2025 Marks a Year of Diplomatic Setbacks for India: The Hindu Reports

The year 2025 concluded as a challenging period for India’s foreign policy, marked by diplomatic setbacks and global criticism. Expectations tied to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership failed to materialize, and India faced significant diplomatic embarrassment on the international stage.

Indian newspaper The Hindu described 2025 as a year in which the country’s foreign policy “failed to meet expectations and promises crumbled.” According to the report, symbolic diplomacy, personal relationships, and narrative-building could not substitute for genuine economic, military, and diplomatic power.

“India not only made promises to itself but also to its partners for which it lacked the influence and capability to deliver,” the newspaper stated.

Regarding relations with the United States, The Hindu noted that 2025 proved to be the most challenging year for India this century. Measures such as a 25 percent tariff, additional restrictions on Russian oil, and H-1B visa caps demonstrated that India’s partnership with Washington remains conditional and interest-driven. The report highlighted that compared to 2017, India’s role in the 2025 U.S. National Security Strategy was significantly limited.

Despite high-level meetings with China and Russia, no substantive security progress was achieved along the Line of Actual Control. Investment barriers persisted, leaving India with largely symbolic presence. In the energy sector, U.S. pressure forced India to retreat from its stance on Russian oil.

The Hindu also described the Pulagam false flag operation as a severe security failure. After the attack, Indian military actions failed to garner international diplomatic support, and silence over aircraft losses further damaged India’s credibility. Additionally, the announcement of the Saudi-Pakistan mutual defense pact delivered another diplomatic blow for India.

Overall, 2025 emerged as a year in which India struggled to translate diplomatic promises into tangible results, facing setbacks across multiple strategic fronts.