India and Russia Strengthen Ties through Foreign Office Consultations
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
New Delhi, March 30 (NationPress) In a significant development, India and Russia convened for Foreign Office Consultations in New Delhi on Monday, focusing on their Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership while addressing various bilateral, regional, and global matters of shared concern.
The discussions were co-chaired by Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri of India and Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko.
In a statement posted on X, Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), noted: "Today, the Foreign Office Consultations between India and Russia took place in New Delhi, co-chaired by Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko."
He further elaborated, "Both nations evaluated the comprehensive scope of their Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership and exchanged views on bilateral, regional, and global matters of mutual interest."
Earlier, on March 17, the two countries engaged in the 7th UN Consultations in New Delhi, where discussions revolved around key issues on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) agenda, notably counter-terrorism, peacekeeping, and reforms regarding the UNSC.
Jaiswal shared on X, "During the consultations, both parties communicated their priorities within the United Nations framework, concentrating on significant topics such as counter-terrorism, peacekeeping, and UNSC reforms."
On March 11, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar held a telephonic discussion with his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, addressing the ongoing conflict in West Asia and exploring avenues for enhancing bilateral relations.
Jaishankar mentioned on X, "I had a productive conversation with Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov of Russia. We exchanged insights on the West Asia conflict and relevant diplomatic initiatives, as well as reviewed our agenda for bilateral cooperation."
This conversation occurred amid escalating tensions in West Asia, which intensified following joint US-Israel military actions against Iran on February 28. In retaliation, Iran executed drone and missile strikes targeting US assets and allied forces across the region.
In December, Russian President Vladimir Putin visited India for a two-day State visit, engaging in formal discussions with Prime Minister Narendra Modi to assess the state of the India-Russia partnership, marking 25 years since its establishment as a Strategic Partnership.
This meeting culminated in the 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit, where both parties issued a Joint Statement outlining their future priorities, emphasizing cooperation in energy, nuclear power, trade, defense, and technology.
President Droupadi Murmu hosted a banquet for Putin at Rashtrapati Bhavan.