In a series of key diplomatic engagements, External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar met with his Russian counterpart on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Council of Foreign Ministers’ meeting in Tianjin on Tuesday, reaffirming India’s commitment to strengthening regional and bilateral ties.
During his meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Jaishankar reviewed the state of bilateral cooperation and exchanged views on pressing global developments. “Reviewed our bilateral cooperation and global developments with Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov of Russia in Tianjin this afternoon,” Jaishankar posted on X.
Reviewed our bilateral cooperation and global developments with Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov of Russia in Tianjin this afternoon.
🇮🇳 🇷🇺 pic.twitter.com/ooJ8WNic64
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) July 15, 2025
Russia’s Foreign Ministry also shared an update on the dialogue, writing, “Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Minister of External Affairs of India @DrSJaishankar hold a meeting on the sidelines of the #SCO Council of Foreign Ministers meeting.”
🇷🇺🇮🇳 Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Minister of External Affairs of India @DrSJaishankar hold a meeting on the sidelines of the #SCO Council of Foreign Ministers meeting.
📍 Tianjin, July 15#RussiaIndia pic.twitter.com/pEAB4GyM9B
— MFA Russia 🇷🇺 (@mfa_russia) July 15, 2025
The two ministers are believed to have discussed energy cooperation, defense collaboration, and shared concerns on regional security, especially in light of shifting geopolitical dynamics.
Jaishankar also held a separate meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi. While the details of their discussion were not immediately disclosed, the interaction comes at a crucial time as India continues to recalibrate its West Asia policy amid growing global uncertainty.
The meetings come against the backdrop of India’s continued diplomatic engagement under initiatives like Operation Sindoor, which seeks to deepen India’s global partnerships. Notably, earlier in May, an all-party Indian delegation led by DMK MP Kanimozhi Karunanidhi visited Russia under the same outreach program, reiterating India’s zero-tolerance policy against terrorism.
