External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar reaffirmed the country’s commitment to strengthening ties with Russia, emphasizing that the “special and privileged strategic partnership” between the two nations remains a cornerstone of their foreign policy.
Speaking virtually at the Russia and India: Towards a New Bilateral Agenda conference on Thursday, Jaishankar highlighted the deep-rooted history of trust and cooperation that has defined the relationship over decades. He noted that despite shifting global dynamics, India and Russia have consistently found ways to evolve their partnership, seizing new opportunities for mutual growth while contributing to global stability.
My remarks at the conference “Russia and India: Towards a New Bilateral Agenda”, hosted by @IndEmbMoscow and @Russian_Council.
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) March 27, 2025
The External Affairs Minister stressed that diplomatic engagements between India and Russia continue to thrive, supported by frequent high-level discussions and structured institutional frameworks. While longstanding sectors like defense, energy, and nuclear cooperation remain crucial pillars, he pointed to new areas of collaboration—including technology, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, connectivity, and the digital economy—as emerging drivers of the bilateral relationship.
Jaishankar also underscored India’s ambition to significantly boost economic engagement with Russia, setting an ambitious target of $100 billion in bilateral trade by 2030. He expressed confidence that both nations would work towards achieving this goal through enhanced cooperation across diverse sectors.
The conference, jointly organized by the Embassy of India in Russia and the Russian International Affairs Council (RIAC), also saw participation from Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. In his address, Lavrov confirmed that Russian President Vladimir Putin will visit India in the near future, following an invitation from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
