The first half of February will be packed for Indian diplomacy as New Delhi is set to host the India-AI Impact Summit 2026 from 19–20 February, bringing together government representatives, technology leaders, researchers, and industry stakeholders to build consensus on common AI standards, governance frameworks, and inclusive deployment strategies. A series of pre-summit consultations in India and abroad have informed the agenda and helped build momentum. Positioned as the first global AI summit hosted in the Global South, India’s core focus will be on responsible and inclusive AI, emphasising ethical governance, capacity building for emerging economies, and development-oriented applications in health, education, and public services.
Maritime diplomacy will be another major focus, with India hosting three significant naval events at Visakhapatnam from 15–25 February: the International Fleet Review (IFR) 2026, Exercise MILAN 2026, and the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) Conclave of Chiefs. In a first-of-its-kind convergence, these events will bring naval delegations, ships, submarines, and senior military leadership from across the Indo-Pacific and beyond, reinforcing India’s maritime security cooperation and interoperability within the regional security architecture. The combined conduct of these events will operationalise India’s MAHASAGAR vision by advancing cooperative maritime security, capacity building, and sustainable regional development.
Bilateral diplomacy is expected to gather momentum in early February, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi reported to be planning an official visit to Malaysia, aimed at strengthening strategic and economic cooperation amid deepening India–ASEAN security linkages. Specific dates and agenda details remain subject to formal confirmation. The visit follows the elevation of India–Malaysia relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership in 2024 and is expected to focus on defence cooperation, trade expansion, and India’s broader Act East engagement with Southeast Asia. Malaysia remains among India’s key economic partners within ASEAN, lending added strategic weight to the proposed visit.
India and Canada are set to launch negotiations for a potential free trade agreement in February 2026, as indicated by Canadian Trade Minister Maninder Sidhu. The proposed talks assume importance because formal negotiations were paused by Canada in 2023 after a diplomatic strain that stalled progress on a comprehensive trade pact, and their resumption signals a thaw and Ottawa’s renewed commitment to pursue deeper economic ties with major Asian partners, including India. The talks are expected to cover broad areas of goods, services, investment, and market access as both countries seek to expand bilateral commerce.
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva is scheduled to undertake a state visit to India from 19 to 21 February, reflecting a renewed push to deepen bilateral engagement. The visit will be anchored by a Brazil–India Business Forum, underscoring a clear emphasis on trade, investment, and commercial cooperation. As part of this outreach, ApexBrasil, Brazil’s trade promotion agency, is set to open an office in New Delhi, institutionalising Brazil’s longer-term economic presence in India.