diff --git a/libs/core/langchain_core/callbacks/manager.py b/libs/core/langchain_core/callbacks/manager.py
index 4851a1c1c1d..676bb15e525 100644
--- a/libs/core/langchain_core/callbacks/manager.py
+++ b/libs/core/langchain_core/callbacks/manager.py
@@ -28,8 +28,18 @@ from langchain_core.callbacks.base import (
     ToolManagerMixin,
 )
 from langchain_core.callbacks.stdout import StdOutCallbackHandler
+from langchain_core.globals import get_debug
 from langchain_core.messages import BaseMessage, get_buffer_string
+from langchain_core.tracers.context import (
+    _configure_hooks,
+    _get_trace_callbacks,
+    _get_tracer_project,
+    _tracing_v2_is_enabled,
+    tracing_v2_callback_var,
+)
+from langchain_core.tracers.langchain import LangChainTracer
 from langchain_core.tracers.schemas import Run
+from langchain_core.tracers.stdout import ConsoleCallbackHandler
 from langchain_core.utils.env import env_var_is_set
 
 if TYPE_CHECKING:
@@ -46,8 +56,6 @@ logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
 
 def _get_debug() -> bool:
-    from langchain_core.globals import get_debug
-
     return get_debug()
 
 
@@ -103,8 +111,6 @@ def trace_as_chain_group(
                 manager.on_chain_end({"output": res})
 
     """
-    from langchain_core.tracers.context import _get_trace_callbacks
-
     cb = _get_trace_callbacks(
         project_name, example_id, callback_manager=callback_manager
     )
@@ -189,8 +195,6 @@ async def atrace_as_chain_group(
                 await manager.on_chain_end({"output": res})
 
     """
-    from langchain_core.tracers.context import _get_trace_callbacks
-
     cb = _get_trace_callbacks(
         project_name, example_id, callback_manager=callback_manager
     )
@@ -2376,13 +2380,6 @@ def _configure(
     Returns:
         T: The configured callback manager.
     """
-    from langchain_core.tracers.context import (
-        _configure_hooks,
-        _get_tracer_project,
-        _tracing_v2_is_enabled,
-        tracing_v2_callback_var,
-    )
-
     tracing_context = get_tracing_context()
     tracing_metadata = tracing_context["metadata"]
     tracing_tags = tracing_context["tags"]
@@ -2459,9 +2456,6 @@ def _configure(
     tracer_project = _get_tracer_project()
     debug = _get_debug()
     if verbose or debug or tracing_v2_enabled_:
-        from langchain_core.tracers.langchain import LangChainTracer
-        from langchain_core.tracers.stdout import ConsoleCallbackHandler
-
         if verbose and not any(
             isinstance(handler, StdOutCallbackHandler)
             for handler in callback_manager.handlers
@@ -2630,7 +2624,8 @@ async def adispatch_custom_event(
     .. versionadded:: 0.2.15
 
     """
-    from langchain_core.runnables.config import (
+    # Import locally to prevent circular imports.
+    from langchain_core.runnables.config import (  # noqa: PLC0415
         ensure_config,
         get_async_callback_manager_for_config,
     )
@@ -2705,7 +2700,8 @@ def dispatch_custom_event(
     .. versionadded:: 0.2.15
 
     """
-    from langchain_core.runnables.config import (
+    # Import locally to prevent circular imports.
+    from langchain_core.runnables.config import (  # noqa: PLC0415
         ensure_config,
         get_callback_manager_for_config,
     )
diff --git a/libs/core/langchain_core/callbacks/usage.py b/libs/core/langchain_core/callbacks/usage.py
index 497b6ff4912..90fa7573997 100644
--- a/libs/core/langchain_core/callbacks/usage.py
+++ b/libs/core/langchain_core/callbacks/usage.py
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ from langchain_core.callbacks import BaseCallbackHandler
 from langchain_core.messages import AIMessage
 from langchain_core.messages.ai import UsageMetadata, add_usage
 from langchain_core.outputs import ChatGeneration, LLMResult
+from langchain_core.tracers.context import register_configure_hook
 
 
 class UsageMetadataCallbackHandler(BaseCallbackHandler):
@@ -133,8 +134,6 @@ def get_usage_metadata_callback(
     .. versionadded:: 0.3.49
 
     """
-    from langchain_core.tracers.context import register_configure_hook
-
     usage_metadata_callback_var: ContextVar[Optional[UsageMetadataCallbackHandler]] = (
         ContextVar(name, default=None)
     )
diff --git a/libs/core/langchain_core/chat_history.py b/libs/core/langchain_core/chat_history.py
index 0091b240b69..6f66b7aba75 100644
--- a/libs/core/langchain_core/chat_history.py
+++ b/libs/core/langchain_core/chat_history.py
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ from langchain_core.messages import (
     HumanMessage,
     get_buffer_string,
 )
+from langchain_core.runnables.config import run_in_executor
 
 if TYPE_CHECKING:
     from collections.abc import Sequence
@@ -113,8 +114,6 @@ class BaseChatMessageHistory(ABC):
         Returns:
             The messages.
         """
-        from langchain_core.runnables.config import run_in_executor
-
         return await run_in_executor(None, lambda: self.messages)
 
     def add_user_message(self, message: Union[HumanMessage, str]) -> None:
@@ -190,8 +189,6 @@ class BaseChatMessageHistory(ABC):
         Args:
             messages: A sequence of BaseMessage objects to store.
         """
-        from langchain_core.runnables.config import run_in_executor
-
         await run_in_executor(None, self.add_messages, messages)
 
     @abstractmethod
@@ -200,8 +197,6 @@ class BaseChatMessageHistory(ABC):
 
     async def aclear(self) -> None:
         """Async remove all messages from the store."""
-        from langchain_core.runnables.config import run_in_executor
-
         await run_in_executor(None, self.clear)
 
     def __str__(self) -> str:
diff --git a/libs/core/langchain_core/document_loaders/base.py b/libs/core/langchain_core/document_loaders/base.py
index 7208529da17..deeb9569ad2 100644
--- a/libs/core/langchain_core/document_loaders/base.py
+++ b/libs/core/langchain_core/document_loaders/base.py
@@ -15,6 +15,13 @@ if TYPE_CHECKING:
     from langchain_core.documents import Document
     from langchain_core.documents.base import Blob
 
+try:
+    from langchain_text_splitters import RecursiveCharacterTextSplitter
+
+    _HAS_TEXT_SPLITTERS = True
+except ImportError:
+    _HAS_TEXT_SPLITTERS = False
+
 
 class BaseLoader(ABC):  # noqa: B024
     """Interface for Document Loader.
@@ -62,15 +69,13 @@ class BaseLoader(ABC):  # noqa: B024
             List of Documents.
         """
         if text_splitter is None:
-            try:
-                from langchain_text_splitters import RecursiveCharacterTextSplitter
-            except ImportError as e:
+            if not _HAS_TEXT_SPLITTERS:
                 msg = (
                     "Unable to import from langchain_text_splitters. Please specify "
                     "text_splitter or install langchain_text_splitters with "
                     "`pip install -U langchain-text-splitters`."
                 )
-                raise ImportError(msg) from e
+                raise ImportError(msg)
 
             text_splitter_: TextSplitter = RecursiveCharacterTextSplitter()
         else:
diff --git a/libs/core/langchain_core/embeddings/fake.py b/libs/core/langchain_core/embeddings/fake.py
index cd644bf8c69..c33281c484a 100644
--- a/libs/core/langchain_core/embeddings/fake.py
+++ b/libs/core/langchain_core/embeddings/fake.py
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 """Module contains a few fake embedding models for testing purposes."""
 
 # Please do not add additional fake embedding model implementations here.
+import contextlib
 import hashlib
 
 from pydantic import BaseModel
@@ -8,6 +9,9 @@ from typing_extensions import override
 
 from langchain_core.embeddings import Embeddings
 
+with contextlib.suppress(ImportError):
+    import numpy as np
+
 
 class FakeEmbeddings(Embeddings, BaseModel):
     """Fake embedding model for unit testing purposes.
@@ -54,8 +58,6 @@ class FakeEmbeddings(Embeddings, BaseModel):
     """The size of the embedding vector."""
 
     def _get_embedding(self) -> list[float]:
-        import numpy as np
-
         return list(np.random.default_rng().normal(size=self.size))
 
     @override
@@ -113,8 +115,6 @@ class DeterministicFakeEmbedding(Embeddings, BaseModel):
     """The size of the embedding vector."""
 
     def _get_embedding(self, seed: int) -> list[float]:
-        import numpy as np
-
         # set the seed for the random generator
         rng = np.random.default_rng(seed)
         return list(rng.normal(size=self.size))
diff --git a/libs/core/langchain_core/env.py b/libs/core/langchain_core/env.py
index fd619bc1d94..240e62a8e6e 100644
--- a/libs/core/langchain_core/env.py
+++ b/libs/core/langchain_core/env.py
@@ -3,6 +3,8 @@
 import platform
 from functools import lru_cache
 
+from langchain_core import __version__
+
 
 @lru_cache(maxsize=1)
 def get_runtime_environment() -> dict:
@@ -11,9 +13,6 @@ def get_runtime_environment() -> dict:
     Returns:
         A dictionary with information about the runtime environment.
     """
-    # Lazy import to avoid circular imports
-    from langchain_core import __version__
-
     return {
         "library_version": __version__,
         "library": "langchain-core",
diff --git a/libs/core/langchain_core/globals.py b/libs/core/langchain_core/globals.py
index faf26578f35..01e851f942e 100644
--- a/libs/core/langchain_core/globals.py
+++ b/libs/core/langchain_core/globals.py
@@ -6,6 +6,13 @@ from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Optional
 if TYPE_CHECKING:
     from langchain_core.caches import BaseCache
 
+try:
+    import langchain  # type: ignore[import-not-found]
+
+    _HAS_LANGCHAIN = True
+except ImportError:
+    _HAS_LANGCHAIN = False
+
 
 # DO NOT USE THESE VALUES DIRECTLY!
 # Use them only via `get_<X>()` and `set_<X>()` below,
@@ -22,9 +29,7 @@ def set_verbose(value: bool) -> None:  # noqa: FBT001
     Args:
         value: The new value for the `verbose` global setting.
     """
-    try:
-        import langchain  # type: ignore[import-not-found]
-
+    if _HAS_LANGCHAIN:
         # We're about to run some deprecated code, don't report warnings from it.
         # The user called the correct (non-deprecated) code path and shouldn't get
         # warnings.
@@ -43,8 +48,6 @@ def set_verbose(value: bool) -> None:  # noqa: FBT001
             # Remove it once `langchain.verbose` is no longer supported, and once all
             # users have migrated to using `set_verbose()` here.
             langchain.verbose = value
-    except ImportError:
-        pass
 
     global _verbose  # noqa: PLW0603
     _verbose = value
@@ -56,9 +59,7 @@ def get_verbose() -> bool:
     Returns:
         The value of the `verbose` global setting.
     """
-    try:
-        import langchain
-
+    if _HAS_LANGCHAIN:
         # We're about to run some deprecated code, don't report warnings from it.
         # The user called the correct (non-deprecated) code path and shouldn't get
         # warnings.
@@ -83,7 +84,7 @@ def get_verbose() -> bool:
             # deprecation warnings directing them to use `set_verbose()` when they
             # import `langchain.verbose`.
             old_verbose = langchain.verbose
-    except ImportError:
+    else:
         old_verbose = False
 
     return _verbose or old_verbose
@@ -95,9 +96,7 @@ def set_debug(value: bool) -> None:  # noqa: FBT001
     Args:
         value: The new value for the `debug` global setting.
     """
-    try:
-        import langchain
-
+    if _HAS_LANGCHAIN:
         # We're about to run some deprecated code, don't report warnings from it.
         # The user called the correct (non-deprecated) code path and shouldn't get
         # warnings.
@@ -114,8 +113,6 @@ def set_debug(value: bool) -> None:  # noqa: FBT001
             # Remove it once `langchain.debug` is no longer supported, and once all
             # users have migrated to using `set_debug()` here.
             langchain.debug = value
-    except ImportError:
-        pass
 
     global _debug  # noqa: PLW0603
     _debug = value
@@ -127,9 +124,7 @@ def get_debug() -> bool:
     Returns:
         The value of the `debug` global setting.
     """
-    try:
-        import langchain
-
+    if _HAS_LANGCHAIN:
         # We're about to run some deprecated code, don't report warnings from it.
         # The user called the correct (non-deprecated) code path and shouldn't get
         # warnings.
@@ -151,7 +146,7 @@ def get_debug() -> bool:
             # to using `set_debug()` yet. Those users are getting deprecation warnings
             # directing them to use `set_debug()` when they import `langchain.debug`.
             old_debug = langchain.debug
-    except ImportError:
+    else:
         old_debug = False
 
     return _debug or old_debug
@@ -163,9 +158,7 @@ def set_llm_cache(value: Optional["BaseCache"]) -> None:
     Args:
         value: The new LLM cache to use. If `None`, the LLM cache is disabled.
     """
-    try:
-        import langchain
-
+    if _HAS_LANGCHAIN:
         # We're about to run some deprecated code, don't report warnings from it.
         # The user called the correct (non-deprecated) code path and shouldn't get
         # warnings.
@@ -184,8 +177,6 @@ def set_llm_cache(value: Optional["BaseCache"]) -> None:
             # Remove it once `langchain.llm_cache` is no longer supported, and
             # once all users have migrated to using `set_llm_cache()` here.
             langchain.llm_cache = value
-    except ImportError:
-        pass
 
     global _llm_cache  # noqa: PLW0603
     _llm_cache = value
@@ -197,9 +188,7 @@ def get_llm_cache() -> Optional["BaseCache"]:
     Returns:
         The value of the `llm_cache` global setting.
     """
-    try:
-        import langchain
-
+    if _HAS_LANGCHAIN:
         # We're about to run some deprecated code, don't report warnings from it.
         # The user called the correct (non-deprecated) code path and shouldn't get
         # warnings.
@@ -225,7 +214,7 @@ def get_llm_cache() -> Optional["BaseCache"]:
             # Those users are getting deprecation warnings directing them
             # to use `set_llm_cache()` when they import `langchain.llm_cache`.
             old_llm_cache = langchain.llm_cache
-    except ImportError:
+    else:
         old_llm_cache = None
 
     return _llm_cache or old_llm_cache
diff --git a/libs/core/langchain_core/language_models/base.py b/libs/core/langchain_core/language_models/base.py
index 46bb954e95b..f0e444b5859 100644
--- a/libs/core/langchain_core/language_models/base.py
+++ b/libs/core/langchain_core/language_models/base.py
@@ -22,19 +22,31 @@ from typing_extensions import TypeAlias, TypedDict, override
 from langchain_core._api import deprecated
 from langchain_core.caches import BaseCache
 from langchain_core.callbacks import Callbacks
+from langchain_core.globals import get_verbose
 from langchain_core.messages import (
     AnyMessage,
     BaseMessage,
     MessageLikeRepresentation,
     get_buffer_string,
 )
-from langchain_core.prompt_values import PromptValue
+from langchain_core.prompt_values import (
+    ChatPromptValueConcrete,
+    PromptValue,
+    StringPromptValue,
+)
 from langchain_core.runnables import Runnable, RunnableSerializable
 from langchain_core.utils import get_pydantic_field_names
 
 if TYPE_CHECKING:
     from langchain_core.outputs import LLMResult
 
+try:
+    from transformers import GPT2TokenizerFast  # type: ignore[import-not-found]
+
+    _HAS_TRANSFORMERS = True
+except ImportError:
+    _HAS_TRANSFORMERS = False
+
 
 class LangSmithParams(TypedDict, total=False):
     """LangSmith parameters for tracing."""
@@ -66,15 +78,13 @@ def get_tokenizer() -> Any:
         The GPT-2 tokenizer instance.
 
     """
-    try:
-        from transformers import GPT2TokenizerFast  # type: ignore[import-not-found]
-    except ImportError as e:
+    if not _HAS_TRANSFORMERS:
         msg = (
             "Could not import transformers python package. "
             "This is needed in order to calculate get_token_ids. "
             "Please install it with `pip install transformers`."
         )
-        raise ImportError(msg) from e
+        raise ImportError(msg)
     # create a GPT-2 tokenizer instance
     return GPT2TokenizerFast.from_pretrained("gpt2")
 
@@ -95,8 +105,6 @@ LanguageModelOutputVar = TypeVar("LanguageModelOutputVar", BaseMessage, str)
 
 
 def _get_verbosity() -> bool:
-    from langchain_core.globals import get_verbose
-
     return get_verbose()
 
 
@@ -158,11 +166,6 @@ class BaseLanguageModel(
     @override
     def InputType(self) -> TypeAlias:
         """Get the input type for this runnable."""
-        from langchain_core.prompt_values import (
-            ChatPromptValueConcrete,
-            StringPromptValue,
-        )
-
         # This is a version of LanguageModelInput which replaces the abstract
         # base class BaseMessage with a union of its subclasses, which makes
         # for a much better schema.
diff --git a/libs/core/langchain_core/language_models/chat_models.py b/libs/core/langchain_core/language_models/chat_models.py
index 1d931689a3d..81ce5cbc505 100644
--- a/libs/core/langchain_core/language_models/chat_models.py
+++ b/libs/core/langchain_core/language_models/chat_models.py
@@ -46,6 +46,10 @@ from langchain_core.messages import (
     message_chunk_to_message,
 )
 from langchain_core.messages.ai import _LC_ID_PREFIX
+from langchain_core.output_parsers.openai_tools import (
+    JsonOutputKeyToolsParser,
+    PydanticToolsParser,
+)
 from langchain_core.outputs import (
     ChatGeneration,
     ChatGenerationChunk,
@@ -1590,11 +1594,6 @@ class BaseChatModel(BaseLanguageModel[BaseMessage], ABC):
             msg = f"Received unsupported arguments {kwargs}"
             raise ValueError(msg)
 
-        from langchain_core.output_parsers.openai_tools import (
-            JsonOutputKeyToolsParser,
-            PydanticToolsParser,
-        )
-
         if type(self).bind_tools is BaseChatModel.bind_tools:
             msg = "with_structured_output is not implemented for this model."
             raise NotImplementedError(msg)
diff --git a/libs/core/langchain_core/load/dump.py b/libs/core/langchain_core/load/dump.py
index f8ab13a7f97..c7cd819a4ae 100644
--- a/libs/core/langchain_core/load/dump.py
+++ b/libs/core/langchain_core/load/dump.py
@@ -6,6 +6,8 @@ from typing import Any
 from pydantic import BaseModel
 
 from langchain_core.load.serializable import Serializable, to_json_not_implemented
+from langchain_core.messages import AIMessage
+from langchain_core.outputs import ChatGeneration
 
 
 def default(obj: Any) -> Any:
@@ -23,9 +25,6 @@ def default(obj: Any) -> Any:
 
 
 def _dump_pydantic_models(obj: Any) -> Any:
-    from langchain_core.messages import AIMessage
-    from langchain_core.outputs import ChatGeneration
-
     if (
         isinstance(obj, ChatGeneration)
         and isinstance(obj.message, AIMessage)
diff --git a/libs/core/langchain_core/messages/base.py b/libs/core/langchain_core/messages/base.py
index 8810d1ecf13..4b5b296614b 100644
--- a/libs/core/langchain_core/messages/base.py
+++ b/libs/core/langchain_core/messages/base.py
@@ -118,7 +118,8 @@ class BaseMessage(Serializable):
         Returns:
             A ChatPromptTemplate containing both messages.
         """
-        from langchain_core.prompts.chat import ChatPromptTemplate
+        # Import locally to prevent circular imports.
+        from langchain_core.prompts.chat import ChatPromptTemplate  # noqa: PLC0415
 
         prompt = ChatPromptTemplate(messages=[self])
         return prompt + other
diff --git a/libs/core/langchain_core/messages/utils.py b/libs/core/langchain_core/messages/utils.py
index 65723ddc3a9..d6971e2ebd0 100644
--- a/libs/core/langchain_core/messages/utils.py
+++ b/libs/core/langchain_core/messages/utils.py
@@ -42,12 +42,17 @@ from langchain_core.messages.system import SystemMessage, SystemMessageChunk
 from langchain_core.messages.tool import ToolCall, ToolMessage, ToolMessageChunk
 
 if TYPE_CHECKING:
-    from langchain_text_splitters import TextSplitter
-
     from langchain_core.language_models import BaseLanguageModel
     from langchain_core.prompt_values import PromptValue
     from langchain_core.runnables.base import Runnable
 
+try:
+    from langchain_text_splitters import TextSplitter
+
+    _HAS_LANGCHAIN_TEXT_SPLITTERS = True
+except ImportError:
+    _HAS_LANGCHAIN_TEXT_SPLITTERS = False
+
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
 
@@ -361,7 +366,7 @@ def convert_to_messages(
         list of messages (BaseMessages).
     """
     # Import here to avoid circular imports
-    from langchain_core.prompt_values import PromptValue
+    from langchain_core.prompt_values import PromptValue  # noqa: PLC0415
 
     if isinstance(messages, PromptValue):
         return messages.to_messages()
@@ -386,7 +391,8 @@ def _runnable_support(func: Callable) -> Callable:
         list[BaseMessage],
         Runnable[Sequence[MessageLikeRepresentation], list[BaseMessage]],
     ]:
-        from langchain_core.runnables.base import RunnableLambda
+        # Import locally to prevent circular import.
+        from langchain_core.runnables.base import RunnableLambda  # noqa: PLC0415
 
         if messages is not None:
             return func(messages, **kwargs)
@@ -989,17 +995,12 @@ def trim_messages(
         )
         raise ValueError(msg)
 
-    try:
-        from langchain_text_splitters import TextSplitter
-    except ImportError:
-        text_splitter_fn: Optional[Callable] = cast("Optional[Callable]", text_splitter)
+    if _HAS_LANGCHAIN_TEXT_SPLITTERS and isinstance(text_splitter, TextSplitter):
+        text_splitter_fn = text_splitter.split_text
+    elif text_splitter:
+        text_splitter_fn = cast("Callable", text_splitter)
     else:
-        if isinstance(text_splitter, TextSplitter):
-            text_splitter_fn = text_splitter.split_text
-        else:
-            text_splitter_fn = text_splitter
-
-    text_splitter_fn = text_splitter_fn or _default_text_splitter
+        text_splitter_fn = _default_text_splitter
 
     if strategy == "first":
         return _first_max_tokens(
diff --git a/libs/core/langchain_core/output_parsers/xml.py b/libs/core/langchain_core/output_parsers/xml.py
index 0d7ef8b1e79..be12760fade 100644
--- a/libs/core/langchain_core/output_parsers/xml.py
+++ b/libs/core/langchain_core/output_parsers/xml.py
@@ -15,6 +15,14 @@ from langchain_core.messages import BaseMessage
 from langchain_core.output_parsers.transform import BaseTransformOutputParser
 from langchain_core.runnables.utils import AddableDict
 
+try:
+    from defusedxml import ElementTree  # type: ignore[import-untyped]
+    from defusedxml.ElementTree import XMLParser  # type: ignore[import-untyped]
+
+    _HAS_DEFUSEDXML = True
+except ImportError:
+    _HAS_DEFUSEDXML = False
+
 XML_FORMAT_INSTRUCTIONS = """The output should be formatted as a XML file.
 1. Output should conform to the tags below.
 2. If tags are not given, make them on your own.
@@ -50,17 +58,13 @@ class _StreamingParser:
                 parser is requested.
         """
         if parser == "defusedxml":
-            try:
-                from defusedxml.ElementTree import (  # type: ignore[import-untyped]
-                    XMLParser,
-                )
-            except ImportError as e:
+            if not _HAS_DEFUSEDXML:
                 msg = (
                     "defusedxml is not installed. "
                     "Please install it to use the defusedxml parser."
                     "You can install it with `pip install defusedxml` "
                 )
-                raise ImportError(msg) from e
+                raise ImportError(msg)
             parser_ = XMLParser(target=TreeBuilder())
         else:
             parser_ = None
@@ -207,16 +211,14 @@ class XMLOutputParser(BaseTransformOutputParser):
         # Imports are temporarily placed here to avoid issue with caching on CI
         # likely if you're reading this you can move them to the top of the file
         if self.parser == "defusedxml":
-            try:
-                from defusedxml import ElementTree  # type: ignore[import-untyped]
-            except ImportError as e:
+            if not _HAS_DEFUSEDXML:
                 msg = (
                     "defusedxml is not installed. "
                     "Please install it to use the defusedxml parser."
                     "You can install it with `pip install defusedxml`"
                     "See https://github.com/tiran/defusedxml for more details"
                 )
-                raise ImportError(msg) from e
+                raise ImportError(msg)
             et = ElementTree  # Use the defusedxml parser
         else:
             et = ET  # Use the standard library parser
diff --git a/libs/core/langchain_core/prompts/message.py b/libs/core/langchain_core/prompts/message.py
index 409f54320b1..b8642a53bca 100644
--- a/libs/core/langchain_core/prompts/message.py
+++ b/libs/core/langchain_core/prompts/message.py
@@ -88,7 +88,8 @@ class BaseMessagePromptTemplate(Serializable, ABC):
         Returns:
             Combined prompt template.
         """
-        from langchain_core.prompts.chat import ChatPromptTemplate
+        # Import locally to avoid circular import.
+        from langchain_core.prompts.chat import ChatPromptTemplate  # noqa: PLC0415
 
         prompt = ChatPromptTemplate(messages=[self])
         return prompt + other
diff --git a/libs/core/langchain_core/prompts/string.py b/libs/core/langchain_core/prompts/string.py
index b6f1cdae28f..8b147c3c0bc 100644
--- a/libs/core/langchain_core/prompts/string.py
+++ b/libs/core/langchain_core/prompts/string.py
@@ -15,6 +15,14 @@ from langchain_core.utils import get_colored_text, mustache
 from langchain_core.utils.formatting import formatter
 from langchain_core.utils.interactive_env import is_interactive_env
 
+try:
+    from jinja2 import Environment, meta
+    from jinja2.sandbox import SandboxedEnvironment
+
+    _HAS_JINJA2 = True
+except ImportError:
+    _HAS_JINJA2 = False
+
 PromptTemplateFormat = Literal["f-string", "mustache", "jinja2"]
 
 
@@ -40,9 +48,7 @@ def jinja2_formatter(template: str, /, **kwargs: Any) -> str:
     Raises:
         ImportError: If jinja2 is not installed.
     """
-    try:
-        from jinja2.sandbox import SandboxedEnvironment
-    except ImportError as e:
+    if not _HAS_JINJA2:
         msg = (
             "jinja2 not installed, which is needed to use the jinja2_formatter. "
             "Please install it with `pip install jinja2`."
@@ -50,7 +56,7 @@ def jinja2_formatter(template: str, /, **kwargs: Any) -> str:
             "Do not expand jinja2 templates using unverified or user-controlled "
             "inputs as that can result in arbitrary Python code execution."
         )
-        raise ImportError(msg) from e
+        raise ImportError(msg)
 
     # This uses a sandboxed environment to prevent arbitrary code execution.
     # Jinja2 uses an opt-out rather than opt-in approach for sand-boxing.
@@ -88,14 +94,12 @@ def validate_jinja2(template: str, input_variables: list[str]) -> None:
 
 
 def _get_jinja2_variables_from_template(template: str) -> set[str]:
-    try:
-        from jinja2 import Environment, meta
-    except ImportError as e:
+    if not _HAS_JINJA2:
         msg = (
             "jinja2 not installed, which is needed to use the jinja2_formatter. "
             "Please install it with `pip install jinja2`."
         )
-        raise ImportError(msg) from e
+        raise ImportError(msg)
     env = Environment()  # noqa: S701
     ast = env.parse(template)
     return meta.find_undeclared_variables(ast)
diff --git a/libs/core/langchain_core/retrievers.py b/libs/core/langchain_core/retrievers.py
index 8e1acf56c16..c015747f138 100644
--- a/libs/core/langchain_core/retrievers.py
+++ b/libs/core/langchain_core/retrievers.py
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@ from typing_extensions import Self, TypedDict, override
 
 from langchain_core._api import deprecated
 from langchain_core.callbacks import Callbacks
+from langchain_core.callbacks.manager import AsyncCallbackManager, CallbackManager
 from langchain_core.documents import Document
 from langchain_core.runnables import (
     Runnable,
@@ -236,8 +237,6 @@ class BaseRetriever(RunnableSerializable[RetrieverInput, RetrieverOutput], ABC):
             retriever.invoke("query")
 
         """
-        from langchain_core.callbacks.manager import CallbackManager
-
         config = ensure_config(config)
         inheritable_metadata = {
             **(config.get("metadata") or {}),
@@ -301,8 +300,6 @@ class BaseRetriever(RunnableSerializable[RetrieverInput, RetrieverOutput], ABC):
             await retriever.ainvoke("query")
 
         """
-        from langchain_core.callbacks.manager import AsyncCallbackManager
-
         config = ensure_config(config)
         inheritable_metadata = {
             **(config.get("metadata") or {}),
diff --git a/libs/core/langchain_core/runnables/base.py b/libs/core/langchain_core/runnables/base.py
index 1f90b2f608c..74f2a9049a2 100644
--- a/libs/core/langchain_core/runnables/base.py
+++ b/libs/core/langchain_core/runnables/base.py
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@ from pydantic import BaseModel, ConfigDict, Field, RootModel
 from typing_extensions import Literal, get_args, override
 
 from langchain_core._api import beta_decorator
+from langchain_core.callbacks.manager import AsyncCallbackManager, CallbackManager
 from langchain_core.load.serializable import (
     Serializable,
     SerializedConstructor,
@@ -60,7 +61,6 @@ from langchain_core.runnables.config import (
     run_in_executor,
     set_config_context,
 )
-from langchain_core.runnables.graph import Graph
 from langchain_core.runnables.utils import (
     AddableDict,
     AnyConfigurableField,
@@ -81,6 +81,19 @@ from langchain_core.runnables.utils import (
     is_async_callable,
     is_async_generator,
 )
+from langchain_core.tracers._streaming import _StreamingCallbackHandler
+from langchain_core.tracers.event_stream import (
+    _astream_events_implementation_v1,
+    _astream_events_implementation_v2,
+)
+from langchain_core.tracers.log_stream import (
+    LogStreamCallbackHandler,
+    _astream_log_implementation,
+)
+from langchain_core.tracers.root_listeners import (
+    AsyncRootListenersTracer,
+    RootListenersTracer,
+)
 from langchain_core.utils.aiter import aclosing, atee, py_anext
 from langchain_core.utils.iter import safetee
 from langchain_core.utils.pydantic import create_model_v2
@@ -94,6 +107,7 @@ if TYPE_CHECKING:
     from langchain_core.runnables.fallbacks import (
         RunnableWithFallbacks as RunnableWithFallbacksT,
     )
+    from langchain_core.runnables.graph import Graph
     from langchain_core.runnables.retry import ExponentialJitterParams
     from langchain_core.runnables.schema import StreamEvent
     from langchain_core.tools import BaseTool
@@ -565,6 +579,9 @@ class Runnable(ABC, Generic[Input, Output]):
 
     def get_graph(self, config: Optional[RunnableConfig] = None) -> Graph:
         """Return a graph representation of this ``Runnable``."""
+        # Import locally to prevent circular import
+        from langchain_core.runnables.graph import Graph  # noqa: PLC0415
+
         graph = Graph()
         try:
             input_node = graph.add_node(self.get_input_schema(config))
@@ -585,7 +602,8 @@ class Runnable(ABC, Generic[Input, Output]):
         self, config: Optional[RunnableConfig] = None
     ) -> list[BasePromptTemplate]:
         """Return a list of prompts used by this ``Runnable``."""
-        from langchain_core.prompts.base import BasePromptTemplate
+        # Import locally to prevent circular import
+        from langchain_core.prompts.base import BasePromptTemplate  # noqa: PLC0415
 
         return [
             node.data
@@ -747,7 +765,8 @@ class Runnable(ABC, Generic[Input, Output]):
             a new ``Runnable``.
 
         """
-        from langchain_core.runnables.passthrough import RunnablePick
+        # Import locally to prevent circular import
+        from langchain_core.runnables.passthrough import RunnablePick  # noqa: PLC0415
 
         return self | RunnablePick(keys)
 
@@ -798,7 +817,8 @@ class Runnable(ABC, Generic[Input, Output]):
             A new ``Runnable``.
 
         """
-        from langchain_core.runnables.passthrough import RunnableAssign
+        # Import locally to prevent circular import
+        from langchain_core.runnables.passthrough import RunnableAssign  # noqa: PLC0415
 
         return self | RunnableAssign(RunnableParallel[dict[str, Any]](kwargs))
 
@@ -1231,11 +1251,6 @@ class Runnable(ABC, Generic[Input, Output]):
             A ``RunLogPatch`` or ``RunLog`` object.
 
         """
-        from langchain_core.tracers.log_stream import (
-            LogStreamCallbackHandler,
-            _astream_log_implementation,
-        )
-
         stream = LogStreamCallbackHandler(
             auto_close=False,
             include_names=include_names,
@@ -1489,11 +1504,6 @@ class Runnable(ABC, Generic[Input, Output]):
             NotImplementedError: If the version is not ``'v1'`` or ``'v2'``.
 
         """  # noqa: E501
-        from langchain_core.tracers.event_stream import (
-            _astream_events_implementation_v1,
-            _astream_events_implementation_v2,
-        )
-
         if version == "v2":
             event_stream = _astream_events_implementation_v2(
                 self,
@@ -1740,8 +1750,6 @@ class Runnable(ABC, Generic[Input, Output]):
             chain.invoke(2)
 
         """
-        from langchain_core.tracers.root_listeners import RootListenersTracer
-
         return RunnableBinding(
             bound=self,
             config_factories=[
@@ -1834,8 +1842,6 @@ class Runnable(ABC, Generic[Input, Output]):
             on end callback ends at 2025-03-01T07:05:30.884831+00:00
 
         """
-        from langchain_core.tracers.root_listeners import AsyncRootListenersTracer
-
         return RunnableBinding(
             bound=self,
             config_factories=[
@@ -1928,7 +1934,8 @@ class Runnable(ABC, Generic[Input, Output]):
             assert count == 2
 
         """
-        from langchain_core.runnables.retry import RunnableRetry
+        # Import locally to prevent circular import
+        from langchain_core.runnables.retry import RunnableRetry  # noqa: PLC0415
 
         return RunnableRetry(
             bound=self,
@@ -2030,7 +2037,10 @@ class Runnable(ABC, Generic[Input, Output]):
             fallback in order, upon failures.
 
         """
-        from langchain_core.runnables.fallbacks import RunnableWithFallbacks
+        # Import locally to prevent circular import
+        from langchain_core.runnables.fallbacks import (  # noqa: PLC0415
+            RunnableWithFallbacks,
+        )
 
         return RunnableWithFallbacks(
             runnable=self,
@@ -2316,9 +2326,6 @@ class Runnable(ABC, Generic[Input, Output]):
         Use this to implement ``stream`` or ``transform`` in ``Runnable`` subclasses.
 
         """
-        # Mixin that is used by both astream log and astream events implementation
-        from langchain_core.tracers._streaming import _StreamingCallbackHandler
-
         # tee the input so we can iterate over it twice
         input_for_tracing, input_for_transform = tee(inputs, 2)
         # Start the input iterator to ensure the input Runnable starts before this one
@@ -2422,9 +2429,6 @@ class Runnable(ABC, Generic[Input, Output]):
         Use this to implement ``astream`` or ``atransform`` in ``Runnable`` subclasses.
 
         """
-        # Mixin that is used by both astream log and astream events implementation
-        from langchain_core.tracers._streaming import _StreamingCallbackHandler
-
         # tee the input so we can iterate over it twice
         input_for_tracing, input_for_transform = atee(inputs, 2)
         # Start the input iterator to ensure the input Runnable starts before this one
@@ -2614,7 +2618,7 @@ class Runnable(ABC, Generic[Input, Output]):
 
         """
         # Avoid circular import
-        from langchain_core.tools import convert_runnable_to_tool
+        from langchain_core.tools import convert_runnable_to_tool  # noqa: PLC0415
 
         return convert_runnable_to_tool(
             self,
@@ -2690,7 +2694,10 @@ class RunnableSerializable(Serializable, Runnable[Input, Output]):
             )
 
         """
-        from langchain_core.runnables.configurable import RunnableConfigurableFields
+        # Import locally to prevent circular import
+        from langchain_core.runnables.configurable import (  # noqa: PLC0415
+            RunnableConfigurableFields,
+        )
 
         model_fields = type(self).model_fields
         for key in kwargs:
@@ -2751,7 +2758,8 @@ class RunnableSerializable(Serializable, Runnable[Input, Output]):
             )
 
         """
-        from langchain_core.runnables.configurable import (
+        # Import locally to prevent circular import
+        from langchain_core.runnables.configurable import (  # noqa: PLC0415
             RunnableConfigurableAlternatives,
         )
 
@@ -2767,7 +2775,11 @@ class RunnableSerializable(Serializable, Runnable[Input, Output]):
 def _seq_input_schema(
     steps: list[Runnable[Any, Any]], config: Optional[RunnableConfig]
 ) -> type[BaseModel]:
-    from langchain_core.runnables.passthrough import RunnableAssign, RunnablePick
+    # Import locally to prevent circular import
+    from langchain_core.runnables.passthrough import (  # noqa: PLC0415
+        RunnableAssign,
+        RunnablePick,
+    )
 
     first = steps[0]
     if len(steps) == 1:
@@ -2793,7 +2805,11 @@ def _seq_input_schema(
 def _seq_output_schema(
     steps: list[Runnable[Any, Any]], config: Optional[RunnableConfig]
 ) -> type[BaseModel]:
-    from langchain_core.runnables.passthrough import RunnableAssign, RunnablePick
+    # Import locally to prevent circular import
+    from langchain_core.runnables.passthrough import (  # noqa: PLC0415
+        RunnableAssign,
+        RunnablePick,
+    )
 
     last = steps[-1]
     if len(steps) == 1:
@@ -3050,7 +3066,8 @@ class RunnableSequence(RunnableSerializable[Input, Output]):
             The config specs of the ``Runnable``.
 
         """
-        from langchain_core.beta.runnables.context import (
+        # Import locally to prevent circular import
+        from langchain_core.beta.runnables.context import (  # noqa: PLC0415
             CONTEXT_CONFIG_PREFIX,
             _key_from_id,
         )
@@ -3108,7 +3125,8 @@ class RunnableSequence(RunnableSerializable[Input, Output]):
             ValueError: If a ``Runnable`` has no first or last node.
 
         """
-        from langchain_core.runnables.graph import Graph
+        # Import locally to prevent circular import
+        from langchain_core.runnables.graph import Graph  # noqa: PLC0415
 
         graph = Graph()
         for step in self.steps:
@@ -3196,7 +3214,10 @@ class RunnableSequence(RunnableSerializable[Input, Output]):
     def invoke(
         self, input: Input, config: Optional[RunnableConfig] = None, **kwargs: Any
     ) -> Output:
-        from langchain_core.beta.runnables.context import config_with_context
+        # Import locally to prevent circular import
+        from langchain_core.beta.runnables.context import (  # noqa: PLC0415
+            config_with_context,
+        )
 
         # setup callbacks and context
         config = config_with_context(ensure_config(config), self.steps)
@@ -3237,7 +3258,10 @@ class RunnableSequence(RunnableSerializable[Input, Output]):
         config: Optional[RunnableConfig] = None,
         **kwargs: Optional[Any],
     ) -> Output:
-        from langchain_core.beta.runnables.context import aconfig_with_context
+        # Import locally to prevent circular import
+        from langchain_core.beta.runnables.context import (  # noqa: PLC0415
+            aconfig_with_context,
+        )
 
         # setup callbacks and context
         config = aconfig_with_context(ensure_config(config), self.steps)
@@ -3281,8 +3305,10 @@ class RunnableSequence(RunnableSerializable[Input, Output]):
         return_exceptions: bool = False,
         **kwargs: Optional[Any],
     ) -> list[Output]:
-        from langchain_core.beta.runnables.context import config_with_context
-        from langchain_core.callbacks.manager import CallbackManager
+        # Import locally to prevent circular import
+        from langchain_core.beta.runnables.context import (  # noqa: PLC0415
+            config_with_context,
+        )
 
         if not inputs:
             return []
@@ -3411,8 +3437,10 @@ class RunnableSequence(RunnableSerializable[Input, Output]):
         return_exceptions: bool = False,
         **kwargs: Optional[Any],
     ) -> list[Output]:
-        from langchain_core.beta.runnables.context import aconfig_with_context
-        from langchain_core.callbacks.manager import AsyncCallbackManager
+        # Import locally to prevent circular import
+        from langchain_core.beta.runnables.context import (  # noqa: PLC0415
+            aconfig_with_context,
+        )
 
         if not inputs:
             return []
@@ -3542,7 +3570,10 @@ class RunnableSequence(RunnableSerializable[Input, Output]):
         config: RunnableConfig,
         **kwargs: Any,
     ) -> Iterator[Output]:
-        from langchain_core.beta.runnables.context import config_with_context
+        # Import locally to prevent circular import
+        from langchain_core.beta.runnables.context import (  # noqa: PLC0415
+            config_with_context,
+        )
 
         steps = [self.first, *self.middle, self.last]
         config = config_with_context(config, self.steps)
@@ -3569,7 +3600,10 @@ class RunnableSequence(RunnableSerializable[Input, Output]):
         config: RunnableConfig,
         **kwargs: Any,
     ) -> AsyncIterator[Output]:
-        from langchain_core.beta.runnables.context import aconfig_with_context
+        # Import locally to prevent circular import
+        from langchain_core.beta.runnables.context import (  # noqa: PLC0415
+            aconfig_with_context,
+        )
 
         steps = [self.first, *self.middle, self.last]
         config = aconfig_with_context(config, self.steps)
@@ -3882,7 +3916,8 @@ class RunnableParallel(RunnableSerializable[Input, dict[str, Any]]):
             ValueError: If a ``Runnable`` has no first or last node.
 
         """
-        from langchain_core.runnables.graph import Graph
+        # Import locally to prevent circular import
+        from langchain_core.runnables.graph import Graph  # noqa: PLC0415
 
         graph = Graph()
         input_node = graph.add_node(self.get_input_schema(config))
@@ -3918,8 +3953,6 @@ class RunnableParallel(RunnableSerializable[Input, dict[str, Any]]):
     def invoke(
         self, input: Input, config: Optional[RunnableConfig] = None, **kwargs: Any
     ) -> dict[str, Any]:
-        from langchain_core.callbacks.manager import CallbackManager
-
         # setup callbacks
         config = ensure_config(config)
         callback_manager = CallbackManager.configure(
@@ -4767,6 +4800,9 @@ class RunnableLambda(Runnable[Input, Output]):
     @override
     def get_graph(self, config: RunnableConfig | None = None) -> Graph:
         if deps := self.deps:
+            # Import locally to prevent circular import
+            from langchain_core.runnables.graph import Graph  # noqa: PLC0415
+
             graph = Graph()
             input_node = graph.add_node(self.get_input_schema(config))
             output_node = graph.add_node(self.get_output_schema(config))
@@ -6030,7 +6066,6 @@ class RunnableBinding(RunnableBindingBase[Input, Output]):  # type: ignore[no-re
         Returns:
             A new ``Runnable`` with the listeners bound.
         """
-        from langchain_core.tracers.root_listeners import RootListenersTracer
 
         def listener_config_factory(config: RunnableConfig) -> RunnableConfig:
             return {
diff --git a/libs/core/langchain_core/runnables/branch.py b/libs/core/langchain_core/runnables/branch.py
index ed8d0ed0cdd..66ecb9592c8 100644
--- a/libs/core/langchain_core/runnables/branch.py
+++ b/libs/core/langchain_core/runnables/branch.py
@@ -12,6 +12,10 @@ from typing import (
 from pydantic import BaseModel, ConfigDict
 from typing_extensions import override
 
+from langchain_core.beta.runnables.context import (
+    CONTEXT_CONFIG_PREFIX,
+    CONTEXT_CONFIG_SUFFIX_SET,
+)
 from langchain_core.runnables.base import (
     Runnable,
     RunnableLike,
@@ -177,11 +181,6 @@ class RunnableBranch(RunnableSerializable[Input, Output]):
     @property
     @override
     def config_specs(self) -> list[ConfigurableFieldSpec]:
-        from langchain_core.beta.runnables.context import (
-            CONTEXT_CONFIG_PREFIX,
-            CONTEXT_CONFIG_SUFFIX_SET,
-        )
-
         specs = get_unique_config_specs(
             spec
             for step in (
diff --git a/libs/core/langchain_core/runnables/config.py b/libs/core/langchain_core/runnables/config.py
index 98090872a34..041d1d2629e 100644
--- a/libs/core/langchain_core/runnables/config.py
+++ b/libs/core/langchain_core/runnables/config.py
@@ -12,21 +12,22 @@ from contextvars import Context, ContextVar, Token, copy_context
 from functools import partial
 from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Any, Callable, Optional, TypeVar, Union, cast
 
+from langsmith.run_helpers import _set_tracing_context, get_tracing_context
 from typing_extensions import ParamSpec, TypedDict
 
+from langchain_core.callbacks.manager import AsyncCallbackManager, CallbackManager
 from langchain_core.runnables.utils import (
     Input,
     Output,
     accepts_config,
     accepts_run_manager,
 )
+from langchain_core.tracers.langchain import LangChainTracer
 
 if TYPE_CHECKING:
     from langchain_core.callbacks.base import BaseCallbackManager, Callbacks
     from langchain_core.callbacks.manager import (
-        AsyncCallbackManager,
         AsyncCallbackManagerForChainRun,
-        CallbackManager,
         CallbackManagerForChainRun,
     )
 else:
@@ -129,8 +130,6 @@ def _set_config_context(
     Returns:
         The token to reset the config and the previous tracing context.
     """
-    from langchain_core.tracers.langchain import LangChainTracer
-
     config_token = var_child_runnable_config.set(config)
     current_context = None
     if (
@@ -150,8 +149,6 @@ def _set_config_context(
         )
         and (run := tracer.run_map.get(str(parent_run_id)))
     ):
-        from langsmith.run_helpers import _set_tracing_context, get_tracing_context
-
         current_context = get_tracing_context()
         _set_tracing_context({"parent": run})
     return config_token, current_context
@@ -167,8 +164,6 @@ def set_config_context(config: RunnableConfig) -> Generator[Context, None, None]
     Yields:
         The config context.
     """
-    from langsmith.run_helpers import _set_tracing_context
-
     ctx = copy_context()
     config_token, _ = ctx.run(_set_config_context, config)
     try:
@@ -481,8 +476,6 @@ def get_callback_manager_for_config(config: RunnableConfig) -> CallbackManager:
     Returns:
         CallbackManager: The callback manager.
     """
-    from langchain_core.callbacks.manager import CallbackManager
-
     return CallbackManager.configure(
         inheritable_callbacks=config.get("callbacks"),
         inheritable_tags=config.get("tags"),
@@ -501,8 +494,6 @@ def get_async_callback_manager_for_config(
     Returns:
         AsyncCallbackManager: The async callback manager.
     """
-    from langchain_core.callbacks.manager import AsyncCallbackManager
-
     return AsyncCallbackManager.configure(
         inheritable_callbacks=config.get("callbacks"),
         inheritable_tags=config.get("tags"),
diff --git a/libs/core/langchain_core/runnables/fallbacks.py b/libs/core/langchain_core/runnables/fallbacks.py
index ede6fcb572d..f72850f3413 100644
--- a/libs/core/langchain_core/runnables/fallbacks.py
+++ b/libs/core/langchain_core/runnables/fallbacks.py
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Any, Optional, Union, cast
 from pydantic import BaseModel, ConfigDict
 from typing_extensions import override
 
+from langchain_core.callbacks.manager import AsyncCallbackManager, CallbackManager
 from langchain_core.runnables.base import Runnable, RunnableSerializable
 from langchain_core.runnables.config import (
     RunnableConfig,
@@ -272,8 +273,6 @@ class RunnableWithFallbacks(RunnableSerializable[Input, Output]):
         return_exceptions: bool = False,
         **kwargs: Optional[Any],
     ) -> list[Output]:
-        from langchain_core.callbacks.manager import CallbackManager
-
         if self.exception_key is not None and not all(
             isinstance(input_, dict) for input_ in inputs
         ):
@@ -366,8 +365,6 @@ class RunnableWithFallbacks(RunnableSerializable[Input, Output]):
         return_exceptions: bool = False,
         **kwargs: Optional[Any],
     ) -> list[Output]:
-        from langchain_core.callbacks.manager import AsyncCallbackManager
-
         if self.exception_key is not None and not all(
             isinstance(input_, dict) for input_ in inputs
         ):
diff --git a/libs/core/langchain_core/runnables/graph.py b/libs/core/langchain_core/runnables/graph.py
index 389572a23b3..cebf2a667c1 100644
--- a/libs/core/langchain_core/runnables/graph.py
+++ b/libs/core/langchain_core/runnables/graph.py
@@ -19,6 +19,8 @@ from typing import (
 )
 from uuid import UUID, uuid4
 
+from langchain_core.load.serializable import to_json_not_implemented
+from langchain_core.runnables.base import Runnable, RunnableSerializable
 from langchain_core.utils.pydantic import _IgnoreUnserializable, is_basemodel_subclass
 
 if TYPE_CHECKING:
@@ -191,8 +193,6 @@ def node_data_str(
     Returns:
         A string representation of the data.
     """
-    from langchain_core.runnables.base import Runnable
-
     if not is_uuid(id) or data is None:
         return id
     data_str = data.get_name() if isinstance(data, Runnable) else data.__name__
@@ -212,9 +212,6 @@ def node_data_json(
     Returns:
         A dictionary with the type of the data and the data itself.
     """
-    from langchain_core.load.serializable import to_json_not_implemented
-    from langchain_core.runnables.base import Runnable, RunnableSerializable
-
     if node.data is None:
         json: dict[str, Any] = {}
     elif isinstance(node.data, RunnableSerializable):
@@ -518,7 +515,8 @@ class Graph:
         Returns:
             The ASCII art string.
         """
-        from langchain_core.runnables.graph_ascii import draw_ascii
+        # Import locally to prevent circular import
+        from langchain_core.runnables.graph_ascii import draw_ascii  # noqa: PLC0415
 
         return draw_ascii(
             {node.id: node.name for node in self.nodes.values()},
@@ -562,7 +560,8 @@ class Graph:
         Returns:
             The PNG image as bytes if output_file_path is None, None otherwise.
         """
-        from langchain_core.runnables.graph_png import PngDrawer
+        # Import locally to prevent circular import
+        from langchain_core.runnables.graph_png import PngDrawer  # noqa: PLC0415
 
         default_node_labels = {node.id: node.name for node in self.nodes.values()}
 
@@ -617,7 +616,8 @@ class Graph:
             The Mermaid syntax string.
 
         """
-        from langchain_core.runnables.graph_mermaid import draw_mermaid
+        # Import locally to prevent circular import
+        from langchain_core.runnables.graph_mermaid import draw_mermaid  # noqa: PLC0415
 
         graph = self.reid()
         first_node = graph.first_node()
@@ -688,7 +688,10 @@ class Graph:
             The PNG image as bytes.
 
         """
-        from langchain_core.runnables.graph_mermaid import draw_mermaid_png
+        # Import locally to prevent circular import
+        from langchain_core.runnables.graph_mermaid import (  # noqa: PLC0415
+            draw_mermaid_png,
+        )
 
         mermaid_syntax = self.draw_mermaid(
             curve_style=curve_style,
diff --git a/libs/core/langchain_core/runnables/graph_ascii.py b/libs/core/langchain_core/runnables/graph_ascii.py
index 9c11c585cd1..39ad3f165e6 100644
--- a/libs/core/langchain_core/runnables/graph_ascii.py
+++ b/libs/core/langchain_core/runnables/graph_ascii.py
@@ -3,12 +3,24 @@
 Adapted from https://github.com/iterative/dvc/blob/main/dvc/dagascii.py.
 """
 
+from __future__ import annotations
+
 import math
 import os
 from collections.abc import Mapping, Sequence
-from typing import Any
+from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Any
 
-from langchain_core.runnables.graph import Edge as LangEdge
+try:
+    from grandalf.graphs import Edge, Graph, Vertex  # type: ignore[import-untyped]
+    from grandalf.layouts import SugiyamaLayout  # type: ignore[import-untyped]
+    from grandalf.routing import route_with_lines  # type: ignore[import-untyped]
+
+    _HAS_GRANDALF = True
+except ImportError:
+    _HAS_GRANDALF = False
+
+if TYPE_CHECKING:
+    from langchain_core.runnables.graph import Edge as LangEdge
 
 
 class VertexViewer:
@@ -185,13 +197,9 @@ class _EdgeViewer:
 def _build_sugiyama_layout(
     vertices: Mapping[str, str], edges: Sequence[LangEdge]
 ) -> Any:
-    try:
-        from grandalf.graphs import Edge, Graph, Vertex  # type: ignore[import-untyped]
-        from grandalf.layouts import SugiyamaLayout  # type: ignore[import-untyped]
-        from grandalf.routing import route_with_lines  # type: ignore[import-untyped]
-    except ImportError as exc:
+    if not _HAS_GRANDALF:
         msg = "Install grandalf to draw graphs: `pip install grandalf`."
-        raise ImportError(msg) from exc
+        raise ImportError(msg)
 
     #
     # Just a reminder about naming conventions:
diff --git a/libs/core/langchain_core/runnables/graph_mermaid.py b/libs/core/langchain_core/runnables/graph_mermaid.py
index 17ebc55a518..df1468fc437 100644
--- a/libs/core/langchain_core/runnables/graph_mermaid.py
+++ b/libs/core/langchain_core/runnables/graph_mermaid.py
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 """Mermaid graph drawing utilities."""
 
+from __future__ import annotations
+
 import asyncio
 import base64
 import random
@@ -7,18 +9,34 @@ import re
 import time
 from dataclasses import asdict
 from pathlib import Path
-from typing import Any, Literal, Optional
+from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Any, Literal, Optional
 
 import yaml
 
 from langchain_core.runnables.graph import (
     CurveStyle,
-    Edge,
     MermaidDrawMethod,
-    Node,
     NodeStyles,
 )
 
+if TYPE_CHECKING:
+    from langchain_core.runnables.graph import Edge, Node
+
+
+try:
+    import requests
+
+    _HAS_REQUESTS = True
+except ImportError:
+    _HAS_REQUESTS = False
+
+try:
+    from pyppeteer import launch  # type: ignore[import-not-found]
+
+    _HAS_PYPPETEER = True
+except ImportError:
+    _HAS_PYPPETEER = False
+
 MARKDOWN_SPECIAL_CHARS = "*_`"
 
 
@@ -283,8 +301,6 @@ def draw_mermaid_png(
         ValueError: If an invalid draw method is provided.
     """
     if draw_method == MermaidDrawMethod.PYPPETEER:
-        import asyncio
-
         img_bytes = asyncio.run(
             _render_mermaid_using_pyppeteer(
                 mermaid_syntax, output_file_path, background_color, padding
@@ -317,11 +333,9 @@ async def _render_mermaid_using_pyppeteer(
     device_scale_factor: int = 3,
 ) -> bytes:
     """Renders Mermaid graph using Pyppeteer."""
-    try:
-        from pyppeteer import launch  # type: ignore[import-not-found]
-    except ImportError as e:
+    if not _HAS_PYPPETEER:
         msg = "Install Pyppeteer to use the Pyppeteer method: `pip install pyppeteer`."
-        raise ImportError(msg) from e
+        raise ImportError(msg)
 
     browser = await launch()
     page = await browser.newPage()
@@ -392,14 +406,12 @@ def _render_mermaid_using_api(
     retry_delay: float = 1.0,
 ) -> bytes:
     """Renders Mermaid graph using the Mermaid.INK API."""
-    try:
-        import requests
-    except ImportError as e:
+    if not _HAS_REQUESTS:
         msg = (
             "Install the `requests` module to use the Mermaid.INK API: "
             "`pip install requests`."
         )
-        raise ImportError(msg) from e
+        raise ImportError(msg)
 
     # Use Mermaid API to render the image
     mermaid_syntax_encoded = base64.b64encode(mermaid_syntax.encode("utf8")).decode(
diff --git a/libs/core/langchain_core/runnables/graph_png.py b/libs/core/langchain_core/runnables/graph_png.py
index 27162907843..154f8e3ab44 100644
--- a/libs/core/langchain_core/runnables/graph_png.py
+++ b/libs/core/langchain_core/runnables/graph_png.py
@@ -4,6 +4,13 @@ from typing import Any, Optional
 
 from langchain_core.runnables.graph import Graph, LabelsDict
 
+try:
+    import pygraphviz as pgv  # type: ignore[import-not-found]
+
+    _HAS_PYGRAPHVIZ = True
+except ImportError:
+    _HAS_PYGRAPHVIZ = False
+
 
 class PngDrawer:
     """Helper class to draw a state graph into a PNG file.
@@ -125,11 +132,9 @@ class PngDrawer:
         Returns:
             The PNG bytes if ``output_path`` is None, else None.
         """
-        try:
-            import pygraphviz as pgv  # type: ignore[import-not-found]
-        except ImportError as exc:
+        if not _HAS_PYGRAPHVIZ:
             msg = "Install pygraphviz to draw graphs: `pip install pygraphviz`."
-            raise ImportError(msg) from exc
+            raise ImportError(msg)
 
         # Create a directed graph
         viz = pgv.AGraph(directed=True, nodesep=0.9, ranksep=1.0)
diff --git a/libs/core/langchain_core/runnables/history.py b/libs/core/langchain_core/runnables/history.py
index 24bfe22df0e..19158607bad 100644
--- a/libs/core/langchain_core/runnables/history.py
+++ b/libs/core/langchain_core/runnables/history.py
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ from typing_extensions import override
 
 from langchain_core.chat_history import BaseChatMessageHistory
 from langchain_core.load.load import load
+from langchain_core.messages import AIMessage, BaseMessage, HumanMessage
 from langchain_core.runnables.base import Runnable, RunnableBindingBase, RunnableLambda
 from langchain_core.runnables.passthrough import RunnablePassthrough
 from langchain_core.runnables.utils import (
@@ -29,7 +30,6 @@ from langchain_core.utils.pydantic import create_model_v2
 
 if TYPE_CHECKING:
     from langchain_core.language_models.base import LanguageModelLike
-    from langchain_core.messages.base import BaseMessage
     from langchain_core.runnables.config import RunnableConfig
     from langchain_core.tracers.schemas import Run
 
@@ -384,8 +384,6 @@ class RunnableWithMessageHistory(RunnableBindingBase):  # type: ignore[no-redef]
     def get_input_schema(
         self, config: Optional[RunnableConfig] = None
     ) -> type[BaseModel]:
-        from langchain_core.messages import BaseMessage
-
         fields: dict = {}
         if self.input_messages_key and self.history_messages_key:
             fields[self.input_messages_key] = (
@@ -447,8 +445,6 @@ class RunnableWithMessageHistory(RunnableBindingBase):  # type: ignore[no-redef]
     def _get_input_messages(
         self, input_val: Union[str, BaseMessage, Sequence[BaseMessage], dict]
     ) -> list[BaseMessage]:
-        from langchain_core.messages import BaseMessage
-
         # If dictionary, try to pluck the single key representing messages
         if isinstance(input_val, dict):
             if self.input_messages_key:
@@ -461,8 +457,6 @@ class RunnableWithMessageHistory(RunnableBindingBase):  # type: ignore[no-redef]
 
         # If value is a string, convert to a human message
         if isinstance(input_val, str):
-            from langchain_core.messages import HumanMessage
-
             return [HumanMessage(content=input_val)]
         # If value is a single message, convert to a list
         if isinstance(input_val, BaseMessage):
@@ -489,8 +483,6 @@ class RunnableWithMessageHistory(RunnableBindingBase):  # type: ignore[no-redef]
     def _get_output_messages(
         self, output_val: Union[str, BaseMessage, Sequence[BaseMessage], dict]
     ) -> list[BaseMessage]:
-        from langchain_core.messages import BaseMessage
-
         # If dictionary, try to pluck the single key representing messages
         if isinstance(output_val, dict):
             if self.output_messages_key:
@@ -507,8 +499,6 @@ class RunnableWithMessageHistory(RunnableBindingBase):  # type: ignore[no-redef]
                 output_val = output_val[key]
 
         if isinstance(output_val, str):
-            from langchain_core.messages import AIMessage
-
             return [AIMessage(content=output_val)]
         # If value is a single message, convert to a list
         if isinstance(output_val, BaseMessage):
diff --git a/libs/core/langchain_core/sys_info.py b/libs/core/langchain_core/sys_info.py
index b7073ffb9cd..dcd0a178bf3 100644
--- a/libs/core/langchain_core/sys_info.py
+++ b/libs/core/langchain_core/sys_info.py
@@ -4,13 +4,15 @@ sys_info prints information about the system and langchain packages for
 debugging purposes.
 """
 
+import pkgutil
+import platform
+import sys
 from collections.abc import Sequence
+from importlib import metadata, util
 
 
 def _get_sub_deps(packages: Sequence[str]) -> list[str]:
     """Get any specified sub-dependencies."""
-    from importlib import metadata
-
     sub_deps = set()
     underscored_packages = {pkg.replace("-", "_") for pkg in packages}
 
@@ -37,11 +39,6 @@ def print_sys_info(*, additional_pkgs: Sequence[str] = ()) -> None:
     Args:
         additional_pkgs: Additional packages to include in the output.
     """
-    import pkgutil
-    import platform
-    import sys
-    from importlib import metadata, util
-
     # Packages that do not start with "langchain" prefix.
     other_langchain_packages = [
         "langserve",
diff --git a/libs/core/langchain_core/tracers/event_stream.py b/libs/core/langchain_core/tracers/event_stream.py
index 5b150604516..61c3549cfb7 100644
--- a/libs/core/langchain_core/tracers/event_stream.py
+++ b/libs/core/langchain_core/tracers/event_stream.py
@@ -18,13 +18,14 @@ from uuid import UUID, uuid4
 
 from typing_extensions import NotRequired, override
 
-from langchain_core.callbacks.base import AsyncCallbackHandler
+from langchain_core.callbacks.base import AsyncCallbackHandler, BaseCallbackManager
 from langchain_core.messages import AIMessageChunk, BaseMessage, BaseMessageChunk
 from langchain_core.outputs import (
     ChatGenerationChunk,
     GenerationChunk,
     LLMResult,
 )
+from langchain_core.runnables import ensure_config
 from langchain_core.runnables.schema import (
     CustomStreamEvent,
     EventData,
@@ -37,6 +38,11 @@ from langchain_core.runnables.utils import (
     _RootEventFilter,
 )
 from langchain_core.tracers._streaming import _StreamingCallbackHandler
+from langchain_core.tracers.log_stream import (
+    LogStreamCallbackHandler,
+    RunLog,
+    _astream_log_implementation,
+)
 from langchain_core.tracers.memory_stream import _MemoryStream
 from langchain_core.utils.aiter import aclosing, py_anext
 
@@ -769,14 +775,6 @@ async def _astream_events_implementation_v1(
     exclude_tags: Optional[Sequence[str]] = None,
     **kwargs: Any,
 ) -> AsyncIterator[StandardStreamEvent]:
-    from langchain_core.runnables import ensure_config
-    from langchain_core.runnables.utils import _RootEventFilter
-    from langchain_core.tracers.log_stream import (
-        LogStreamCallbackHandler,
-        RunLog,
-        _astream_log_implementation,
-    )
-
     stream = LogStreamCallbackHandler(
         auto_close=False,
         include_names=include_names,
@@ -954,9 +952,6 @@ async def _astream_events_implementation_v2(
     **kwargs: Any,
 ) -> AsyncIterator[StandardStreamEvent]:
     """Implementation of the astream events API for V2 runnables."""
-    from langchain_core.callbacks.base import BaseCallbackManager
-    from langchain_core.runnables import ensure_config
-
     event_streamer = _AstreamEventsCallbackHandler(
         include_names=include_names,
         include_types=include_types,
diff --git a/libs/core/langchain_core/tracers/log_stream.py b/libs/core/langchain_core/tracers/log_stream.py
index 2821ade0dc5..923f0275683 100644
--- a/libs/core/langchain_core/tracers/log_stream.py
+++ b/libs/core/langchain_core/tracers/log_stream.py
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import contextlib
 import copy
 import threading
 from collections import defaultdict
+from pprint import pformat
 from typing import (
     TYPE_CHECKING,
     Any,
@@ -20,10 +21,11 @@ from typing import (
 import jsonpatch  # type: ignore[import-untyped]
 from typing_extensions import NotRequired, TypedDict, override
 
+from langchain_core.callbacks.base import BaseCallbackManager
 from langchain_core.load import dumps
 from langchain_core.load.load import load
 from langchain_core.outputs import ChatGenerationChunk, GenerationChunk
-from langchain_core.runnables import Runnable, RunnableConfig, ensure_config
+from langchain_core.runnables import RunnableConfig, ensure_config
 from langchain_core.tracers._streaming import _StreamingCallbackHandler
 from langchain_core.tracers.base import BaseTracer
 from langchain_core.tracers.memory_stream import _MemoryStream
@@ -32,6 +34,7 @@ if TYPE_CHECKING:
     from collections.abc import AsyncIterator, Iterator, Sequence
     from uuid import UUID
 
+    from langchain_core.runnables import Runnable
     from langchain_core.runnables.utils import Input, Output
     from langchain_core.tracers.schemas import Run
 
@@ -131,8 +134,6 @@ class RunLogPatch:
 
     @override
     def __repr__(self) -> str:
-        from pprint import pformat
-
         # 1:-1 to get rid of the [] around the list
         return f"RunLogPatch({pformat(self.ops)[1:-1]})"
 
@@ -181,8 +182,6 @@ class RunLog(RunLogPatch):
 
     @override
     def __repr__(self) -> str:
-        from pprint import pformat
-
         return f"RunLog({pformat(self.state)})"
 
     @override
@@ -672,14 +671,6 @@ async def _astream_log_implementation(
     Yields:
         The run log patches or states, depending on the value of ``diff``.
     """
-    import jsonpatch
-
-    from langchain_core.callbacks.base import BaseCallbackManager
-    from langchain_core.tracers.log_stream import (
-        RunLog,
-        RunLogPatch,
-    )
-
     # Assign the stream handler to the config
     config = ensure_config(config)
     callbacks = config.get("callbacks")
diff --git a/libs/core/langchain_core/utils/function_calling.py b/libs/core/langchain_core/utils/function_calling.py
index fff700651ea..801aacc727a 100644
--- a/libs/core/langchain_core/utils/function_calling.py
+++ b/libs/core/langchain_core/utils/function_calling.py
@@ -21,8 +21,10 @@ from typing import (
 
 from pydantic import BaseModel
 from pydantic.v1 import BaseModel as BaseModelV1
+from pydantic.v1 import Field, create_model
 from typing_extensions import TypedDict, get_args, get_origin, is_typeddict
 
+import langchain_core
 from langchain_core._api import beta, deprecated
 from langchain_core.messages import AIMessage, BaseMessage, HumanMessage, ToolMessage
 from langchain_core.utils.json_schema import dereference_refs
@@ -220,10 +222,8 @@ def _convert_python_function_to_openai_function(
     Returns:
         The OpenAI function description.
     """
-    from langchain_core.tools.base import create_schema_from_function
-
     func_name = _get_python_function_name(function)
-    model = create_schema_from_function(
+    model = langchain_core.tools.base.create_schema_from_function(
         func_name,
         function,
         filter_args=(),
@@ -264,9 +264,6 @@ def _convert_any_typed_dicts_to_pydantic(
     visited: dict,
     depth: int = 0,
 ) -> type:
-    from pydantic.v1 import Field as Field_v1
-    from pydantic.v1 import create_model as create_model_v1
-
     if type_ in visited:
         return visited[type_]
     if depth >= _MAX_TYPED_DICT_RECURSION:
@@ -297,7 +294,7 @@ def _convert_any_typed_dicts_to_pydantic(
                     raise ValueError(msg)
                 if arg_desc := arg_descriptions.get(arg):
                     field_kwargs["description"] = arg_desc
-                fields[arg] = (new_arg_type, Field_v1(**field_kwargs))
+                fields[arg] = (new_arg_type, Field(**field_kwargs))
             else:
                 new_arg_type = _convert_any_typed_dicts_to_pydantic(
                     arg_type, depth=depth + 1, visited=visited
@@ -305,8 +302,8 @@ def _convert_any_typed_dicts_to_pydantic(
                 field_kwargs = {"default": ...}
                 if arg_desc := arg_descriptions.get(arg):
                     field_kwargs["description"] = arg_desc
-                fields[arg] = (new_arg_type, Field_v1(**field_kwargs))
-        model = create_model_v1(typed_dict.__name__, **fields)
+                fields[arg] = (new_arg_type, Field(**field_kwargs))
+        model = create_model(typed_dict.__name__, **fields)
         model.__doc__ = description
         visited[typed_dict] = model
         return model
@@ -332,9 +329,9 @@ def _format_tool_to_openai_function(tool: BaseTool) -> FunctionDescription:
     Returns:
         The function description.
     """
-    from langchain_core.tools import simple
-
-    is_simple_oai_tool = isinstance(tool, simple.Tool) and not tool.args_schema
+    is_simple_oai_tool = (
+        isinstance(tool, langchain_core.tools.simple.Tool) and not tool.args_schema
+    )
     if tool.tool_call_schema and not is_simple_oai_tool:
         if isinstance(tool.tool_call_schema, dict):
             return _convert_json_schema_to_openai_function(
@@ -435,8 +432,6 @@ def convert_to_openai_function(
         'description' and 'parameters' keys are now optional. Only 'name' is
         required and guaranteed to be part of the output.
     """
-    from langchain_core.tools import BaseTool
-
     # an Anthropic format tool
     if isinstance(function, dict) and all(
         k in function for k in ("name", "input_schema")
@@ -476,7 +471,7 @@ def convert_to_openai_function(
         oai_function = cast(
             "dict", _convert_typed_dict_to_openai_function(cast("type", function))
         )
-    elif isinstance(function, BaseTool):
+    elif isinstance(function, langchain_core.tools.base.BaseTool):
         oai_function = cast("dict", _format_tool_to_openai_function(function))
     elif callable(function):
         oai_function = cast(
@@ -582,7 +577,8 @@ def convert_to_openai_tool(
 
         Added support for OpenAI's image generation built-in tool.
     """
-    from langchain_core.tools import Tool
+    # Import locally to prevent circular import
+    from langchain_core.tools import Tool  # noqa: PLC0415
 
     if isinstance(tool, dict):
         if tool.get("type") in _WellKnownOpenAITools:
diff --git a/libs/core/langchain_core/utils/interactive_env.py b/libs/core/langchain_core/utils/interactive_env.py
index b974b3091eb..305b8edc146 100644
--- a/libs/core/langchain_core/utils/interactive_env.py
+++ b/libs/core/langchain_core/utils/interactive_env.py
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 """Utilities for working with interactive environments."""
 
+import sys
+
 
 def is_interactive_env() -> bool:
     """Determine if running within IPython or Jupyter.
@@ -7,6 +9,4 @@ def is_interactive_env() -> bool:
     Returns:
         True if running in an interactive environment, False otherwise.
     """
-    import sys
-
     return hasattr(sys, "ps2")
diff --git a/libs/core/langchain_core/vectorstores/base.py b/libs/core/langchain_core/vectorstores/base.py
index 888136b8929..9c06612b2ee 100644
--- a/libs/core/langchain_core/vectorstores/base.py
+++ b/libs/core/langchain_core/vectorstores/base.py
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@ from typing import (
 from pydantic import ConfigDict, Field, model_validator
 from typing_extensions import Self, override
 
+from langchain_core.documents import Document
 from langchain_core.embeddings import Embeddings
 from langchain_core.retrievers import BaseRetriever, LangSmithRetrieverParams
 from langchain_core.runnables.config import run_in_executor
@@ -49,7 +50,6 @@ if TYPE_CHECKING:
         AsyncCallbackManagerForRetrieverRun,
         CallbackManagerForRetrieverRun,
     )
-    from langchain_core.documents import Document
 
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
@@ -85,9 +85,6 @@ class VectorStore(ABC):
             ValueError: If the number of ids does not match the number of texts.
         """
         if type(self).add_documents != VectorStore.add_documents:
-            # Import document in local scope to avoid circular imports
-            from langchain_core.documents import Document
-
             # This condition is triggered if the subclass has provided
             # an implementation of the upsert method.
             # The existing add_texts
@@ -234,9 +231,6 @@ class VectorStore(ABC):
             # For backward compatibility
             kwargs["ids"] = ids
         if type(self).aadd_documents != VectorStore.aadd_documents:
-            # Import document in local scope to avoid circular imports
-            from langchain_core.documents import Document
-
             # This condition is triggered if the subclass has provided
             # an implementation of the upsert method.
             # The existing add_texts
diff --git a/libs/core/langchain_core/vectorstores/in_memory.py b/libs/core/langchain_core/vectorstores/in_memory.py
index 0395478dfe9..d08a68c8fc2 100644
--- a/libs/core/langchain_core/vectorstores/in_memory.py
+++ b/libs/core/langchain_core/vectorstores/in_memory.py
@@ -27,6 +27,13 @@ if TYPE_CHECKING:
     from langchain_core.embeddings import Embeddings
     from langchain_core.indexing import UpsertResponse
 
+try:
+    import numpy as np
+
+    _HAS_NUMPY = True
+except ImportError:
+    _HAS_NUMPY = False
+
 
 class InMemoryVectorStore(VectorStore):
     """In-memory vector store implementation.
@@ -496,14 +503,12 @@ class InMemoryVectorStore(VectorStore):
             filter=filter,
         )
 
-        try:
-            import numpy as np
-        except ImportError as e:
+        if not _HAS_NUMPY:
             msg = (
                 "numpy must be installed to use max_marginal_relevance_search "
                 "pip install numpy"
             )
-            raise ImportError(msg) from e
+            raise ImportError(msg)
 
         mmr_chosen_indices = maximal_marginal_relevance(
             np.array(embedding, dtype=np.float32),
diff --git a/libs/core/langchain_core/vectorstores/utils.py b/libs/core/langchain_core/vectorstores/utils.py
index 645306bccde..1f68269915a 100644
--- a/libs/core/langchain_core/vectorstores/utils.py
+++ b/libs/core/langchain_core/vectorstores/utils.py
@@ -10,9 +10,21 @@ import logging
 import warnings
 from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Union
 
-if TYPE_CHECKING:
+try:
     import numpy as np
 
+    _HAS_NUMPY = True
+except ImportError:
+    _HAS_NUMPY = False
+
+try:
+    import simsimd as simd  # type: ignore[import-not-found]
+
+    _HAS_SIMSIMD = True
+except ImportError:
+    _HAS_SIMSIMD = False
+
+if TYPE_CHECKING:
     Matrix = Union[list[list[float]], list[np.ndarray], np.ndarray]
 
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
@@ -33,14 +45,12 @@ def _cosine_similarity(x: Matrix, y: Matrix) -> np.ndarray:
         ValueError: If the number of columns in X and Y are not the same.
         ImportError: If numpy is not installed.
     """
-    try:
-        import numpy as np
-    except ImportError as e:
+    if not _HAS_NUMPY:
         msg = (
             "cosine_similarity requires numpy to be installed. "
             "Please install numpy with `pip install numpy`."
         )
-        raise ImportError(msg) from e
+        raise ImportError(msg)
 
     if len(x) == 0 or len(y) == 0:
         return np.array([[]])
@@ -70,9 +80,7 @@ def _cosine_similarity(x: Matrix, y: Matrix) -> np.ndarray:
             f"and Y has shape {y.shape}."
         )
         raise ValueError(msg)
-    try:
-        import simsimd as simd  # type: ignore[import-not-found]
-    except ImportError:
+    if not _HAS_SIMSIMD:
         logger.debug(
             "Unable to import simsimd, defaulting to NumPy implementation. If you want "
             "to use simsimd please install with `pip install simsimd`."
@@ -113,14 +121,12 @@ def maximal_marginal_relevance(
     Raises:
         ImportError: If numpy is not installed.
     """
-    try:
-        import numpy as np
-    except ImportError as e:
+    if not _HAS_NUMPY:
         msg = (
             "maximal_marginal_relevance requires numpy to be installed. "
             "Please install numpy with `pip install numpy`."
         )
-        raise ImportError(msg) from e
+        raise ImportError(msg)
 
     if min(k, len(embedding_list)) <= 0:
         return []
diff --git a/libs/core/pyproject.toml b/libs/core/pyproject.toml
index 8f48ba5d5e8..50140edb77b 100644
--- a/libs/core/pyproject.toml
+++ b/libs/core/pyproject.toml
@@ -114,7 +114,6 @@ ignore = [
     "BLE",     # Blind exceptions
     "DOC",     # Docstrings (preview)
     "ERA",     # No commented-out code
-    "PLC0415", # Imports outside top level
     "PLR2004", # Comparison to magic number
 ]
 unfixable = ["PLW1510",]
diff --git a/libs/core/tests/unit_tests/language_models/chat_models/test_cache.py b/libs/core/tests/unit_tests/language_models/chat_models/test_cache.py
index 39e4babc782..b8816fa1898 100644
--- a/libs/core/tests/unit_tests/language_models/chat_models/test_cache.py
+++ b/libs/core/tests/unit_tests/language_models/chat_models/test_cache.py
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ from langchain_core.language_models.fake_chat_models import (
     FakeListChatModel,
     GenericFakeChatModel,
 )
+from langchain_core.load import dumps
 from langchain_core.messages import AIMessage
 from langchain_core.outputs import ChatGeneration, Generation
 from langchain_core.outputs.chat_result import ChatResult
@@ -318,8 +319,6 @@ def test_cache_with_generation_objects() -> None:
     cache = InMemoryCache()
 
     # Create a simple fake chat model that we can control
-    from langchain_core.messages import AIMessage
-
     class SimpleFakeChat:
         """Simple fake chat model for testing."""
 
@@ -332,8 +331,6 @@ def test_cache_with_generation_objects() -> None:
 
         def generate_response(self, prompt: str) -> ChatResult:
             """Simulate the cache lookup and generation logic."""
-            from langchain_core.load import dumps
-
             llm_string = self._get_llm_string()
             prompt_str = dumps([prompt])
 
diff --git a/libs/core/tests/unit_tests/language_models/chat_models/test_rate_limiting.py b/libs/core/tests/unit_tests/language_models/chat_models/test_rate_limiting.py
index c4d6a50f6be..2cbc0001c3a 100644
--- a/libs/core/tests/unit_tests/language_models/chat_models/test_rate_limiting.py
+++ b/libs/core/tests/unit_tests/language_models/chat_models/test_rate_limiting.py
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ from blockbuster import BlockBuster
 
 from langchain_core.caches import InMemoryCache
 from langchain_core.language_models import GenericFakeChatModel
+from langchain_core.load import dumps
 from langchain_core.rate_limiters import InMemoryRateLimiter
 
 
@@ -229,8 +230,6 @@ class SerializableModel(GenericFakeChatModel):
 
 def test_serialization_with_rate_limiter() -> None:
     """Test model serialization with rate limiter."""
-    from langchain_core.load import dumps
-
     model = SerializableModel(
         messages=iter(["hello", "world", "!"]),
         rate_limiter=InMemoryRateLimiter(
diff --git a/libs/core/tests/unit_tests/load/test_serializable.py b/libs/core/tests/unit_tests/load/test_serializable.py
index e782709fd41..8630df1b47e 100644
--- a/libs/core/tests/unit_tests/load/test_serializable.py
+++ b/libs/core/tests/unit_tests/load/test_serializable.py
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 import json
 
 import pytest
-from pydantic import BaseModel, ConfigDict, Field
+from pydantic import BaseModel, ConfigDict, Field, SecretStr
 
 from langchain_core.load import Serializable, dumpd, dumps, load
 from langchain_core.load.serializable import _is_field_useful
@@ -62,9 +62,6 @@ def test_simple_serialization_is_serializable() -> None:
 
 def test_simple_serialization_secret() -> None:
     """Test handling of secrets."""
-    from pydantic import SecretStr
-
-    from langchain_core.load import Serializable
 
     class Foo(Serializable):
         bar: int
diff --git a/libs/core/tests/unit_tests/output_parsers/test_openai_tools.py b/libs/core/tests/unit_tests/output_parsers/test_openai_tools.py
index 7258f5bd20f..edcf72e4f0f 100644
--- a/libs/core/tests/unit_tests/output_parsers/test_openai_tools.py
+++ b/libs/core/tests/unit_tests/output_parsers/test_openai_tools.py
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 from collections.abc import AsyncIterator, Iterator
 from typing import Any
 
+import pydantic
 import pytest
 from pydantic import BaseModel, Field, ValidationError
 
@@ -802,7 +803,6 @@ async def test_partial_pydantic_output_parser_async() -> None:
 
 def test_parse_with_different_pydantic_2_v1() -> None:
     """Test with pydantic.v1.BaseModel from pydantic 2."""
-    import pydantic
 
     class Forecast(pydantic.v1.BaseModel):
         temperature: int
@@ -836,9 +836,8 @@ def test_parse_with_different_pydantic_2_v1() -> None:
 
 def test_parse_with_different_pydantic_2_proper() -> None:
     """Test with pydantic.BaseModel from pydantic 2."""
-    import pydantic
 
-    class Forecast(pydantic.BaseModel):
+    class Forecast(BaseModel):
         temperature: int
         forecast: str
 
diff --git a/libs/core/tests/unit_tests/output_parsers/test_pydantic_parser.py b/libs/core/tests/unit_tests/output_parsers/test_pydantic_parser.py
index a72aa926780..07acf94d7c2 100644
--- a/libs/core/tests/unit_tests/output_parsers/test_pydantic_parser.py
+++ b/libs/core/tests/unit_tests/output_parsers/test_pydantic_parser.py
@@ -189,8 +189,6 @@ def test_pydantic_output_parser_type_inference() -> None:
 
 def test_format_instructions_preserves_language() -> None:
     """Test format instructions does not attempt to encode into ascii."""
-    from pydantic import BaseModel, Field
-
     description = (
         "你好, こんにちは, नमस्ते, Bonjour, Hola, "
         "Olá, 안녕하세요, Jambo, Merhaba, Γειά σου"  # noqa: RUF001
diff --git a/libs/core/tests/unit_tests/prompts/test_prompt.py b/libs/core/tests/unit_tests/prompts/test_prompt.py
index 09d26438cd4..6c3e052089a 100644
--- a/libs/core/tests/unit_tests/prompts/test_prompt.py
+++ b/libs/core/tests/unit_tests/prompts/test_prompt.py
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 """Test functionality related to prompts."""
 
 import re
+from tempfile import NamedTemporaryFile
 from typing import Any, Union
 from unittest import mock
 
@@ -32,8 +33,6 @@ def test_from_file_encoding() -> None:
     input_variables = ["foo"]
 
     # First write to a file using CP-1252 encoding.
-    from tempfile import NamedTemporaryFile
-
     with NamedTemporaryFile(delete=True, mode="w", encoding="cp1252") as f:
         f.write(template)
         f.flush()
@@ -434,11 +433,9 @@ Will it get confused{ }?
     assert prompt == expected_prompt
 
 
-@pytest.mark.requires("jinja2")
 def test_basic_sandboxing_with_jinja2() -> None:
     """Test basic sandboxing with jinja2."""
-    import jinja2
-
+    jinja2 = pytest.importorskip("jinja2")
     template = " {{''.__class__.__bases__[0] }} "  # malicious code
     prompt = PromptTemplate.from_template(template, template_format="jinja2")
     with pytest.raises(jinja2.exceptions.SecurityError):
diff --git a/libs/core/tests/unit_tests/runnables/test_concurrency.py b/libs/core/tests/unit_tests/runnables/test_concurrency.py
index 24d4fad5d23..60022b803d7 100644
--- a/libs/core/tests/unit_tests/runnables/test_concurrency.py
+++ b/libs/core/tests/unit_tests/runnables/test_concurrency.py
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 
 import asyncio
 import time
+from threading import Lock
 from typing import Any
 
 import pytest
@@ -80,7 +81,6 @@ def test_batch_concurrency() -> None:
     """Test that batch respects max_concurrency."""
     running_tasks = 0
     max_running_tasks = 0
-    from threading import Lock
 
     lock = Lock()
 
@@ -112,7 +112,6 @@ def test_batch_as_completed_concurrency() -> None:
     """Test that batch_as_completed respects max_concurrency."""
     running_tasks = 0
     max_running_tasks = 0
-    from threading import Lock
 
     lock = Lock()
 
diff --git a/libs/core/tests/unit_tests/runnables/test_history.py b/libs/core/tests/unit_tests/runnables/test_history.py
index 0a4b5326ff3..249b4d6e45e 100644
--- a/libs/core/tests/unit_tests/runnables/test_history.py
+++ b/libs/core/tests/unit_tests/runnables/test_history.py
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ from typing import Any, Callable, Optional, Union
 
 import pytest
 from packaging import version
-from pydantic import BaseModel
+from pydantic import BaseModel, RootModel
 from typing_extensions import override
 
 from langchain_core.callbacks import (
@@ -20,6 +20,11 @@ from langchain_core.runnables.config import RunnableConfig
 from langchain_core.runnables.history import RunnableWithMessageHistory
 from langchain_core.runnables.utils import ConfigurableFieldSpec, Input, Output
 from langchain_core.tracers import Run
+from langchain_core.tracers.root_listeners import (
+    AsyncListener,
+    AsyncRootListenersTracer,
+    RootListenersTracer,
+)
 from langchain_core.utils.pydantic import PYDANTIC_VERSION
 from tests.unit_tests.pydantic_utils import _schema
 
@@ -499,8 +504,6 @@ def test_get_output_schema() -> None:
 
 
 def test_get_input_schema_input_messages() -> None:
-    from pydantic import RootModel
-
     runnable_with_message_history_input = RootModel[Sequence[BaseMessage]]
 
     runnable = RunnableLambda(
@@ -776,8 +779,6 @@ def test_ignore_session_id() -> None:
 
 
 class _RunnableLambdaWithRaiseError(RunnableLambda[Input, Output]):
-    from langchain_core.tracers.root_listeners import AsyncListener
-
     def with_listeners(
         self,
         *,
@@ -791,8 +792,6 @@ class _RunnableLambdaWithRaiseError(RunnableLambda[Input, Output]):
             Union[Callable[[Run], None], Callable[[Run, RunnableConfig], None]]
         ] = None,
     ) -> Runnable[Input, Output]:
-        from langchain_core.tracers.root_listeners import RootListenersTracer
-
         def create_tracer(config: RunnableConfig) -> RunnableConfig:
             tracer = RootListenersTracer(
                 config=config,
@@ -817,8 +816,6 @@ class _RunnableLambdaWithRaiseError(RunnableLambda[Input, Output]):
         on_end: Optional[AsyncListener] = None,
         on_error: Optional[AsyncListener] = None,
     ) -> Runnable[Input, Output]:
-        from langchain_core.tracers.root_listeners import AsyncRootListenersTracer
-
         def create_tracer(config: RunnableConfig) -> RunnableConfig:
             tracer = AsyncRootListenersTracer(
                 config=config,
diff --git a/libs/core/tests/unit_tests/runnables/test_imports.py b/libs/core/tests/unit_tests/runnables/test_imports.py
index f0ebf48c446..e40ffc1fa71 100644
--- a/libs/core/tests/unit_tests/runnables/test_imports.py
+++ b/libs/core/tests/unit_tests/runnables/test_imports.py
@@ -40,6 +40,6 @@ def test_all_imports() -> None:
 def test_imports_for_specific_funcs() -> None:
     """Test that a few specific imports in more internal namespaces."""
     # create_model implementation has been moved to langchain_core.utils.pydantic
-    from langchain_core.runnables.utils import (  # type: ignore[attr-defined] # noqa: F401
+    from langchain_core.runnables.utils import (  # type: ignore[attr-defined] # noqa: F401,PLC0415
         create_model,
     )
diff --git a/libs/core/tests/unit_tests/runnables/test_runnable.py b/libs/core/tests/unit_tests/runnables/test_runnable.py
index 14a5334a844..36ef2f80834 100644
--- a/libs/core/tests/unit_tests/runnables/test_runnable.py
+++ b/libs/core/tests/unit_tests/runnables/test_runnable.py
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import asyncio
 import re
 import sys
+import time
 import uuid
 import warnings
 from collections.abc import AsyncIterator, Awaitable, Iterator, Sequence
@@ -17,6 +18,7 @@ from pytest_mock import MockerFixture
 from syrupy.assertion import SnapshotAssertion
 from typing_extensions import TypedDict, override
 
+from langchain_core.callbacks import BaseCallbackHandler
 from langchain_core.callbacks.manager import (
     AsyncCallbackManagerForRetrieverRun,
     CallbackManagerForRetrieverRun,
@@ -29,6 +31,7 @@ from langchain_core.language_models import (
     FakeListLLM,
     FakeStreamingListLLM,
 )
+from langchain_core.language_models.fake_chat_models import GenericFakeChatModel
 from langchain_core.load import dumpd, dumps
 from langchain_core.load.load import loads
 from langchain_core.messages import AIMessageChunk, HumanMessage, SystemMessage
@@ -5516,9 +5519,6 @@ async def test_passthrough_atransform_with_dicts() -> None:
 
 
 def test_listeners() -> None:
-    from langchain_core.runnables import RunnableLambda
-    from langchain_core.tracers.schemas import Run
-
     def fake_chain(inputs: dict) -> dict:
         return {**inputs, "key": "extra"}
 
@@ -5546,9 +5546,6 @@ def test_listeners() -> None:
 
 
 async def test_listeners_async() -> None:
-    from langchain_core.runnables import RunnableLambda
-    from langchain_core.tracers.schemas import Run
-
     def fake_chain(inputs: dict) -> dict:
         return {**inputs, "key": "extra"}
 
@@ -5578,12 +5575,6 @@ async def test_listeners_async() -> None:
 
 def test_closing_iterator_doesnt_raise_error() -> None:
     """Test that closing an iterator calls on_chain_end rather than on_chain_error."""
-    import time
-
-    from langchain_core.callbacks import BaseCallbackHandler
-    from langchain_core.language_models.fake_chat_models import GenericFakeChatModel
-    from langchain_core.output_parsers import StrOutputParser
-
     on_chain_error_triggered = False
     on_chain_end_triggered = False
 
diff --git a/libs/core/tests/unit_tests/runnables/test_runnable_events_v2.py b/libs/core/tests/unit_tests/runnables/test_runnable_events_v2.py
index a7731053032..ec6451aeac8 100644
--- a/libs/core/tests/unit_tests/runnables/test_runnable_events_v2.py
+++ b/libs/core/tests/unit_tests/runnables/test_runnable_events_v2.py
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ from pydantic import BaseModel
 from typing_extensions import override
 
 from langchain_core.callbacks import CallbackManagerForRetrieverRun, Callbacks
+from langchain_core.callbacks.manager import adispatch_custom_event
 from langchain_core.chat_history import BaseChatMessageHistory
 from langchain_core.documents import Document
 from langchain_core.language_models import FakeStreamingListLLM, GenericFakeChatModel
@@ -2548,7 +2549,6 @@ async def test_cancel_astream_events() -> None:
 
 async def test_custom_event() -> None:
     """Test adhoc event."""
-    from langchain_core.callbacks.manager import adispatch_custom_event
 
     # Ignoring type due to RunnableLamdba being dynamic when it comes to being
     # applied as a decorator to async functions.
@@ -2625,7 +2625,6 @@ async def test_custom_event() -> None:
 
 async def test_custom_event_nested() -> None:
     """Test adhoc event in a nested chain."""
-    from langchain_core.callbacks.manager import adispatch_custom_event
 
     # Ignoring type due to RunnableLamdba being dynamic when it comes to being
     # applied as a decorator to async functions.
@@ -2736,7 +2735,6 @@ async def test_custom_event_root_dispatch() -> None:
     # This just tests that nothing breaks on the path.
     # It shouldn't do anything at the moment, since the tracer isn't configured
     # to handle adhoc events.
-    from langchain_core.callbacks.manager import adispatch_custom_event
 
     # Expected behavior is that the event cannot be dispatched
     with pytest.raises(RuntimeError):
@@ -2750,8 +2748,6 @@ IS_GTE_3_11 = sys.version_info >= (3, 11)
 @pytest.mark.skipif(not IS_GTE_3_11, reason="Requires Python >=3.11")
 async def test_custom_event_root_dispatch_with_in_tool() -> None:
     """Test adhoc event in a nested chain."""
-    from langchain_core.callbacks.manager import adispatch_custom_event
-    from langchain_core.tools import tool
 
     @tool
     async def foo(x: int) -> int:
diff --git a/libs/core/tests/unit_tests/test_globals.py b/libs/core/tests/unit_tests/test_globals.py
index a0b2457bb48..58d6ad38ab8 100644
--- a/libs/core/tests/unit_tests/test_globals.py
+++ b/libs/core/tests/unit_tests/test_globals.py
@@ -1,18 +1,17 @@
+import langchain_core
+from langchain_core.callbacks.manager import _get_debug
 from langchain_core.globals import get_debug, set_debug
 
 
 def test_debug_is_settable_via_setter() -> None:
-    from langchain_core import globals as globals_
-    from langchain_core.callbacks.manager import _get_debug
-
-    previous_value = globals_._debug
+    previous_value = langchain_core.globals._debug
     previous_fn_reading = _get_debug()
     assert previous_value == previous_fn_reading
 
     # Flip the value of the flag.
     set_debug(not previous_value)
 
-    new_value = globals_._debug
+    new_value = langchain_core.globals._debug
     new_fn_reading = _get_debug()
 
     try:
diff --git a/libs/core/tests/unit_tests/test_tools.py b/libs/core/tests/unit_tests/test_tools.py
index 63107361224..aabc7e35ff4 100644
--- a/libs/core/tests/unit_tests/test_tools.py
+++ b/libs/core/tests/unit_tests/test_tools.py
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ from typing import (
 )
 
 import pytest
-from pydantic import BaseModel, Field, ValidationError
+from pydantic import BaseModel, ConfigDict, Field, ValidationError
 from pydantic.v1 import BaseModel as BaseModelV1
 from pydantic.v1 import ValidationError as ValidationErrorV1
 from typing_extensions import TypedDict, override
@@ -1852,7 +1852,6 @@ def generate_models() -> list[Any]:
 
 def generate_backwards_compatible_v1() -> list[Any]:
     """Generate a model with pydantic 2 from the v1 namespace."""
-    from pydantic.v1 import BaseModel as BaseModelV1
 
     class FooV1Namespace(BaseModelV1):
         a: int
@@ -1920,8 +1919,6 @@ def test_args_schema_explicitly_typed() -> None:
     is a pydantic 1 model!
 
     """
-    # Check with whatever pydantic model is passed in and not via v1 namespace
-    from pydantic import BaseModel
 
     class Foo(BaseModel):
         a: int
@@ -1964,7 +1961,6 @@ def test_args_schema_explicitly_typed() -> None:
 @pytest.mark.parametrize("pydantic_model", TEST_MODELS)
 def test_structured_tool_with_different_pydantic_versions(pydantic_model: Any) -> None:
     """This should test that one can type the args schema as a pydantic model."""
-    from langchain_core.tools import StructuredTool
 
     def foo(a: int, b: str) -> str:
         """Hahaha."""
@@ -2063,16 +2059,13 @@ def test__get_all_basemodel_annotations_v2(*, use_v1_namespace: bool) -> None:
     A = TypeVar("A")
 
     if use_v1_namespace:
-        from pydantic.v1 import BaseModel as BaseModel1
 
-        class ModelA(BaseModel1, Generic[A], extra="allow"):
+        class ModelA(BaseModelV1, Generic[A], extra="allow"):
             a: A
 
     else:
-        from pydantic import BaseModel as BaseModel2
-        from pydantic import ConfigDict
 
-        class ModelA(BaseModel2, Generic[A]):  # type: ignore[no-redef]
+        class ModelA(BaseModel, Generic[A]):  # type: ignore[no-redef]
             a: A
             model_config = ConfigDict(arbitrary_types_allowed=True, extra="allow")
 
@@ -2208,12 +2201,8 @@ def test_create_retriever_tool() -> None:
 
 
 def test_tool_args_schema_pydantic_v2_with_metadata() -> None:
-    from pydantic import BaseModel as BaseModelV2
-    from pydantic import Field as FieldV2
-    from pydantic import ValidationError as ValidationErrorV2
-
-    class Foo(BaseModelV2):
-        x: list[int] = FieldV2(
+    class Foo(BaseModel):
+        x: list[int] = Field(
             description="List of integers", min_length=10, max_length=15
         )
 
@@ -2240,7 +2229,7 @@ def test_tool_args_schema_pydantic_v2_with_metadata() -> None:
     }
 
     assert foo.invoke({"x": [0] * 10})
-    with pytest.raises(ValidationErrorV2):
+    with pytest.raises(ValidationError):
         foo.invoke({"x": [0] * 9})
 
 
@@ -2576,8 +2565,6 @@ def test_title_property_preserved() -> None:
 
     https://github.com/langchain-ai/langchain/issues/30456
     """
-    from langchain_core.tools import tool
-
     schema_to_be_extracted = {
         "type": "object",
         "required": [],
diff --git a/libs/core/tests/unit_tests/utils/test_pydantic.py b/libs/core/tests/unit_tests/utils/test_pydantic.py
index dadce0e3f7e..3afeca68c73 100644
--- a/libs/core/tests/unit_tests/utils/test_pydantic.py
+++ b/libs/core/tests/unit_tests/utils/test_pydantic.py
@@ -3,7 +3,8 @@
 import warnings
 from typing import Any, Optional
 
-from pydantic import ConfigDict
+from pydantic import BaseModel, ConfigDict, Field
+from pydantic.v1 import BaseModel as BaseModelV1
 
 from langchain_core.utils.pydantic import (
     _create_subset_model_v2,
@@ -16,8 +17,6 @@ from langchain_core.utils.pydantic import (
 
 
 def test_pre_init_decorator() -> None:
-    from pydantic import BaseModel
-
     class Foo(BaseModel):
         x: int = 5
         y: int
@@ -35,8 +34,6 @@ def test_pre_init_decorator() -> None:
 
 
 def test_pre_init_decorator_with_more_defaults() -> None:
-    from pydantic import BaseModel, Field
-
     class Foo(BaseModel):
         a: int = 1
         b: Optional[int] = None
@@ -56,8 +53,6 @@ def test_pre_init_decorator_with_more_defaults() -> None:
 
 
 def test_with_aliases() -> None:
-    from pydantic import BaseModel, Field
-
     class Foo(BaseModel):
         x: int = Field(default=1, alias="y")
         z: int
@@ -92,19 +87,14 @@ def test_with_aliases() -> None:
 
 def test_is_basemodel_subclass() -> None:
     """Test pydantic."""
-    from pydantic import BaseModel as BaseModelV2
-    from pydantic.v1 import BaseModel as BaseModelV1
-
-    assert is_basemodel_subclass(BaseModelV2)
+    assert is_basemodel_subclass(BaseModel)
     assert is_basemodel_subclass(BaseModelV1)
 
 
 def test_is_basemodel_instance() -> None:
     """Test pydantic."""
-    from pydantic import BaseModel as BaseModelV2
-    from pydantic.v1 import BaseModel as BaseModelV1
 
-    class Foo(BaseModelV2):
+    class Foo(BaseModel):
         x: int
 
     assert is_basemodel_instance(Foo(x=5))
@@ -117,11 +107,9 @@ def test_is_basemodel_instance() -> None:
 
 def test_with_field_metadata() -> None:
     """Test pydantic with field metadata."""
-    from pydantic import BaseModel as BaseModelV2
-    from pydantic import Field as FieldV2
 
-    class Foo(BaseModelV2):
-        x: list[int] = FieldV2(
+    class Foo(BaseModel):
+        x: list[int] = Field(
             description="List of integers", min_length=10, max_length=15
         )
 
@@ -144,8 +132,6 @@ def test_with_field_metadata() -> None:
 
 
 def test_fields_pydantic_v2_proper() -> None:
-    from pydantic import BaseModel
-
     class Foo(BaseModel):
         x: int
 
@@ -154,9 +140,7 @@ def test_fields_pydantic_v2_proper() -> None:
 
 
 def test_fields_pydantic_v1_from_2() -> None:
-    from pydantic.v1 import BaseModel
-
-    class Foo(BaseModel):
+    class Foo(BaseModelV1):
         x: int
 
     fields = get_fields(Foo)
diff --git a/libs/core/tests/unit_tests/utils/test_utils.py b/libs/core/tests/unit_tests/utils/test_utils.py
index 51967b82a19..1e6a88b6375 100644
--- a/libs/core/tests/unit_tests/utils/test_utils.py
+++ b/libs/core/tests/unit_tests/utils/test_utils.py
@@ -6,7 +6,9 @@ from typing import Any, Callable, Optional, Union
 from unittest.mock import patch
 
 import pytest
-from pydantic import SecretStr
+from pydantic import BaseModel, Field, SecretStr
+from pydantic.v1 import BaseModel as PydanticV1BaseModel
+from pydantic.v1 import Field as PydanticV1Field
 
 from langchain_core import utils
 from langchain_core.outputs import GenerationChunk
@@ -212,13 +214,10 @@ def test_guard_import_failure(
 
 
 def test_get_pydantic_field_names_v1_in_2() -> None:
-    from pydantic.v1 import BaseModel as PydanticV1BaseModel
-    from pydantic.v1 import Field
-
     class PydanticV1Model(PydanticV1BaseModel):
         field1: str
         field2: int
-        alias_field: int = Field(alias="aliased_field")
+        alias_field: int = PydanticV1Field(alias="aliased_field")
 
     result = get_pydantic_field_names(PydanticV1Model)
     expected = {"field1", "field2", "aliased_field", "alias_field"}
@@ -226,8 +225,6 @@ def test_get_pydantic_field_names_v1_in_2() -> None:
 
 
 def test_get_pydantic_field_names_v2_in_2() -> None:
-    from pydantic import BaseModel, Field
-
     class PydanticModel(BaseModel):
         field1: str
         field2: int
@@ -341,8 +338,6 @@ def test_secret_from_env_with_custom_error_message(
 def test_using_secret_from_env_as_default_factory(
     monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch,
 ) -> None:
-    from pydantic import BaseModel, Field
-
     class Foo(BaseModel):
         secret: SecretStr = Field(default_factory=secret_from_env("TEST_KEY"))