.S. had encouraged India’s Russian oil purchases to stabilize global markets. (PC: Reuters & NDTV)

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar visited Moscow on August 21, 2025, meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. He pushed back strongly against recently imposed U.S. tariffs—up to 50% on Indian goods tied to New Delhi’s purchase of Russian oil—questioning the fairness of Washington’s criticism. Russia emphasized expanding energy cooperation, including new extraction projects in the Far East and Arctic regions, and committed to continued oil supply to India. Jaishankar underlined the resilience of India-Russia ties, promising to boost Indian exports in pharmaceuticals, agriculture, and textiles while addressing trade imbalances. 

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Thursday. The visit comes after the US imposed 50% tariffs on Indian goods and criticised India’s purchase of Russian oil. Earlier, Jaishankar also met Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov and said India and Russia will expand trade in a “balanced and sustainable” way. He defended India’s oil imports, saying India is not the largest buyer and that the US itself had encouraged such purchases to stabilise markets. Jaishankar added that India also buys oil from America and called US criticism “perplexing.” (PC: News18)