Overview

• India’s foreign ministry set August 29–30 for the Japan leg and August 31–September 1 for the SCO meeting in Tianjin, with a bilateral between Narendra Modi and Xi Jinping planned on the sidelines.
• In Tokyo, Modi and Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba will hold the 15th India–Japan Annual Summit focused on defence cooperation, space projects, ship maintenance and technology ties, with Quad coordination on critical minerals on the agenda.
• Nikkei reported that Japan plans to invest about 10 trillion yen (roughly $68 billion) in India over the next decade, a proposal expected to be presented during the summit.
• President Xi will host more than 20 leaders at the SCO gathering, including Vladimir Putin and Modi, in what analysts describe as a forum prioritising Global South optics and potential expansion over immediate policy deliverables.
• The U.S. will raise duties on Indian goods to 50% from August 27, and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said India will protect redlines that safeguard farmers and small producers as contacts with Washington continue.