India is facing a strategic challenge due to China's growing presence in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). China has established infrastructure projects and deployed research vessels to augment maritime domain awareness and collect data. The country has expanded its naval power by increasing vessel numbers and deployment duration, facilitated by a military base in Djibouti and dual-use infrastructure at critical choke points. India is working with regional countries to sensitize them on China's activities and their implications for security. Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has reiterated his country's stance of not allowing its territory to be used against India's security or regional stability. The Indian government has taken a principled position on China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), citing concerns over the inclusion of the illegal China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, which passes through disputed territories in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.
https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/chinas-expanding-strategic-presence-in-indian-ocean-region-is-a-challenge-for-india-parliament-committee-report/article69748570.eceIndian national interests must be protected while upholding and strengthening the WTO regime. Sharma emphasized the importance of engaging with partner countries like EU, ASEAN, African Union, GCC, and LAC to deepen market access and trade. This comes after Jairam Ramesh criticized the government for relying on US decisions, stating that India "gets to know decisions of great importance" from the White House in Washington D.C.
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/government-should-take-opposition-leaders-into-confidence-on-trumps-claims-of-opening-up-india-congress-leader-anand-sharma/article69748848.eceUkraine's efforts to join NATO and the European Union suffered setbacks at the recent NATO Summit in The Hague, where no mention of Ukraine was made in the official declaration. Despite this, member countries agreed to invest 5% of their GDP in core defence requirements by 2035, with a focus on increasing defence budgets and manufacturing equipment. US President Donald Trump described the agreement as a "monumental win," while warning NATO members not to rely solely on US military support. The increased defence spending is seen as an attempt to pressure Russian President Vladimir Putin to stay away from Kyiv.
https://www.lokmattimes.com/international/more-setbacks-than-breakthroughs-for-ukraine-at-nato-summit/African countries have made significant progress towards trade and economic integration with the ratification by 49 countries of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) rules, as well as the adoption of critical protocols on investment, digital trade, and intellectual property.
https://www.thecitizen.co.tz/tanzania/news/africa/afcfta-chief-focus-must-shift-from-agreements-to-action-5097060The World Bank has reported that conflicts and related fatalities have tripled since the early 2000s, leading to extreme poverty and food insecurity in fragile regions. As of this year, 421 million people live on less than $3 a day due to conflict or instability, with this number expected to reach 435 million by 2030. The bank's report highlights that half of countries facing conflict have been in such conditions for over 15 years, and notes that timely interventions can be more cost-effective than responding after violence erupts. Economies like Zimbabwe, Mozambique, and the Democratic Republic of Congo have mineral resources that could support clean tech growth, but economic stagnation has been the norm in these regions due to conflict and instability.
https://www.malaymail.com/news/money/2025/06/28/world-bank-421-million-living-in-extreme-poverty-globally-as-conflicts-more-than-tripled-since-2000/182006Italy's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Luigi Di Maio, met with his Uruguayan counterpart, Ernesto Abbate, to discuss the Mercosur trade agreement. Italy is seeking guarantees or compensation for potential imbalances in the deal, while also emphasizing its priority on Latin America in foreign policy. The meeting highlighted strong bilateral relations between the two countries, which will be further strengthened through an upcoming conference in October.
https://en.mercopress.com/2025/06/28/italy-favors-eu-mercosur-fta-provided-europe-s-agriculture-s-interests-are-protected#commentsThe European Union's concern over Hungary's democratic backsliding has been voiced by several member states, including Spain, Germany, and France. In May, 20 countries issued a joint declaration criticizing Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's government for its crackdown on fundamental rights. The EU Commission is being urged to take action to prevent further erosion of democracy in Hungary.
https://www.politico.eu/article/spain-accuse-brussels-complicity-viktor-orban-budapest-pride-ban/Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban has stated that his country aims to maintain trade with both the European Union and China, as it seeks to avoid being squeezed into either bloc. This stance is reflected in BYD's decision to establish a research and development laboratory in Hungary following its investment in an electric car factory in southern Hungary. The move comes after years of warming political relations between Orban's government and Beijing, which began when he came to power in 2010.
https://www.gulftoday.ae/business/2025/06/28/byd-to-invest-94-million-in-new-hungary-plantIn Budapest, hundreds of people gathered for a Pride march despite Hungary's ban on the event. The protest was attended by European lawmakers and economics student Marcell Szanto, who expressed solidarity with the cause. EU chief Ursula von der Leyen called on Hungarian authorities to reverse the ban, while 33 other EU countries supported the march. French MEPs urged the EU to take tougher measures against Hungary's government over its crackdown on civil rights. The event was met with protests from far-right groups, but Budapest mayor Gergely Karacsony thanked Orban for "advertising for a more tolerant society".
https://www.firstpost.com/world/record-breaking-budapest-pride-defies-government-ban-amid-lgbtq-crackdown-13901389.html