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Key Points

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has emphatically defended the depth of India-Russia relations beyond oil trade. He emphasized their "particularly privileged strategic partnership" covering extensive bilateral cooperation in trade, military, technology, and international forums. Lavrov praised India's leadership for making independent foreign policy decisions and highlighted mutual respect between the two nations. The diplomatic statement comes amid US pressure on India's oil purchases from Russia.

Key Points: Lavrov Affirms India-Russia Ties Beyond Oil Diplomacy

  • Lavrov calls India-Russia relationship a 'privileged strategic partnership'
  • Bilateral ties extend beyond oil trade to multiple sectors
  • India maintains independent foreign policy stance
  • Putin-Modi SCO meeting underscores strong diplomatic relations
2 min read

India-Russia ties not defined by oil, but is 'privileged strategic partnership': FM Lavrov

Russian FM Sergei Lavrov highlights India-Russia strategic partnership, dismissing US oil purchase pressures and praising Modi's independent foreign policy.

"We have full respect for the national interests of India - Sergei Lavrov, Russian Foreign Minister"

United Nations, Sep 28

Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov says his country's relation with India is not defined by oil purchases but is a “particularly privileged strategic partnership”.

Asked at his news conference here on Saturday about US pressures on India against buying Russian oil, he said, "I can't consider them a criteria for relations between India and the Russian Federation".

"We have strategic partnership, as we call it, for a long time, strategic partnership relations", he said. "Now we call it a particularly privileged strategic partnership".

India's leaders, he said, "are perfectly capable of making these decisions for themselves and publicly".

"We have full respect for the national interests of India, full respect for the foreign policy that (Prime Minister) Narendra Modi is carrying out to promote these national interests", he said.

US President Donald Trump has imposed a 25 per cent punitive tariff on India for buying Russian oil and is pressuring it to stop the purchases.

Russia's relations with India cover a broad range, he said,

"We have a very extensive bilateral agenda, trade, military, technical cooperation, finance, humanitarian matters, healthcare, high-tech Artificial Intelligence", he said

"And, of course, (there) is close coordination at the international level, within the SCO (Shanghai Cooperation Organisation), BRICS, and bilaterally", he said.

He spoke about the recent meeting between Russia's President Vladimir Putin and PM Modi in Tianjin, China, at the SCO summit, and Putin's planned visit to India in December.

The issue of oil or trade doesn't figure in the diplomatic discussions with India, he asserted.

"I'm not even asking what is going to happen to our trade relations or oil", he said.

"I don't ask our Indian colleagues (about) this", he said, mentioning his meeting with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Friday and their forthcoming visits to each other's countries.

After Friday's meeting, Jaishankar said on X that they had "useful discussion on bilateral ties, the Ukraine conflict and developments in the Middle East".

Although India has been singled out for the punitive tariff, Turkiye is also a target in Trump's pressure campaign against Russian oil.

Lavrov said that Turkiye told the US that if it wants to sell its oil, it was ready to discuss the terms, but what it buys from Russia or other countries, "that's our own business".

"I believe that that is a very worthy response, shows that India, like Turkey, has self-respect", he said.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
Finally someone understands that India can make its own decisions! Why should we listen to US pressure when Russia has been a reliable partner for defense and energy needs? Our national interest comes first.
S
Sarah B
While I appreciate the strategic partnership, I hope our government maintains balanced relations with all major powers. Over-dependence on any single country could be risky in the long term. Just my two cents.
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Arjun K
Russia has stood with India through thick and thin - from defense cooperation to supporting us at UN. This partnership goes much deeper than just oil purchases. Proud of our independent foreign policy!
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Kavya N
The SCO and BRICS platforms show how India-Russia cooperation benefits the entire Global South. This is about creating multipolar world order, not just bilateral ties. Wise diplomacy by our leaders!
M
Michael C
Interesting to see how India navigates between Russia and US. The "privileged strategic partnership" wording is significant - shows the special status of this relationship in global geopolitics.

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