WEB DESK: The year 2025 turned out to be a challenging period for Indian foreign policy, marked by setbacks and limited accomplishments on the global stage.
Domestically, hopes pinned on the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, often perceived as the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) figurehead, failed to translate into concrete achievements. The Indian daily, The Hindu, described 2025 as a period of “broken promises,” stating that the nation’s diplomacy fell short of meeting expectations. The publication emphasized that symbolic gestures, personal rapport, and narrative-building efforts could not effectively compensate for the lack of substantial economic, military, and diplomatic prowess.
The Hindu further argued that India overpromised both to itself and its international partners, despite lacking the requisite influence and capabilities to deliver.
With respect to Indo-US relations, the newspaper highlighted 2025 as one of the most challenging years in recent memory. This strain was underscored by 25 percent tariffs, tighter restrictions on Russian oil imports, and new limits on H-1B visas, all of which underscored the conditional and transactional nature of India’s partnership with Washington.
Furthermore, India’s role in the US National Security Strategy 2025 was notably diminished compared to its more prominent position in 2017.
On the fronts of China and Russia, despite numerous high-level meetings, no significant progress was achieved regarding security at the Line of Actual Control. Barriers to investment persisted, and India’s involvement in regional matters was reduced to a largely symbolic gesture.
In energy diplomacy, The Hindu noted that India was forced to retreat from its independent stance on Russian oil due to American pressure. This retreat was seen as a significant blow to India’s aspirations for strategic autonomy.
The Pahalgam Falls flag operation emerged as a major national security mishap. Military responses following the incident failed to garner diplomatic backing from the international community.
Additionally, India’s obfuscation regarding aircraft losses further eroded its global image. The announcement of the Saudi-Pakistan Mutual Defense Agreement compounded these challenges, dealing another reputational setback for India on the international front.
In sum, 2025 unfolded as a year of unmet promises and missed opportunities for India on the world stage, exposing structural weaknesses in its foreign policy approach and highlighting the limits of symbolic gestures over tangible power.
