Russia's first deputy prime minister Denis Manturov met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and external affairs minister S Jaishankar on Thursday and discussed ways to advance cooperation in critical areas such as energy and fertilisers.
Modi said on social media that he and Manturov discussed “mutually beneficial cooperation in trade, fertilisers, connectivity and people-to-people ties”. Modi lauded the sustained efforts by both countries to implement the outcomes of the India-Russia Summit held during President Vladimir Putin’s visit to New Delhi last December.
Jaishankar said after his meeting with Manturov that the two sides had focused on bilateral cooperation in trade, industry, energy, fertilisers, connectivity and mobility. The two sides also explored new opportunities in technology, innovation and critical minerals, he said in a social media post.
Besides, Jaishankar and Manturov also discussed regional and global developments, including the conflict in West Asia.
Russia has re-emerged as the largest supplier of energy following a recent US waiver on sanctions to allow India to continue buying Russian energy. Russia's importance as an energy supplier has increased following the disruption of shipments from West Asia because of the conflict triggered by Israel and the US’s military strikes on Iran.
The Indian side is also looking to Russia for additional supplies of fertilisers due to the disruptions caused by the West Asia conflict.
{{/usCountry}}The Indian side is also looking to Russia for additional supplies of fertilisers due to the disruptions caused by the West Asia conflict.
{{/usCountry}}Days before Manturov's visit, foreign secretary Vikram Misri and Russian deputy foreign minister Andrey Rudenko co-chaired the foreign office consultations in New Delhi and reviewed bilateral ties.
Manturov's visit followed the Indian government's decision to acquire five more S-400 air defence systems from Russia in the wake of the system’s performance during Operation Sindoor, the four-day conflict with Pakistan last year.
India concluded a $5-billion deal with Russia in October 2018 to buy five S-400 air defence systems despite a warning by the US that the contract could attract sanctions under the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA). Russia has delivered three of these systems so far, though delivery of the two remaining batteries has been affected by the conflict in Ukraine.