S Jaishankar mentioned India-Russia ties are very “exceptional and steady” (File)

Washington:

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Friday mentioned India-Russia ties might not be spectacular however are very “exceptional and steady”, including that in some ways Moscow’s relationship with the West has “broken down”. Speaking at Hudson University, Mr Jaishankar in contrast Russia’s ties with India to that of different international locations.

“…if you consider international relations over the last 70 years, the US-Russian relations, the China-Russia relations, the US-China relations, pretty much every big relationship in the last 70 years has seen a great deal of volatility, you had sharp ups and downs,” Mr Jaishankar mentioned, including, “India-Russia relations is very exceptional. It’s been very steady.”

Noting the India-Russia relations could “not be spectacular”, Mr Jaishankar mentioned they’ve stabilised at a sure stage, however haven’t seen the ups and downs that Moscow’s relationships with China, US, or Europe have been by way of.

“And that’s in itself a statement,” Mr Jaishankar added.

“Now, if one looks at Russia today as a consequence of what is going on in Ukraine… it seems to them clear that in many ways Russia’s relationship with the West has broken down,” he mentioned.

On why Russia’s emphasis on India is rising, Mr Jaishankar mentioned, “…India will and has come into calculations as well. So I would predict a Russia that would consciously focus on the non-Western world away from Europe, away from the United States, look much more at Asia, look possibly at other regions as well. But Asia is economically the most active. So I guess that’s what you’re going to see.”

Further, the EAM underscored India’s rising footprints within the world financial system and its rising commerce with the Middle East international locations.

“We have to understand today that as India becomes a larger consumer, a bigger economy, our salience in the Middle East countries calculations, especially the Gulf economies, is that much higher. We are the largest trade partner of the UAE and we would be among probably the top three of the Saudis,” Mr Jaishankar mentioned.

Earlier this week, Mr Jaishankar met his UAE counterpart Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan on the sidelines of the 78th United Nations General Assembly session in New York City. The two appreciated the fast progress in India, and UAE bilateral cooperation and valued common trade of views on regional and world points.

“Always a pleasure to meet FM @ABZayed of UAE, this time in New York. Appreciate the rapid progress in our bilateral cooperation. Value our regular exchange of perspectives on regional and global issues,” EAM Jaishankar wrote on X.

“They discovered during COVID that the Gulf is actually dependent on daily food consumption for what comes out of India. So the economies have really got very, very deeply meshed…” Mr Jaishankar mentioned throughout an interplay on the Hudson Institute.

A dialogue at @HudsonInstitute on India’s function in a New Pacific order. https://t.co/ZR3C9SBDKz

— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) September 29, 2023

UAE and India together with Saudi Arabia, the US and European Union (EU), had not too long ago introduced an formidable infrastructure plan – the ‘India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor’. This initiative launched on the G20 summit in New Delhi, seeks to reshape the commerce route between the Gulf, Europe and South Asia, connecting them by rail and sea hyperlinks.

Mr Jaishankar is at the moment within the final leg of his US go to. Earlier, he was in New York for the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly. Wrapping up his New York go to, the EAM arrived in Washington, DC on September 28.

Mr Jaishankar can even tackle the 4th World Culture Festival, which is being organised by the Art of Living Foundation of non secular guru Sri Sri Ravi Shankar.

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