Rediscovering the World,
Through an Indian Lens.

The recent period has seen a strengthening of India-United Arab Emirates strategic and economic relations, highlighted by high-level diplomatic exchanges and a deepening defense partnership. There has been continued cooperation in investment, technology, and other key sectors, with a shared goal of increasing bilateral trade. Concurrently, regional conflicts have impacted the safety of Indian nationals in the UAE, notably with injuries to three Indian citizens during attacks on Fujairah. In response, India has strongly condemned these attacks and reaffirmed its solidarity with the UAE, while both nations have actively coordinated on the safety and welfare of the Indian diaspora.

India-Singapore relations, along with the perception of Indian tourists and the diaspora, currently exhibit exceptional warmth and stability, marked by robust diplomatic engagement and Singapore's proactive defense of its multicultural fabric. Diplomatic and official rhetoric from Singapore is overwhelmingly positive, consistently highlighting a comprehensive strategic partnership and deep bilateral cooperation. Recent events, such as the Shangri-La Dialogue 2026, saw high-level defence officials from both nations meet to reinforce strategic ties, while preparations are underway for Prime Minister Modi's meeting with Singapore's PM Lawrence Wong to commemorate 60 years of diplomatic relations. This extensive cooperation spans economic, defence, digital, and sustainability sectors, underpinned by the long-standing Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) and ongoing ministerial roundtables. Crucially, the Singaporean government recently took a firm stance against foreign-originated social media posts targeting the Indian community, ordering platforms to block such content. This action, described by officials as opposing 'nativism and xenophobia' and affirming that 'every community in Singapore here is valued and everyone has an equal place,' significantly boosts the positive sentiment by demonstrating Singapore's commitment to racial harmony and its protective stance towards the Indian diaspora. The mainstream media in Singapore largely mirrors this positive official narrative, frequently reporting on the strength of bilateral ties, economic opportunities, and shared strategic interests. The extensive coverage of the government's decisive action against anti-Indian social media content highlights Singapore's commitment to its multicultural model and indirectly reinforces a positive image of India within the local discourse. Such reporting frames Singapore as a staunch defender against attempts to sow racial discord, benefiting the perception of the Indian community and India at large. Regarding public perception and tourism, while there were attempts by external sources to propagate negative narratives about Indian tourists and the diaspora, suggesting Singapore was 'overrun' by Indians, the swift and strong response from the Singaporean government has effectively countered this. This firm rejection of xenophobic content and affirmation of the Indian community's value reinforces a generally favorable public perception. The Indian diaspora, comprising approximately 9% of Singapore's population, is deeply integrated into the country's economy and social life, with sentiments generally positive towards the government's inclusive policies. Furthermore, India remains a significant and growing source market for tourism, with over 1.2 million Indian visitors in 2025, underlining strong people-to-people connections and a positive experience for Indian travelers. The historical perception of India as a 'trusted friend' is consistently reinforced through these multifaceted engagements and Singapore's explicit actions to safeguard its diverse society against divisive foreign narratives.

India-Oman relations exhibit exceptional warmth and strategic depth, largely driven by the operationalization of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) on June 1, 2026. This landmark agreement, ratified by Royal Decree in Oman and signed by top leaders, signifies a robust diplomatic commitment to deepening economic integration and mutual growth. Official rhetoric consistently highlights shared historical ties and a vision for a prosperous future, with Oman providing duty-free access for nearly 98% of Indian exports, underscoring its role as a trusted economic and strategic partner. Recent discussions on CEPA implementation and high-level calls between the Foreign Ministers further solidify the ongoing positive diplomatic engagement aimed at enhancing cooperation and ensuring regional stability, particularly concerning maritime navigation. The media narrative in both countries, especially in India, portrays Oman in a highly positive light, emphasizing its growing importance as a stable economic platform and a strategic gateway linking the Gulf, Africa, and the wider Indian Ocean region. Reports frequently focus on the extensive benefits of CEPA, including trade diversification for Oman and enhanced market access for India. There is a notable absence of critical or negative portrayals, with the media instead concentrating on the significant mutual opportunities and the strengthening of bilateral ties. Furthermore, Oman's ambitious campaigns to attract one million Indian tourists annually receive considerable positive media attention, showcasing India as a priority market within Oman's Vision 2040 for economic diversification. Public perception and tourism sentiment are overtly positive. Oman actively seeks to increase the influx of Indian tourists, viewing them as a crucial demographic due to strong cultural and economic ties. Indian travelers are perceived as finding Oman "familiar, welcoming, and culturally accessible," a sentiment fostered by the substantial Indian expatriate community of over 800,000, which is celebrated as an "economic resource and a cultural and strategic bridge." The Indian diaspora is consistently praised by high-ranking officials for its contributions and role in fostering co-existence and cooperation. Initiatives like the India-Oman Maitri Parv further reinforce these strong people-to-people connections. The consistent efforts to enhance tourism and the positive integration of the Indian diaspora underscore a widespread welcoming and appreciative public perception within Oman.

Recent developments underscore an exceptionally warm and robust relationship between India and Bhutan, spanning diplomatic, media, and public spheres. Diplomatic and official rhetoric from Bhutan consistently emphasizes India's pivotal role, with statements reaffirming India as the 'cornerstone of our foreign policy' and highlighting 'exemplary ties of friendship and cooperation, based on trust, goodwill and mutual understanding at all levels'. This is evidenced by frequent high-level exchanges, including Bhutanese Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay's visits to India in March and again in June 2024 for Prime Minister Modi's swearing-in ceremony, marking his first overseas visits after assuming office. Concurrently, Prime Minister Modi's visit to Bhutan in March 2024, where he was awarded the Druk Gyalpo, Bhutan's highest civilian decoration, further cemented these ties and was met with a warm reception from the Bhutanese King, Prime Minister, and people. Bhutan has also expressed gratitude for India's substantial commitment of USD 11.5 billion in development support for its 13th Five Year Plan (2024-29) and economic stimulus program, alongside ongoing cooperation in critical sectors such as energy, trade, digital connectivity, and infrastructure development, including proposed rail links and the Gelephu Mindfulness City project. This strong bilateral engagement and the explicit reaffirmation of trust and friendship underscore the historical perception of India as a trusted friend. The media narrative in Bhutan, as observed in recent coverage, is generally neutral to positive, primarily focusing on domestic issues and factual reporting of bilateral events. While Bhutanese mainstream media outlets like Kuensel and Bhutan Times largely cover internal affairs, there is no evidence of critical or negative portrayals of India. Instead, reports related to India tend to highlight cooperative initiatives, such as the upcoming India roadshow to promote tourism, indicating a positive outlook from the Bhutanese perspective. Public perception and tourism demonstrate a distinctly welcoming stance towards Indian visitors. Bhutan is actively promoting tourism from India, exemplified by the special India Roadshow scheduled for June 2024, a proactive measure to celebrate 50 years of tourism and attract more Indian travelers. The significant increase in Indian tourist arrivals, with 19,212 visitors in May 2024 alone representing a 100% rise over April, attests to the success of these efforts and the appeal of Bhutan's cultural heritage and natural beauty to Indian tourists. Furthermore, Bhutan's Sustainable Development Fee (SDF) policy, while imposing a fee of INR 1200 per person per night on Indian nationals, maintains a significantly lower rate compared to the USD 100 per night for other international tourists. This differentiated fee, framed within Bhutan's 'High Value, Low Volume' tourism strategy, aims to ensure sustainable development while still making Bhutan a more accessible destination for Indian visitors, thereby contributing positively to the local economy and environment. The absence of any negative public discourse or official statements regarding India's internal matters, combined with these robust positive engagements, signals a deeply amicable and cooperative bilateral relationship.

India-Vietnam relations currently exhibit a broadly positive and stable sentiment, driven by robust diplomatic engagement and a burgeoning strategic partnership, while public perception regarding Indian tourists presents a more mixed, albeit improving, picture. Diplomatically, the sentiment is exceptionally warm. Vietnam consistently prioritizes its relationship with India, as evidenced by Party General Secretary and State President To Lam's recent state visit to India from May 5-7, 2026, marking one of his first overseas trips after assuming office. During this visit, bilateral ties were significantly elevated to an "Enhanced Comprehensive Strategic Partnership," a clear indicator of deep trust and shared vision. Vietnam has publicly expressed support for India's greater role in regional and global multilateral forums, its "Act East" policy, and strengthened connectivity with ASEAN. Concrete agreements spanning defense cooperation, an ambitious trade target of $25 billion by 2030, and collaboration in emerging technologies like AI and 6G further underscore the strategic alignment. The historical perception of India as a "trusted friend," rooted in shared civilizational and religious values, is frequently reaffirmed in official rhetoric, reinforcing the strong foundation of the relationship. Mainstream media in Vietnam largely echoes the positive official narrative, particularly concerning diplomatic milestones and economic cooperation. Vietnamese news outlets extensively covered President To Lam's visit, emphasizing the upgraded partnership and the numerous agreements signed across various sectors. The media highlights the growing importance of India as a trade and strategic partner. However, reporting on tourism offers a more nuanced perspective. While acknowledging the significant increase in Indian tourist arrivals and the economic benefits they bring, some media reports (often citing or discussing reports from Indian media) also address instances of alleged discrimination and negative experiences faced by Indian tourists. The Vietnamese embassy, in response to such reports, has adopted a concerned and neutral tone, assuring investigations and reiterating Vietnam's welcoming stance, framing these incidents as isolated. Public perception and the experience of Indian tourists in Vietnam present the most mixed sentiment. Indian tourists are recognized as a rapidly growing and economically important segment for Vietnam's tourism industry, with proactive efforts from the Vietnamese side to facilitate their travel through streamlined visa processes. Despite this welcoming policy, there are documented reports of individual Indian tourists experiencing hostility, alleged discrimination, and rude behavior from some locals, particularly shopkeepers, sometimes attributed to stereotypes about bargaining practices. Furthermore, a parallel discourse, particularly within Indian social media and media, highlights concerns about the behavior of some Indian tourists abroad, citing instances of public disruptions (e.g., dancing on airport tarmacs) that contribute to negative stereotypes. These factors contribute to a public perception that is not uniformly positive, although Vietnamese authorities are actively working to address the reported issues and maintain a friendly image. Despite these challenges, the consistent efforts to attract Indian tourists and address grievances indicate a desire to foster positive people-to-people connections.