At the 80th United Nations General Assembly, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov announced that President Vladimir Putin is scheduled to visit India in December. The visit to New Delhi will focus on a comprehensive agenda encompassing trade, military and technical cooperation, finance, humanitarian aid, healthcare, and the development of high-tech sectors such as artificial intelligence.
Lavrov addressed concerns about US secondary sanctions on India due to its purchase of Russian oil, stating that the economic partnership between India and Russia is not at risk. He affirmed India’s sovereign right to choose its partners. While India is open to discussing trade enhancement proposals with the US, all decisions regarding economic, military, technological, and other relations with third countries will be made in consultation with those specific nations. Lavrov expressed confidence in India’s trade decision-making and highlighted the regular dialogues between the foreign ministers of both countries. He stressed the strategic importance of the India-Russia relationship, adding that they have utmost respect for India’s national interests and its foreign policy under Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He highlighted the close ties and close coordination at the international level. Lavrov also mentioned the recent meeting between Prime Minister Modi and President Putin at the SCO summit in China.