As a volatile, transactional world order takes birth, 2025 has been a challenging year for Indian diplomacy

The article argues that 2025 has been an exceptionally difficult year for Indian diplomacy amid a rapidly fragmenting global order. A transactional, protectionist United States under Donald Trump, an assertive China wielding economic chokeholds, and regional instability from Pakistan and Bangladesh have narrowed India’s strategic space. Trump’s tariffs, Pakistan outreach, and pressure over Russia ties strained India–US relations, pushing New Delhi toward trade diversification, rupee-based settlements, and calibrated engagement with Europe, Russia, and China. India’s multialignment continues, but managing Washington has become the most complex diplomatic challenge.