Moscow, August 21: External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Thursday described India’s partnership with Russia as one of the “steadiest major relationships” since the Second World War, underscoring long-standing strategic, economic and diplomatic cooperation during a joint press interaction with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
“India and Russia have been among the steadiest of the major relationships in the world after the Second World War. Geo-political convergence, leadership contacts and popular sentiment remain its key drivers,” Jaishankar said, noting the historic depth of bilateral ties.
The minister highlighted energy, trade, defence, connectivity and global governance as priority areas. On trade, Jaishankar said both sides reaffirmed the ambition to expand exchanges “in a balanced and sustainable manner,” stressing the need to tackle non-tariff barriers and regulatory hurdles. He urged greater Indian exports in pharmaceuticals, agriculture and textiles to address the current imbalance, while also pointing to agreements on long-term fertilizer supplies.
Indian workers in IT, construction and engineering could help address labor needs in Russia, he said, adding that sustained energy cooperation through investments and trade “remains important.”
Connectivity initiatives also figured prominently in the talks, with Jaishankar citing progress on the International North-South Transport Corridor, the Chennai–Vladivostok maritime link and Northern Sea Route projects. “These corridors promise to deepen economic linkages, reduce transit times, and expand trade access across Eurasia and beyond,” he noted.
On defence, Jaishankar said Moscow supports India’s “Make in India” goals through joint production and technology transfer. He also announced the opening of new Indian consulates in Kazan and Yekaterinburg to strengthen regional outreach and people-to-people ties.
Asked about Indian nationals serving in the Russian Army, he said, “While many have been released, there are still some pending cases and some missing persons. We hope that the Russian side would expeditiously resolve these matters.”
The minister reiterated India’s zero-tolerance policy on terrorism. “I conveyed India’s strong resolve to adopt a zero-tolerance policy against terrorism and our sovereign right to defend our citizens against cross-border terrorism,” he said.
On global issues, Jaishankar underlined cooperation in G20, BRICS and SCO, while stressing dialogue and diplomacy in addressing conflicts in Ukraine, West Asia and Afghanistan.
Concluding the briefing, Jaishankar thanked Lavrov for “an open and productive exchange of views,” saying India looked forward to “nurturing this relationship further in the very spirit that has underpinned it for decades.”
