Speaking at the  80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov claimed that the economic partnership between India and Russia is “not under threat” despite US tariffs on India for purchasing Russian oil. Lavrov said that India is fully capable of making its own choices when it comes to trade and economic relations with Russia, adding, “It is a very worthy response that shows that India, like Turkey, has self-respect.”

India chooses its partners

Responding to a question by ANI on secondary sanctions imposed by the US, Lavrov said, “(The economic partnership between India and Russia) is not under threat… The Indian Prime Minister and the Minister of Foreign Affairs have made it clear that India chooses its own partners.”

ALSO READ

He added that if the US wants to improve trade with India, New Delhi is open to talks. “If the US has proposals on how to enrich bilateral trade between the US and India, they are prepared to discuss the terms for that, whatever terms the US might put forth.” However, Lavrov added, when it comes to matters of trade, investment, defence, technology, or any other kind of cooperation between India and another country, it is a decision for India to handle directly with that particular country, not through outside pressure.

India has self-respect in its decisions

The Russian Foreign Minister mentioned that regular exchanges are happening between the two countries, including visits by External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar to Russia and his own planned visit to India.

ALSO READ

Lavrov praised Jaishankar and highlighted India’s “self-respect,” comparing it to Turkey. He added, that while India is open to discussing trade with the US if needed, what it buys from Russia or other countries is entirely India’s own decision and does not depend on the Indian-US agenda. This, Lavrov said, shows that India firmly protects its national interests and makes independent decisions in international trade.

‘Utmost respect’ for India’s policies

On India buying Russian oil and maintaining ties with Moscow, Lavrov added, “We have full respect for the national interests of India, full respect for the foreign policy that Narendra Modi is carrying out to promote these national interests. We hold regular contacts at the highest level…”

Further, during his speech, he said that India-Russia ties remain strategic and strong: “These situations that might arise between India and the United States or India and any other country, I can’t consider them a criterion for relations between India and the Russian Federation.” He emphasised that the two countries share a strategic partnership. “At a certain point, our Indian friends proposed supplementing that term and we now call it a privileged strategic partnership, and a little bit later, our Indian friends proposed another clarification—now, we call it a particularly privileged strategic partnership.” Lavrov said that Moscow has the “utmost respect” for India’s decisions and for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s foreign policy.

Modi-Putin talks and upcoming visit

Lavrov recalled the recent meeting between Prime Minister Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin, China. He said the two leaders share “close coordination” on multiple global matters.

“Just recently, Prime Minister Modi and President Putin met in Tianjin at the SCO summit in China. And in December, a visit from Mr Putin is being planned to New Delhi. We have a very extensive bilateral agenda, trade, military, technical cooperation, finance, humanitarian matters, healthcare, high-tech, artificial intelligence, and of course close coordination at the international level within the SCO, BRICS and bilaterally…” Lavrov stated.