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Jaishankar, Portugal FM Discuss West Asia Conflict, Vow Stronger Ties

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar held a telephonic conversation with Portuguese Foreign Minister Paulo Rangel, focusing on the West Asia conflict and enhancing bilateral cooperation. This follows high-level India-Russia Foreign Office Consultations in New Delhi, co-chaired by Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko, to advance strategic partnership. The talks are set against a backdrop of disrupted energy imports via the Strait of Hormuz, which has impacted supplies from key Middle Eastern suppliers. Meanwhile, both India and Russia are working to overcome trade barriers with an ambitious target of $100 billion in annual trade by 2030.

Key Points: Jaishankar, Portuguese FM Discuss West Asia, Bilateral Cooperation

  • Diplomatic talks on West Asia stability
  • Review of India-Russia strategic partnership
  • Impact of Strait of Hormuz disruption on energy
  • Push to remove non-tariff trade barriers
  • Target of $100 billion India-Russia trade by 2030
3 min read

Jaishankar, Portuguese counterpart discuss West Asia conflict; vow to strengthen bilateral cooperation

EAM Jaishankar holds talks with Portuguese FM Paulo Rangel on West Asia conflict and strengthening India-Portugal bilateral cooperation.

"exchanged views on the West Asia conflict - S Jaishankar"

New Delhi, April 1

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar held a telephonic conversation with Portuguese Foreign Minister Paulo Rangel, focusing on the volatile situation in West Asia and the enhancement of ties between the two nations.

In a post on X on Tuesday, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar stated that he had "a good conversation this evening with Portuguese Foreign Minister @PauloRangel_pt". He further noted that the two leaders "exchanged views on the West Asia conflict" and also spoke about further strengthening bilateral cooperation.

This diplomatic outreach coincided with broader efforts to manage regional instability, as External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri held high-level talks with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko on Monday to explore the "further advancement of our wide-ranging cooperation" and bolster the bilateral strategic partnership amid the escalating West Asia conflict.

Following the deliberations, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar noted in a post on X, "Good to meet Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko of Russia. Spoke about further advancement of our wide-ranging cooperation, as well as regional and global developments."

Ministry of External Affairs official spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated that the "India-Russia Foreign Office Consultations, co-chaired by Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko, were held in New Delhi today (Monday). Both sides reviewed the full spectrum of Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership and shared perspectives on bilateral, regional and global issues of mutual interest."

These consultations are particularly significant as the sudden "halt in vessel movements through the critical maritime choke point of the Strait of Hormuz" since early March has severely impacted India's traditional energy routes. Consequently, imports from major suppliers such as Iraq, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Kuwait have "crashed this month."

The trade relationship has seen a shift in dynamics after US President Donald Trump "waived off the sanctions on buying oil from Russia" following the outbreak of the West Asia conflict. This follows a period when Washington had previously imposed "25% tariffs - that took the total tariffs to 50%" on India for such imports, which were subsequently "taken off after a framework for a trade deal was announced in early February."

Amidst this shifting landscape, earlier on March 23, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar emphasised that both nations must tackle "non-tariff barriers and regulatory impediments" to achieve an annual trade target of "USD 100 billion by 2030."

Reinforcing this momentum, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has praised India's "independent foreign policy," noting that Moscow is preparing to welcome Prime Minister Narendra Modi for an official visit later this year.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
The $100 billion trade target with Russia by 2030 is ambitious! Hope we can really tackle those non-tariff barriers. Our independent foreign policy is our strength, but managing US relations simultaneously is the real test.
R
Rohit P
The Strait of Hormuz issue is worrying. A big chunk of our oil comes through there. Glad our ministers are proactively engaging with multiple partners to secure our energy routes. National interest should always come first.
S
Sarah B
While the strategic talks are important, I hope the human cost of the West Asia conflict is also a key part of these discussions. India has a large diaspora in the region. Their safety and the humanitarian situation matter too.
V
Vikram M
Portugal might seem like a small player, but they have historical ties to the region and are part of the EU. Smart move to get their perspective. Every relationship counts in global diplomacy.
K
Karthik V
The article mentions US tariffs being taken off after a trade deal framework. We must be careful. Our foreign policy should be independent, not reactive to pressure from any single power, be it the US or Russia.
M
Michael C
It's impressive to see India navigating these complex global tensions. The PM's upcoming visit to Russia will be closely

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