Lavrov visits India: bilateral relations between the countries have been expanded
In India, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov emphasized the friendly relations between the two countries and their interest in a “balanced world order”. “Currently, our Western colleagues want to reduce important international issues to the crisis in Ukraine,” he told a meeting with Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar on Friday. “We appreciate that India is analyzing this situation in its entirety.”
Lavrov visits India after China. These are the two most populous countries in the world that have so far neither supported Western sanctions nor condemned Russia in the Ukraine war. At the meeting in New Delhi, Jaishankar emphasized that they have expanded their bilateral relations.
India took a neutral stance and abstained from UN Security Council resolutions. The world’s most populous democracy, with its more than 1.3 billion people, has so far not expressed any criticism of Russia’s war of aggression, despite pressure from the US and Europe. The reason: India and Russia have long and close ties. Much of its military equipment also comes from Russia. It is arming itself against rivals China and Pakistan and is already dependent on Moscow for spare parts. But India also maintains good relations with the US – and prefers to stay out. Before meeting with Lavrov, Jaishankar emphasized, “As you know, India has always been in favor of resolving differences and disputes through dialogue and diplomacy.”
India wants to expand its trade with Russia and, for example, buy Russian oil ever cheaper. There are also reports that India and Russia are looking for a solution to facilitate this trade through an alternative to the Swift banking communications network.
(APA)