India-China issues, impact of global conflicts, and the role of middle powers in spotlight at Huddle 2026

Geopolitical issues, particularly the unpredictable behaviour of global superpowers, will be at the core of discussions at The Hindu Huddle, as diplomats and thinkers discuss possible solutions to recent disruptions and conflicts in West Asia and Europe. The theme of the The Hindu Huddle, to be held in Bengaluru on June 5 and 6, is ‘The World in Transition’.

Among the key speakers will be the Chinese Ambassador to India, Xu Feihong, who will discuss developments in India-China ties and the role the two countries can play on the multilateral stage. This will be a special session that looks at 75 years of the bilateral relationship, and particularly the last few years, with both Delhi and Beijing resuming normal diplomatic, business, and travel ties after years of a freeze and military standoff following the Galwan incident in 2020.

This year, both sides are expected to engage more closely as India chairs the BRICS Summit in September, and high-level engagements are expected to continue between them.

Another important panel on global diplomacy will focus on ‘The Middle Power Way’. It will look at whether the international order can be rebuilt by other powers, when global leaders flout the rules. The discussion derives from the speech at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos made by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney earlier this year, where he pointed out that while great powers can afford to “go it alone” given their market size and military capacity, middle powers cannot. “Middle powers must act together, because if we are not at the table, we’re on the menu,” Mr. Carney said.

The panel will have some of the most senior diplomats serving in India: Australian High Commissioner Philip Green, European Union Ambassador Herve Delphin, and Brazilian Ambassador Kenneth Felix Hascynzki da Nobrega. Joining them in the discussion will be the author of The Fractured Himalaya, diplomat Nirupama Menon Rao, who is India’s former Foreign Secretary and ex-Ambassador to the U.S. and China.

Both discussions will be moderated by The Hindu’s Diplomatic Affairs Editor, Suhasini Haidar.