With the US tariff shocker, unprecedented geopolitical upheavals both on its eastern and western fronts, and tectonic shifts in its extended neighbourhood of West Asia, 2025 was a year of turbulence for India. It prompted a recalibration of foreign policy in New Delhi to tackle multiple shocks and assert strategic autonomy.  The year draws to a close with India intensifying its bid to consolidate its strategic footprint in West Asia and the Horn of Africa, evident in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s three-nation tour to Jordan, Ethiopia and Oman in December. Strategic outreach to Afghanistan and the reset in ties with Canada are among other diplomatic gains.    At the same time, prospects for an India-US trade pact appeared strong, while New Delhi also pressed ahead with other regional or free trade agreements with the UK (July 2025), the European Free Trade Association or EFTA (came into effect in October 2025), Oman, and concluded talks with New Zealand (both in December 2025). Beyond trade and tariffs, the year saw strain in India-US ties and further dip in …