India’s Proximity Archives
South Asia
A high-level European Union delegation led by President of the European Council Antonio Costa and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, visited India from January 25-27. They were the Chief Guests for India’s 77th Republic Day parade. A contingent comprising representative from both the European Union Military Staff and the European Union Naval Operations ATALANTA and ASPIDES participated in the parade. Prime Minister Narendra Modi along with President Antonio Costa and President Ursula von der Leyen co-chaired the 16th India–EU Summit in which they underlined their “commitment to raise the India–EU Strategic Partnership to a higher level based on shared values and principles including democracy, human rights, pluralism, rule of law, and the rules based international order with the UN at its core.” Both sides concluded thirteen agreements and MoUs pertaining to trade, defence, skilling, energy, science and technology, and connectivity. A key outcome was the successful completion of negotiations for a free trade agreement (FTA).
Southeast Asia
Vietnam’s Communist Party re-appointed To Lam as its General Secretary, extending his leadership position in the Southeast Asian nation for the next five years. On January 23, To Lam was “unanimously” re-elected to the post of general secretary, according to an announcement made at the conclusion of the party’s five-yearly congress in Hanoi. To Lam, is also seeking to become President, with a decision on that position expected to be announced later. Addressing the Congress after his re-election, Lam said he would maintain party unity.
East Asia
On January 24, China’s Ministry of National Defence announced the launch of a formal investigation against two of its highest-ranking military officers, Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli. Both officers were regarded as close and trusted allies of Chinese President Xi Jinping. They were accused of serious violations of discipline and law, with several reports pointing to corruption and the alleged leakage of sensitive data to adversaries. There is widespread speculation regarding Xi’s move, as a potential effort to tighten his control over the military. Taiwan is closely monitoring this development and maintains heightened vigilance.
West Asia
On January 22, US President Donald Trump ratified the Charter of the “Board of Peace” in Davos, Switzerland, establishing it as an international organisation. Trump described the Board of Peace as the first step toward a better future for Gaza and the Middle East as a whole, which would end decades of suffering, hatred, and bloodshed. Among the countries in West Asia, Türkiye, Egypt, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Israel have accepted the US invitation to join the Board of Peace.
Central Asia
On January 23, the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) pledged its full support for Turkmenistan’s chairmanship of the CIS in 2026, signalling a rare moment of consensus around Ashgabat’s role within the post-Soviet bloc. According to a statement from the CIS Executive Committee, member states agreed to assist Turkmenistan in implementing its chairmanship program, including organisational, analytical, and coordination support. The commitment was discussed during consultations involving CIS officials and representatives of member governments, with a focus on continuity and practical cooperation within the organisation. Turkmenistan, which maintains a policy of permanent neutrality and typically limits its participation in multilateral institutions, is expected to use the chairmanship to emphasise economic cooperation, transport connectivity, and humanitarian initiatives. While Ashgabat has historically kept a low profile within the CIS, its upcoming leadership role offers an opportunity to shape the bloc’s agenda at a time when its relevance is increasingly being questioned.
Indian Ocean Region
India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh held a meeting with the High Representative/Vice President of the European Union (EU) Commission, Kaja Kallas, in New Delhi on January 27. The two leaders discussed a range of bilateral security and defence issues. Rajnath Singh emphasised that the partnership will become a force multiplier by integrating supply chains for building trusted defence ecosystems and future-ready capabilities. He said that India’s defence industry can play a meaningful role in the EU's ‘ReArm initiative’, especially when the EU is seeking to rapidly diversify suppliers and de-risk dependencies. Kaja Kallas stated that India and the EU must work together in the Indian Ocean Region and learn from each other’s best practices through joint exercises. India welcomed the EU’s proposal of positioning a Liaison Officer (LO) at the Indian Navy’s Information Fusion Centre-Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR) in Gurugram.
