India and OPEC have reaffirmed their commitment to deeper energy cooperation at the Seventh High-Level Meeting of the OPEC-India Energy Dialogue in New Delhi. Co-chaired by Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri and OPEC Secretary General Haitham Al Ghais, the meeting focused on energy security, oil market stability, investment and the evolving global energy outlook.
India and Mongolia have renewed their commitment to strengthening defence cooperation with the launch of the 18th edition of the joint military exercise Nomadic Elephant 2026 in Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand. The exercise brings together troops from both nations for intensive training in mountainous and semi-urban environments, focusing on interoperability, counter-insurgency operations, emerging military technologies and operational coordination.
The September 2026 issue of Diplomat Today arrives at a significant moment in the evolution of global diplomacy. As geopolitical realities shift and the Global South assumes a stronger voice, India continues to expand its role as a bridge-builder and a constructive force in international affairs.
New Delhi has turned into a hub of high-level diplomacy ahead of the 18th BRICS Summit, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi holds key bilateral meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi are also in India, while Nigerian Vice President Kashim Shettima has arrived to attend the summit. The leaders are expected to discuss bilateral ties, global developments, trade, economic cooperation and issues concerning the Global South.
As New Delhi hosts the 2026 BRICS Summit, the expanded grouping stands at a defining moment. With 11 member countries and 10 partner nations, BRICS has the scale to reshape global economic and geopolitical cooperation. The future of the bloc, however, will depend on its ability to turn diversity into collective strength through three essential pillars: Trust, Trade and Technology. With India, China and Russia playing a pivotal strategic role, New Delhi has an opportunity to advance a more connected, resilient and multipolar global order.
Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner to India, Mahishini Colonne, highlighted significant opportunities to deepen India–Sri Lanka cooperation in pharmaceutical manufacturing, healthcare technologies, investment, and resilient supply chains. Speaking at the Ambassadors’ Conference in New Delhi, she emphasised Sri Lanka’s growing focus on pharmaceutical manufacturing and invited Indian companies to explore investment and partnership opportunities across the pharmaceutical value chain.
India and Sri Lanka are broadening their strategic partnership beyond traditional defence cooperation, placing greater emphasis on development, education, technology, infrastructure and innovation. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s meeting with Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya in Colombo highlights New Delhi’s evolving role as a trusted development and security partner, while underscoring the shared vision of a stronger, more resilient and prosperous Indian Ocean region.
ICCS 2026 at Maharishi University brought diplomats, educators, policymakers and industry leaders together to explore new pathways of international collaboration. The summit highlighted how education, innovation and meaningful international connections are becoming powerful instruments of modern diplomacy.
Vietnam and Myanmar are seeking to open a new chapter in bilateral relations as Myanmar’s leader Min Aung Hlaing visits Hanoi. The three-day visit highlights growing cooperation in trade, investment and regional diplomacy, while underscoring Vietnam’s role in maintaining ASEAN engagement with Myanmar during a period of significant political and regional uncertainty.
A diplomatic contest between China and Taiwan is adding new tension to the Pacific, as the two sides clash over Taiwan’s participation in a major regional forum hosted by Palau. The dispute highlights how Pacific island nations are increasingly navigating competing pressures while seeking to protect their diplomatic independence and regional priorities.
