India and Russia have engaged in discussions and achieved advancements in plans for collaborative military equipment production, as stated by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Moscow on Wednesday, following talks with the visiting Indian counterpart S. Jaishankar.
At a joint press briefing with the Indian minister, whose five-day Russia visit began on Monday, Lavrov said the two talked about the prospects of military and technical cooperation, including the manufacturing of modern weaponry. “We also have [taken] specific steps in this area,” Lavrov said.
He added that their cooperation was of a strategic nature, which “corresponds to the national interests of our states, the interest of maintaining security in the Eurasian continent.”
Russia-India Talks on Military Collaboration and ‘Make in India’ Initiative
“We are respectful of the aspirations of our Indian colleagues to diversify their military and technical links. We also understand and we are ready to support their initiative to produce military products as part of the ‘Make in India’ program,” Lavrov said, referring to India’s plan to transform itself into a manufacturing hub.
Late on Wednesday, Jaishankar met President Vladimir Putin, who invited Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to visit Russia. “We will be happy to see our friend Prime Minister Modi in Russia,” Putin told the Indian minister, saying that the two sides “have to cover a lot of ground,” according to Russia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Jaishankar and Putin also discussed Ukraine, with the Russian leader saying that he was aware of Modi’s position on “hot spots” and “the situation in Ukraine.” Putin added that he has “repeatedly” shared information regarding Ukraine with Modi. “I know about his [desire] to resolve this problem through peaceful means,” Putin said.
Posting on X after the meeting, Jaishankar said that he was “honored to call on President Vladimir Putin” and that he conveyed warm greetings from Modi and “handed over a personal message” from him.
Strengthening Bilateral Ties and Global Collaboration
Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov and Indian Foreign Minister Jaishankar discussed expanding cooperation, including in the North-South Transport Corridor and the Chennai-Vladivostok maritime route. They addressed the Ukraine war, Afghanistan, and Gaza, highlighting collaboration in BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. Hydrocarbons and nuclear energy cooperation were also on the agenda. Jaishankar emphasized the strong and steady India-Russia relations, with trade exceeding $50 billion. Despite Western concerns, the visit signals India’s commitment to its partnership with Russia. The discussion aims to convey that dialogue is key to resolving the Ukraine conflict, and India values a strong Russia in a multi-polar world.
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