Moscow: Russian President Vladimir Putin held a telephone conversation with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi last week, reaffirming the strong and time-tested nature of relations between Moscow and New Delhi. The discussion was disclosed by Putin during a meeting with members of the Russian Government, according to the official Kremlin website.
Putin described Russian-Indian relations as “based on a national consensus” and praised India’s governance and economic achievements under PM Modi’s leadership. He noted, “Under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi, India is pursuing a completely independent, sovereign policy and, most importantly, is achieving very good results in the economic sphere. India is demonstrating the highest economic growth rates among the world’s major economies.”
Strengthening strategic partnership
The call came shortly after Putin sent a congratulatory telegram to Modi on the occasion of his 75th birthday. In the message, the Russian President emphasised Modi’s personal contribution to strengthening bilateral ties, stating, “You are making a great personal contribution to strengthening the special privileged strategic partnership between our countries and developing mutually beneficial Russian-Indian cooperation in various areas.”
Putin also expressed confidence that the two countries would continue constructive dialogue and joint work on regional and international issues.
India-Russia relations: a longstanding partnership
According to India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Russia has been a longstanding and time-tested partner for India. The India-Russia Strategic Partnership, formalised in October 2000 during President Putin’s visit, has been a key pillar of India’s foreign policy. Over the years, bilateral cooperation has expanded across sectors including defence, energy, space, and trade.
Further diplomatic engagement at UNGA
On the sidelines of the ongoing 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar held talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. The Russian Embassy in India confirmed the meeting on X (formerly Twitter), stating:
“Russia Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and EAM Dr S Jaishankar hold a meeting on the sidelines of the High-Level Week of the 80th Session of the UN General Assembly in New York.”
Jaishankar later tweeted, “Good conversation with FM Sergey Lavrov of Russia on the sidelines of #UNGA80. Useful discussion on bilateral ties, the Ukraine conflict and developments in the Middle East.”
Conclusion
The recent interactions between Putin, Modi, and Jaishankar underline the continued commitment of both countries to strengthen bilateral cooperation and maintain strategic dialogue. With shared interests across multiple domains, the India-Russia partnership remains a cornerstone of India’s foreign policy.