Amid US tariff tussle, India engages with China, Russia

FM Wang in Delhi on Aug 18; Jaishankar set for Moscow visit on Aug 20

- JAYANTH JACOB @New Delhi

As geopolitical tensions escalate over India's energy ties with Russia and new US tariffs on Indian goods, New Delhi is set to have high-level engagements with two of Washington's chief strategic rivals, China and Russia, within a single week.

These parallel diplomatic efforts highlight India's need for nuanced foreign policy calculus as it navigates a shifting global order.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi is slated to visit India on August 18 for talks under the Special Representatives (SR) mechanism, a bilateral channel primarily aimed at managing and resolving the longstanding border dispute.

National Security Advisor Ajit Doval will represent India.

While the mechanism has been dormant in recent years due to post-Galwan tensions, this meeting is being viewed as a signal of intent from both sides to re-engage cautiously, but constructively.