Russia’s top diplomat, Sergei Lavrov, made it clear during a news conference in New York that his country’s ties with India go far beyond buying Russian oil. He described the relationship as a “particularly privileged strategic partnership” that’s been strong for years.
Lavrov brushed off U.S. efforts to push India into halting its Russian oil purchases. “I don’t see that as a factor in our relations,” he said. He praised Indian leaders for handling their own choices, especially Prime Minister Narendra Modi. “We fully respect India’s national interests and Modi’s foreign policy to protect them,” Lavrov added.
The U.S. has hit India with a 25% tariff under President Donald Trump, aiming to curb these oil deals amid broader tensions. But Lavrov stressed that Russia-India relations cover so much more. Think trade, military cooperation, finance, healthcare, and even cutting-edge fields like artificial intelligence. On the global stage, the two nations team up closely in groups like the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) and BRICS.
He pointed to a recent face-to-face between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Modi at the SCO summit in Tianjin, China. Putin also plans a trip to India in December to keep the momentum going.
When it comes to chats with Indian officials, oil and trade rarely steal the spotlight, Lavrov noted. He recently met India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Friday, and they’re set for mutual visits soon. Jaishankar later posted on X (formerly Twitter) that their talk covered bilateral ties, the Ukraine conflict, and Middle East developments.
Lavrov highlighted that India isn’t alone in facing U.S. pressure over Russian oil—Turkey’s in the mix too. He shared how Turkish officials told the U.S. they’re open to negotiating their own oil sales but won’t let outsiders dictate what they buy. “That’s a solid stance, and it shows India and Turkey both stand tall with self-respect,” Lavrov said.
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