External affairs minister S. Jaishankar begins a marathon six-nation tour from Sunday, travelling across Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, the United States and Belgium in an itinerary that runs from July 5 to July 15.
Four Gulf nations in the opening leg
Jaishankar's first stop covers four Gulf countries, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait and Oman, over July 5 to July 10. The timing is notable, the visit comes right after a peace agreement between the United States and Iran, a development that is rapidly reshaping the political landscape across the Gulf region.
What the foreign ministry said
In a statement, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said Jaishankar will be on an official visit to Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait and Oman from July 5 to 10. During this leg, he is expected to hold talks with his counterparts and top leaders in each of the four countries. The MEA said the trip will focus on deepening bilateral ties with all four nations while also creating room for discussions on regional developments and issues of shared interest.
New York stop to launch India's UNSC bid
Once the Gulf leg wraps up, Jaishankar will travel to New York on July 13. There, he will formally launch India's official campaign for a seat on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for the 2028-29 term, putting India's bid on the international stage.
Final leg in Brussels for the India-EU tech council
The last stop of the tour takes Jaishankar to Brussels, the Belgian capital, where he will attend the third meeting of the India-European Union Trade and Technology Council (TTC) on July 14 and 15. The MEA confirmed he will also hold talks with his European Union and Belgian counterparts during this leg.
Why the TTC matters
The India-EU Trade and Technology Council was set up in 2022 to smoothen cooperation on critical technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI), quantum computing, semiconductors and cybersecurity. This third meeting comes at a time when countries around the world are increasingly prioritising technology and supply chain partnerships.
