New Delhi: External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar Monday met his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov here in the national capital. Both the leaders discussed ways to strengthen bilateral ties and defence cooperation. Sources said they also had an in-depth discussion on global and regional issues.
Speaking to ETV Bharat, Achal Malhotra, former diplomat and leading expert on Russia said, "we have to look at the whole thing in the larger context of India's foreign policy in recent years. We have pursued a policy of multi-engagement keeping in mind the interest of the nation. As a result today, we have a comprehensive, global strategic partnership with the US on the one hand and also a special and privileged strategic partnership with Russia on the other hand."
"The two countries are at loggerheads with each other and their relations are at the lowest end but that has not prevented us from developing relations with each of them, not hyperlinking our relations with one at the cost of the other," he added.
"India keeping all national interest in mind has gone ahead and sourced all the defence requirements because we are facing threats on two fronts - China and Pakistan. To strengthen defence capacity, India has gone and sourced the defence requirement from wherever we thought could get the best available in the market. As a result, we are buying from the US, Russia, France Israel etc. And we have not allowed ourselves to be pressurised by the American threats of imposing sanction under CAATSA", Malhotra said.
Read: EAM Jaishankar meets Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov
During the meeting with his Russian counterpart, Dr Jaishankar reiterated that the India-Russia partnership is unique. "We are very conscious in a world of rapid geopolitical changes it has been remarkably steady and strong. We are very satisfied with our bilateral relations in the state of our cooperation", Jaishankar said.
Meanwhile, Russian FM Lavrov reaffirmed the nature of the Russia-India relationship."We're awaiting a 2+2 format meeting today. Significant documents drafted for signing following today's events", Lavrov added.
Read: Inaugural 2+2 dialogue of the foreign and defence ministers of India and Russia
Diplomat Malhotra further explained that all the big powers are looking at India as an essential partner for their reasons. "America wants to contain China and they can't get a better partner than India in the entire region, hence, we have 'Quad'," he said.
"On the other hand, it is an unfortunate situation for Russia that they are under pressure so they have to mend relations with China. But Russia also doesn't want China to monopolise in Asia particularly central Asia, which is the backyard of Russia. Therefore, in the larger context, India has emerged as a very important country to engage with. We also offer a very big market particularly for defence supplies and hence, everybody is competing to win over us," Achal Malhotra pointed out.
Earlier in the day, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh met his Russian counterpart General Sergey Shoygu at Sushma Swaraj Bhawan in New Delhi and asserted that Defence cooperation is one of the most important pillars of our India-Russia partnership.He hoped that the India-Russia partnership will bring peace to the entire region and provide stability to the region.
