India Defies US on Russian Oil Imports Despite Tensions
8.10.25
India's refusal to stop importing Russian oil has led to a drop in the price of Ural, but experts believe it won't completely halt Russian imports. This shift is a departure from 2018 when US President Trump demanded India "zero out" oil from Iran and Venezuela. India stopped direct purchases from both countries in May 2019 due to heavy losses. The move may damage the India-US relationship, which has been strengthened through civil nuclear cooperation, military ties, and technology partnerships since 1999. National Security Adviser Ajit Doval recently visited Moscow to prepare for Russian President Putin's visit, while External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar is set to follow suit. Indian Prime Minister Modi will travel to Japan and China for the SCO summit and a bilateral meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, amidst efforts to restore ties with the US before the November Quad summit.
India Expands Defence Attaché Posts in Armenia & Philippines
8.10.25
India has established new defence attaché posts in Armenia and the Philippines, with Poland being another location for increased outreach. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh directed defence attachés to promote Indian defence production capabilities and mutual defence cooperation with friendly foreign countries. Australian defence firms are linked to US companies as Original Equipment Manufacturers, but also have opportunities for innovation partnerships with India.
India has rejected US President Donald Trump's trade tariff threats, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi saying the country is progressing towards becoming one of the world's top three economies. The US doubled tariffs on Indian goods amid trade tensions, which India condemned as unfair and vowed to protect its interests. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh criticized Trump's tariff threats, calling him
Iranian diplomats met with German, British, and French counterparts on July 25, amid threats to trigger sanctions by August 31 if Iran fails to reach a deal on its nuclear program. The "snapback mechanism" could reinstate UN sanctions under the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and world powers. Iranian diplomat Alireza Araghchi stated that contact with European nations is ongoing, but no date for the next round of talks has been set.
Kaja Kallas Demands EU Involvement in US-Russia Talks
8.10.25
European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas stated that any deal between the US and Russia to end the war in Ukraine must include Ukraine and the EU, emphasizing the importance of Ukraine's security for Europe's safety. She plans to convene a meeting with European foreign ministers on Monday to discuss next steps. Kallas also emphasized the need for international law to recognize Ukraine's sovereignty over temporarily occupied territories, warning that any deal should not provide a pretext for further Russian aggression.
South Korea and Japan will hold a summit on August 23 in Tokyo, where President Lee is set to meet with US President Trump for their first meeting on August 25. Foreign Minister Cho plans to visit Japan and the US this week for talks with his counterparts. In contrast, South Korea's reliance on US aid after the Korean War led to a sense of complacency that only changed when President Jimmy Carter pushed for troop withdrawal due to human rights concerns under Park Chung Hee, resulting in the "Koreagate" scandal.
South Korean President Lee has eased tensions with North Korea by postponing half of joint field exercises with the US, known as Ulchi Freedom Shield series. The decision came after North Korea condemned the exercises and accused Seoul of following its alliance with the US. Unification Minister Chung Dong-young plans to propose adjustments to the joint exercises.
North Korea Ditches Diplomacy with Seoul and Washington
8.10.25
North Korea is unlikely to resume diplomacy with South Korea and the US due to its current focus on strengthening ties with Russia amid the Ukraine conflict. The resumption of talks would require North Korea to show urgency, but tensions could rise again in late August when joint military exercises between South Korea and the US begin, which Pyongyang views as invasion rehearsals.
China's cyberspace watchdog summoned Nvidia to explain potential backdoor security risks in its H20 chips, citing concerns raised by state media outlet People's Daily. Nvidia denied having "backdoors" that would allow remote access or control, while Yuyuan Tantian suggested these chips could enable functions like remote shutdown through a hardware "backdoor".