This article covers diplomatic relations between India and Nauru: how the brief describes the relationship, visits and meetings at the level of heads of state and ministers, cooperation through the Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC), the agreements signed and multilateral membership. It is based on the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) bilateral brief of July 2026. The brief refers to the country as Naoero; this guide uses Nauru.

Overview

According to the MEA brief of July 2026, India's bilateral relations with Nauru have been "cordial and friendly". The brief describes India as a strong development partner whose assistance is well recognised in Nauru. India's role in Nauru's independence, and how each country is represented in the other, are described in the practical guide in this series.

Visits by heads of state

  • President Kinza Clodumar visited India in April 1998 to attend the First Assembly Meeting of the Global Environment Facility (GEF).
  • President Marcus Stephen visited India in October 2010 for the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi.
  • President Baron Waqa visited India for the Second Summit of the Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC-II), held at Jaipur on 21 August 2015.
  • President Waqa also took part in the Founding Conference of the International Solar Alliance in New Delhi on 11 March 2018, and met Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi on its sidelines.

FIPIC and other leader-level meetings

President Waqa attended the First Summit of FIPIC (FIPIC-I) in Suva, Fiji, on 19 November 2014, hosted by the Prime Minister. Under the FIPIC umbrella, India organised the India-Pacific Islands Sustainable Development Conference in Suva on 25-26 May 2017, hosted by Minister of State for External Affairs Gen. (Retd.) Dr. V.K. Singh, and President Waqa led Nauru's delegation.

On 24 September 2019, on the sidelines of the UNGA, the Prime Minister held an interaction with the leaders of the Pacific Small Island Developing States (PSIDS), including Nauru. President Russ Kun attended the third FIPIC Summit (FIPIC-III) in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, on 22 May 2023, co-hosted by Prime Minister Modi and Prime Minister James Marape of Papua New Guinea. President David Ranibok Adeang took part virtually in the inaugural Leaders' Session of the 2nd Voice of Global South Summit on 17 November 2023.

Ministerial visits and meetings

Hon. David Adeang, then Minister for Justice, Border and Control, visited India on 23-25 October 2013 for the Second High Level Meeting on South-South Cooperation for Child Rights in Asia and the Pacific in New Delhi. His later visits are described in the culture and education article.

Dr. Subhash Bhamre, then Minister of State for Defence, visited Nauru on 16-18 May 2018, the first ever Ministerial visit from India to Nauru. He was Chief Guest at the celebration of the 50th Anniversary of Nauru's Constitution Day on 17 May 2018.

Dr. Rajkumar Ranjan Singh, then Minister of State for External Affairs and Education, paid an official visit to Nauru from 11 to 15 December 2022. He called on President Russ Joseph Kun MP, and they reviewed the entire gamut of bilateral relations. He also held meetings with key Cabinet Ministers and visited projects funded by India, which are described in the development article.

Other ministerial contacts recorded in the brief:

  • Minister for Education & Training Hon. Richard-Hyde Menke took part virtually in the Education Ministers' Session of the Voice of Global South Summit, chaired by Education Minister Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, on 13 January 2023.
  • Minister for Climate Change, Agriculture and Infrastructure Hon. Rennier Gadabu visited India and met Minister of State Dr. Rajkumar Ranjan Singh on 24 January 2023.
  • Foreign Minister Mr. Lionel Aingimea addressed the Foreign Ministers' Session of the 3rd Voice of Global South Summit on 17 August 2024 through a recorded message.
  • Minister of State for External Affairs Shri Pabitra Margherita held a bilateral meeting with President David W.R. Adeang on the margins of PIF meetings on 28 August 2024.
  • Minister of State for External Affairs Shri Kirti Vardhan Singh met Mr. Asterio Appi, Minister for Climate Change and National Resilience, at COP29 in Baku on 21 November 2024.
  • Minister of Health Ms. Charmaine Scotty visited India in July 2025 and met Minister of Culture Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and Secretary (South), MEA.
  • The Speaker of Nauru's Parliament, Hon. Marcus Stephen MP, led a delegation to the 28th Conference of Speakers and Presiding Officers of the Commonwealth (CSPOC) from 14 to 18 January 2026, and met Lok Sabha Speaker Shri Om Birla.

Agreements and MoUs

The agreements and MoUs named in the brief are:

  • MoU for setting up the Mahatma Gandhi Centre of Excellence in Information Technology, signed on 24 May 2017 in Suva (see the culture and education article)
  • MoU on mutual recognition of COVID19 Vaccine Certificates, signed on 30 March 2022 in Canberra (see the practical guide)
  • MoU on recognition of Indian Pharmacopoeia, signed in September 2024 (see the development article)
  • Visa waiver Agreement for Diplomatic/Official Passport holders, signed on 17 September 2024 in Nauru (see the practical guide)

The brief also mentions an MoU between M/s HLL Lifecare Ltd. and Nauru for the supply of Janaushadhi medicines, covered in the development article.

Multilateral cooperation

Nauru is a founding member of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) and of the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI). Its leaders and ministers have also taken part in India's Voice of Global South Summits, as listed above.