This article covers the establishment of relations between India and Eswatini, high-level visits in both directions, bilateral consultations, cooperation in multilateral forums and the main bilateral agreements. It is based on the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) bilateral brief on India-Eswatini relations dated April 2026.

Establishment of relations

According to the MEA brief of April 2026, India's relations with Eswatini (formerly Swaziland) are close, friendly and cordial. Bilateral relations between the two countries were established in 1970.

Both countries now have resident missions, India in Mbabane and Eswatini in New Delhi. The dates on which they opened, and the current arrangements, are set out in the practical article of this guide.

His Majesty King Mswati III

His Majesty King Mswati III attended the 2nd India-Africa Forum Summit (IAFS-II) in Addis Ababa in May 2011 and met the then Prime Minister, Shri Manmohan Singh, on the sidelines.

The King first visited India in October 2015 to attend the 3rd India Africa Forum Summit (IAFS-III), and called on the President and the Prime Minister. The brief states that this visit helped to advance India's profile and presence in the Kingdom of Eswatini.

His Majesty visited India again in March 2017 as Guest of Honour for the CII-EXIM Bank Conclave and was hosted by the President. The brief says this visit gave further momentum to India's commercial and cultural profile in Eswatini.

Ministerial participation

Eswatini ministers have taken part in several India-hosted meetings with a political or multilateral focus:

  • Ms. Jane Mkhonta, Minister of Tourism & Environmental Affairs, joined the ministerial session of Environment Ministers at the 2nd Voice of Global South Summit, held virtually on 17 November 2023.
  • Hon. Neal Rijkenberg, Minister of Finance, took part in the virtual Finance Ministers' Session of the 3rd Voice of Global South Summit, chaired by India's Finance Minister, on 17 August 2024.
  • Hon Pholile Shakantu, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, and her delegation took part in the first ever WAVES Summit, held in Mumbai in May 2025.
  • Hon. Ms. Jane M. Mkhonto Simelane, Minister of Tourism and Environmental Affairs, attended the first Assembly of the International Big Cat Alliance in New Delhi on 16 June 2025.

Visits by Eswatini ministers for business conclaves, health, energy, defence, agriculture and education are described in the trade, development and culture articles of this guide.

Visits from India

In May 2010, the then Speaker of the Lok Sabha, Smt. Meira Kumar, visited Eswatini for the Mid-year Executive Meeting of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA). She also called on King Mswati III and the Prime Minister of Eswatini.

Smt. Praneet Kaur, then Minister of State for External Affairs, visited Eswatini in 2011 as the Prime Minister's Envoy to invite the King to IAFS-II in Addis Ababa. In July 2015, Dr. Mahesh Sharma, Minister of State for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, visited as Special Envoy of the Prime Minister to invite the King to IAFS-III, held in New Delhi in October 2015.

State visit of President Kovind, April 2018

President Shri Ram Nath Kovind visited the Kingdom of Eswatini on 09-10 April 2018, accompanied by the First Lady and a large delegation. He addressed a Joint Session of the Eswatini Parliament and was conferred the highest honour of Eswatini, "the Order of the Lion".

During the visit, the President witnessed the signing of an MoU on Cooperation in Health Sector and of a visa waiver agreement. The grants announced and the project he inaugurated are described in the development article.

Visit of the Minister of State for External Affairs, July 2025

Shri Pabitra Margherita, Minister of State for External Affairs and Textiles, visited the Kingdom from 17-20 July 2025. He called on His Majesty King Mswati III on 17 July 2025. On 18 July 2025 he met all the Cabinet Ministers, including Russell Mmiso Dlamini, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Eswatini, The brief also records a visit to the Royal Science and Technology Park.

Bilateral consultations

Bilateral consultations were held in Mbabane in August 2017, with the Indian side led by Dr. Neena Malhotra, Joint Secretary (E&SA).

The Second India-Eswatini Foreign Office Consultations were held in Mbabane on 19 February 2024. They were co-chaired by Mr. Puneet R. Kundal, Additional Secretary (East & Southern Africa), MEA, and Mr. Nthangase Sizwe Newman Nthangase, Principal Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs & International Cooperation of Eswatini.

Multilateral cooperation

The brief states that the two countries hold identical views on many regional, international and multilateral issues, and that Eswatini continues to support India and its candidatures in international fora. Eswatini supported India for non-permanent membership of the UN Security Council for 2021-2022.

The Kingdom of Eswatini signed the International Solar Alliance Framework Agreement in July 2021. As of April 2026, ratification by the Parliament of Eswatini is awaited. Eswatini formally joined the International Big Cat Alliance by signing its Framework Agreement on 31 July 2024.

Bilateral agreements

The brief lists these bilateral agreements:

  • a bilateral Trade Agreement, signed in April 2002
  • a Memorandum of Understanding for cooperation in the field of Health and Medicine, signed in April 2018
  • a visa waiver agreement for diplomatic and official passport holders, signed in April 2018

The trade agreement is covered in the trade article and the visa waiver agreement in the practical article of this guide.