A leading Indian daily, The Hindu, has described 2025 as a year marked by failures and unmet expectations in India’s foreign policy, calling it one of the most challenging periods for the country on the global stage.
According to the newspaper, India’s foreign policy in 2025 suffered due to an overreliance on symbolic diplomacy, personal relationships, and narrative-building, which failed to compensate for shortcomings in real economic, military, and diplomatic influence. The report noted that promises were made not only to domestic audiences but also to international partners without the necessary capacity or leverage to fulfil them.
The Hindu characterised 2025 as the most difficult year of the century for India’s external relations. The country faced a 25 per cent tariff burden, tighter restrictions on Russian oil imports, and renewed limitations on H-1B visas. The newspaper also highlighted that India’s strategic importance in the United States’ National Security Strategy for 2025 has diminished significantly compared to 2017.
Despite multiple high-level diplomatic engagements with China and Russia, the report stated that India failed to achieve any meaningful progress on security issues along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). It further claimed that pressure from the United States forced India to soften its stance on Russian oil imports, undermining its strategic autonomy.
The Hindu also referred to the Pahalgam false flag operation as a serious internal security lapse, noting the lack of international diplomatic backing for India’s military actions following the incident. The newspaper observed that India’s silence regarding aircraft losses after the operation damaged its global credibility.
Additionally, the announcement of a mutual defence agreement between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan was described as another setback for New Delhi. Indian analysts, according to the report, are now viewing Pakistan’s leadership as “firm and well-organised,” while relations between India and Bangladesh have reached their most strained point to date.
Concluding its assessment, The Hindu argued that India’s tendency to place blame on external actors remains the biggest barrier to meaningful reform and realistic foreign policymaking.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. Which newspaper declared 2025 a year of failures for India?
The Indian newspaper The Hindu described 2025 as a year of foreign policy failures and unmet expectations for India.
2. What were the main reasons cited for India’s setbacks?
The report cited weak economic leverage, limited diplomatic influence, reliance on symbolic diplomacy, and unfulfilled promises to partners.
3. How did global pressures affect India in 2025?
India faced higher tariffs, restrictions on Russian oil imports, H-1B visa limitations, and reduced strategic importance in US policy documents.
4. Did India make progress on China-related security issues?
No, according to The Hindu, despite multiple diplomatic meetings, no concrete progress was achieved on the Line of Actual Control.
5. What impact did the Pahalgam incident have?
The newspaper described it as a major security failure and noted the lack of international support for India’s military response.
6. Why is the Saudi Arabia–Pakistan defence agreement significant?
The agreement was seen as a diplomatic setback for India and a shift in regional strategic dynamics.
7. What does the newspaper say about India’s relations with neighbours?
Relations with Bangladesh have reportedly reached their most tense point, while Pakistan’s leadership is being viewed as more organised and assertive.
