India Hosts IMEC Talks Amid Gaza Conflict, Seeks Trade Route Diversification

India faces significant geopolitical challenges as it navigates complex relations with global powers and regional neighbors. Despite evidence of Pakistani involvement in a terror attack, many of India's partners remain silent, while the U.S. has imposed tariffs on Indian goods and discouraged investment amid tensions over India's oil purchases from Russia. The EU's sanctions on an Indian refinery using Russian oil, coupled with ongoing trade barriers during negotiations of the India-EU BTIA, further complicate India's international trade landscape. China’s strategic moves in India’s neighborhood, including military infrastructure support to Bangladesh and dam construction near India’s border, add to security concerns, prompting calls for India to adopt a more assertive foreign policy and finalize trade deals, especially with the U.S. Meanwhile, India's hosting of partner envoys for the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor highlights its role in enhancing trade, energy, and digital connectivity across three continents, though regional conflicts and rivalries pose risks to the corridor's success. Maintaining neutrality while pushing back against unfair treatment and engaging with global partners remains central to India's strategy amid these evolving geopolitical dynamics.