New Delhi [India], December 6 (ANI): External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Saturday described India-Russia ties as one of the “steadiest big relationships” globally over the past 78 years, saying Russian President Vladimir Putin’s recent two-day state visit “reimagined” the partnership by building new dimensions, particularly in economic cooperation.
Speaking at the HT Leadership Summit 2025, Jaishankar said the summit addressed historical imbalances: defence and energy ties remained strong, but the economic side had lagged. He noted that while India’s relations with the US and Europe have advanced in some sectors—especially economic cooperation—other areas, such as defence and security, have not developed similarly.
“If you see the relation between India and Russia, the world has seen a lot of ups and downs in the last 78 years; India and Russia have been among the steadiest big relationships in the world,” he said, adding that popular sentiment toward Russia is noteworthy. He explained that in any relationship some aspects develop faster than others and pointed out that Russia historically viewed the West and China as primary economic partners, which left the economic dimension with India behind.
“This visit in many ways was about reimagining the relationship, building dimensions and facets it lacked,” Jaishankar said.
On India’s foreign policy, he stressed the importance of strengthening key relationships with major global players while maintaining “freedom of choice.” “For a country like us, big and rising, expected to occupy an even more important place, it’s very crucial that our key relationships are in good repair,” he said, adding that India seeks to optimise its position and maintain cooperation with as many important players as possible.
Dismissing suggestions that Putin’s visit was meant to send a message to Western capitals, Jaishankar said the focus was on what New Delhi and Moscow wanted to convey to each other.
He highlighted significant agreements from the visit, including a mobility agreement to allow Indians greater work opportunities in Russia and a joint venture on fertilisers aimed at bolstering India’s food security. “One is the mobility agreement, where Indians would now much more seamlessly find more work opportunities in Russia and understanding on the joint venture on fertilisers. We are the world’s second-largest fertiliser importers… so we had an agreement to create a substantial joint venture on fertilisers; in a way, you can call it food security,” he said.
According to the joint statement issued after the 23rd India-Russia Summit, the two countries welcomed agreements facilitating skilled worker mobility and expressed interest in strengthening partnerships between educational and scientific institutions, building on a history of collaboration in science and higher education. They plan to enhance academic mobility, implement joint educational programmes, and undertake scientific and research projects, as well as organise specialised international exhibitions, conferences, and seminars to promote knowledge exchange and innovation.
Both sides also welcomed measures to secure long-term fertiliser supplies to India and discussed joint ventures in agriculture and fertiliser sectors, supported by a new MoU with JSC UralChem, Rashtriya Chemicals and Fertilisers Limited, National Fertilisers Limited, and Indian Potash Limited.
Jaishankar said there was considerable focus on how to elevate the relationship overall.
The remarks came a day after President Putin concluded his two-day state visit to India on Friday, his first in four years, viewed as an important step in strengthening the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two nations. (ANI)
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