External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar concluded a series of high-level meetings in Moscow, reaffirming that India and Russia are committed to expanding their long-standing bilateral ties. He noted that the relationship has been a pillar of stability in global affairs since the Second World War, driven by political trust, leadership engagement, and strong public support.
During discussions with his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, Dr. Jaishankar emphasized a shared goal of achieving a more balanced and sustainable trade relationship. The focus of these talks was to increase India’s exports to Russia, addressing the current trade imbalance. Both ministers also highlighted the importance of a new generation of connectivity initiatives, including the International North-South Transport Corridor and the Chennai-Vladivostok Eastern Maritime Corridor, which are key to facilitating trade across Eurasia.
The ministers also spoke on a wide range of strategic issues. Dr. Jaishankar confirmed that defence and military technical cooperation remains a cornerstone of the partnership, with Russia supporting India’s ‘Make in India’ initiative through joint production and technology transfer. On the global stage, both nations reiterated their support for a reformed and more representative global governance system, including an expanded UN Security Council that reflects contemporary realities. Dr. Jaishankar also reiterated India’s zero-tolerance policy towards terrorism and its right to self-defence.
Regarding recent international criticism of India’s trade policies, Dr. Jaishankar addressed the matter directly. He stated that India is not the largest buyer of Russian oil or natural gas, nor has its trade with Russia increased more than that of other nations since 2022. He also confirmed that India’s energy imports from the US are increasing. The Minister further announced that negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement with the Eurasian Economic Union are set to begin soon, following the signing of the terms of reference.
