Indian Foreign Minister Jaishankar meets Russian President Putin

In a significant diplomatic move, Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar held a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Thursday. This encounter underscores India's ongoing commitment to strengthen ties with Russia, especially in light of pressures from the United States regarding energy trade and recent tariffs.

The meeting was part of the preparations for President Putin's anticipated visit to India at the end of the year. It took place shortly after Jaishankar engaged in extensive discussions with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, where bilateral trade and energy cooperation were key topics of conversation.

During the joint press conference with Lavrov, S. Jaishankar expressed skepticism about the rationale for recent US tariffs impacting Indian goods, particularly targeting oil imports from Russia. “We are not the largest importers of Russian oil; China holds that position. Similarly, we do not lead in liquefied natural gas purchases; that title goes to the European Union,” he stated.

The United States recently implemented a reciprocal tariff of 25% on goods from India, with an additional 25% duty aimed specifically at Indian oil purchases from Russia. US officials have suggested that India is benefiting by reselling discounted Russian crude oil, a claim that New Delhi firmly rejects.

Jaishankar defended India’s energy policy, saying, “We have complied with our responsibilities to support the global energy market, which includes purchasing oil from Russia.” He also pointed out that India imports considerable volumes of oil from the United States, demonstrating its diversified energy strategy.

The External Affairs Minister articulated that the relationship between India and Russia is among the most stable globally since the conclusion of the Second World War. He attributed this stability to shared geopolitical interests and enduring leadership connections.

In a supportive statement, Sergey Lavrov remarked, “We consider our relationships of special significance in the context of the evolving architecture of international relations.”

On the preceding day, Russia’s embassy in New Delhi announced the initiation of a “special mechanism” designed to safeguard energy transactions between Russia and India from the repercussions of US sanctions. Roman Babushkin, Russia's Charge d'Affaires in India, described the pressures exerted by Western nations on India regarding its energy purchases as “unjustified” and emblematic of a neo-colonial mindset.

The timely meeting occurs against the backdrop of renewed warnings from US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent regarding potential secondary sanctions beyond the tariffs imposed by the previous US administration under Donald Trump.

Historically, India and Russia have maintained a robust partnership, with Jaishankar highlighting the importance of geopolitical alignment and the emotional resonance between the two nations as foundational elements. During the discussions, he also raised issues pertinent to trade, such as India's growing trade deficit with Russia along with non-tariff barriers, regulatory challenges, and concerns regarding reports of Indian personnel serving in military roles within Russia.

This meeting marks a continued emphasis on India's strategic alignment with Russia, amidst increasing challenges from Western nations regarding energy procurement and foreign trade agreements.