Lok Sabha Question No. 2131 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-01
Subject: Diplomatic response to Geopolitical Tension
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: Adv Gowaal Kagada Padavi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO - 2131 ANSWERED ON-01/08/2025

## DIPLOMATIC RESPONSE TO GEOPOLITICAL TENSION

## 2131. ADV. GOWAAL KAGADA PADAVI

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has reviewed India's diplomatic response to recent   geopolitical   tensions   in   neighbouring   regions,   including   the evolving situation in the Indo-Pacific, if so, the details thereof;
- (b)   the   steps   taken   to   safeguard   India's   strategic   interests   and   the security of Indian citizens abroad;
- (c)   whether   there   have   been   any   recent   high-level   engagements   or bilateral meetings with major global powers to address these challenges, if so, the details thereof;
- (d) the measures taken to strengthen position of India in multilateral forums like the United Nations, G20 and BRICS;

(e) the steps being taken to ensure the welfare and safety of Indian students   and   diaspora   in   conflict-affected   or   politically   unstable countries; and

(f) whether the Government proposes any new initiatives to boost India's global image and expand its diplomatic outreach in the coming year, if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## (SHRI PABITRA MARGHERITA)

(a) The Government calibrates its diplomatic approach with the evolving regional and geopolitical developments, to safeguard and promote India's national   interests,   by   deepening   defence   &   security   cooperation, furthering economic & commerce ties, developmental assistance and productive collaboration with various countries. India's 'Neighbourhood First Policy', and the broader MAHASAGAR vision serve as the guiding principles in the neighborhood.   India envisages a free, open, inclusive, peaceful and prosperous Indo-Pacific region built on a rules-based world order,   respect   for   sovereignty   and   territorial   integrity,   freedom   of

navigation   and   over-flight,   unimpeded   lawful   commerce,   peaceful resolution of disputes, as well as equality of all nations.

(b) and (e)  To safeguard its strategic interests, India has entered into multifaceted  partnerships   with   the   several   countries   with   the   broad objective   of   enhancing   political   ties,   furthering   diplomatic   interests, strengthening   national   security,   greater   economic   and   investments growth, securing energy resources, SDGs, deepening people-to-people ties, expanding cooperation in technology & innovation, infrastructure development and increased global influence.

The Government accords utmost priority to the welfare and safety of Indian nationals including Indian students, particularly in conflict-affected or   politically   unstable   countries.   As   such,   we   have   established mechanisms like walk-ins, emails, multilingual 24x7 emergency numbers, grievance redressal portals like MADAD, CPGRAMS, eMigrate and social media   etc   to   address   the   concerns.   Further,   there   are   bilateral agreements in place with the Gulf countries to address some specific issues   of   labour and   manpower,   and   also   to   promote   welfare   and protection   of   Indian   workers. The   Government   actively   monitors developments   and   issues   advisories.   During   emergency   or   crisis

situations, our Missions/Posts abroad proactively help distressed/stranded Indian nationals by providing consular assistance, food, shelter, medicine and return passage to India. The Government is always prepared to take additional steps, including arranging flights for rescue operations. Some of the recent evacuation missions are Vande Bharat   Mission,   Operation   Devi   Shakti,   Operation   Ganga,   Operation Kaveri, Operation Ajay, Operation Indravati etc.

(c) The details of high-level visits in last four months are at Annexure. High level visits are established means to foster closer relations with foreign countries and promote India's engagements at bilateral, regional and global level. Through such visits, India serves its national interests, safeguards its strategic interests, implements foreign policy objectives as well as strives for promoting safety, security and welfare of Indian citizens abroad.

(d) India   is   committed   to   multilateralism   and   strategically   utilizes various multilateral forums to secure its national interest. At the UN, India furthers its areas of interest in a proactive manner, including through its leadership role in realizing several landmark initiatives. These efforts have resulted in greater collaboration and closer engagement with partner countries. India's G20 Presidency from 1 December 2022 to 30 November

2023 provided an opportunity for highlighting its development initiatives and to focus on the developmental priorities and concerns of the Global South at G20. The G20 New Delhi Leaders' Declaration reflected ambitious and action-oriented outcomes, including accelerating progress on SDGs, green   development   and   Lifestyle   for   Environment   (LiFE)   initiative, promoting   accelerated   and   inclusive   growth,   reforming   multilateral institutions, technological transformation through deployment of digital public infrastructure and women-led development.  India's participation at BRICS,  provides it with the advantage of furthering India's strategic goals and initiatives including reform of global governance and strengthening of multilateralism. In the recently concluded 17th BRICS Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, BRICS countries have called for reform of the Bretton Woods institutions including IMF and WTO and comprehensive reform of the UN including its Security Council with a view to making it more democratic, representative, effective and efficient.

(f) India will continue enhancing its global standing through diplomatic outreach   in   key   areas   including   a   human-centric   approach   to development,   reform   of   global   governance   structures,   climate   and environmental action etc. in line with its vision of 'One Earth, One Family, One Future'.

## Annexure

## Visits by foreign dignitaries to India during the last four months

|   Sl. No. | Country                                                                                                 | Period of Visit           |
|-----------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------|
|         1 | H.E. Brigadier (ret's) Mark Philips, Prime Minister of Cooperative Republic of Guyana                   | 04 th to 07 th March 2025 |
|         2 | H.E Christopher Luxon Prime Minister of New Zealand                                                     | 16 th to 20 th March 2025 |
|         3 | H.E. Xavier Bettel, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade of Luxembourg | 17 th to 19 th March 2025 |
|         4 | H.E. Mihai Popsoi, Deputy Prime Minister & Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Moldova       | 17 th to 19 th March 2025 |
|         5 | H.E. Dr. Eduardo Martinez Diaz, Deputy Prime Minister of Cuba                                           | 17 th to 19 th March 2025 |
|         6 | H.E Gabriel Boric Font President of the Republic of Chile                                               | 01 st to 05 th April 2025 |

|   7 | H.E Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, UAE   | 08 th to 09 th April 2025   |
|-----|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------|
|   8 | H.E. Antonio Tajani, Deputy Prime Minister & Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Italy                   | 11 th to 12 th April 2025   |
|   9 | H.E. James David Vance Vice President of the United States of America                                                             | 21 st to 24 th April 2025   |
|  10 | H.E. Joao Manuel Goncalves Lourenco President of the Republic of Angola                                                           | 02 nd to 04 th May 2025     |
|  11 | H.E. Winston Peters, Deputy Prime Minister & Minister of Foreign Affairs of New Zealand                                           | 29 th to 30 th May 2025     |
|  12 | H.E. Santiago Peña President of the Republic of Paraguay                                                                          | 02 nd to 04 th June 2025    |

| 13   | H.E. Murat Nurtleu, Deputy Prime       | 05 th to 06 th June   |
|------|----------------------------------------|-----------------------|
|      | Minister & Minister of Foreign Affairs | 2025                  |
|      | of Kazakhstan                          |                       |

## Details of visits undertaken by the Prime Minister during the last 4 Months

|   Sl. No. | Country                                                 | Period of Visit           |
|-----------|---------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------|
|         1 | Mauritius                                               | 11 th to 12 th March 2025 |
|         2 | Thailand and Sri Lanka                                  | 03 rd to 06 th April 2025 |
|         3 | Saudi Arabia                                            | 22 nd April 2025          |
|         4 | Cyprus, Canada and Croatia                              | 15 th to 18 th June 2025  |
|         5 | Ghana, Trinidad & Tobago, Argentina, Brazil and Namibia | 02 nd to 09 th July 2025  |
|         6 | United Kingdom and Maldives                             | 23 rd to 26 th July 2025  |

## Details of visits undertaken by the External Affairs Minister during the last 4 Months

|   Sl. No. | Country                            | Period of Visit               |
|-----------|------------------------------------|-------------------------------|
|         1 | United Kingdom and Ireland         | 04 th to 09 th March 2025     |
|         2 | Netherlands, Denmark, Germany      | 19 th to 24 th May 2025       |
|         3 | France, European Union and Belgium | 08 th to 14 th June 2025      |
|         4 | USA                                | 30 th June to 02 nd July 2025 |
|         5 | Singapore and China                | 13 th to 15 th July 2025      |

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