Awkward India diplomacy, US-Nato ‘crisis’, Strait of Hormuz woes: 7 global relations reads

From a possible Trump-Iran joint venture to Russia-China talks, here are highlights from the SCMP’s overseas correspondents in April 2026

1. Quad summit plan turns uneasy as India pushes ahead without top leaders: sources

A stretch of awkward diplomacy was unfolding in the Indo-Pacific in April: New Delhi was planning to host a foreign ministers’ meeting that could have been framed as a leaders-level discussion, even if the top leaders did not attend, according to two people familiar with the matter. The move was seen as a way to smooth India’s ruffled feathers on several counts.

2. Russian and Chinese envoys meet in Beijing to discuss Iran, Ukraine and Taiwan

Russia and China’s top envoys met in Beijing to discuss the Iran war, Ukraine and Taiwan as Beijing stepped up its diplomacy and tensions with Washington increased.

3. Strait of Hormuz: is a Trump‑Iran joint venture really possible?

Control of the Strait of Hormuz has emerged as the central fault line in US-Iran negotiations, with US President Donald Trump having apparently recast an earlier off-the-cuff idea into a more formal proposal that sought to bridge Tehran’s push for dominance and Washington’s insistence on open passage.