India, Jan. 1 -- In our rapidly changing world, amid a geopolitical transformation driven by the unravelling of long-held partnerships, India's foreign policy mandarins face quite the juggling act, in 2026.

India's diplomatic calendar is packed, to begin with, with visits expected by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, French President Emmanuel Macron, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa. And that's just in the first two months, even as India hosts the AI Impact Summit and takes on the rotating BRICS presidency.

The visit of the two European Union (EU) leaders in January is expected to lead to the signing of a long-gestating free-trade agreement between India and the 27-member Eu...