The Russian envoy to India, Denis Alipov, stated on Saturday whereas his nation stays New Delhi’s “reliable and time-tested friend”, the US is attempting to threaten the connection with sanctions.

“In India, Russia enjoys a solid reputation as a reliable, sincere, well-intentioned, time-tested friend. Such an image was initially shaped due to the major contribution of the USSR to Indian socio-economic development, and it largely persists to this day,” he stated.

In an interview with the RT information company, the Russian envoy added, “US officials who come here do not hesitate to directly state that they are pursuing the goal of tearing New Delhi away from Moscow. They are even making threats with secondary sanctions. Some Indian partners are forced to exercise caution, sometimes, frankly speaking, excessively, but there are also a significant number of those for whom such an approach is unacceptable.”

Highlighting the rising bilateral ties, the Russian envoy stated, “Our ties continue to steadily expand in a wide range of areas according to our converging national interests. But unlike our Western partners, we have never conditioned cooperation on politics, have not interfered in domestic affairs, and have always maintained mutually respectful and trusted relationships. Therefore, even now we mainly see a growing desire to keep working together and finding ways to overcome well-known impediments caused by destructive unilateral approaches.”

“It should be noted that over the recent years the number of such contacts has increased manifold, and they are becoming more and more meaningful, including distributing information detailing the economic and investment potential and promising areas for interaction. It is indicative that the current bilateral trade turnover, which at the end of 2023 may exceed $60 billion, is several times higher than the pre-sanctions figures,” he added.

Alipov additionally referred to as for pressing reforms of the United Nations and businesses beneath it whereas making a robust case for the inclusion of India as a everlasting member of the UN Security Council.

“We are of the view that India as a permanent member of the Security Council could make a significant contribution to promoting balance as well as an agenda focused on the interests of the world majority, primarily the countries of the Global South,” the Russian envoy stated.

India and Russia have maintained a sturdy strategic partnership, rooted in historic ties and shared pursuits, over many years. Central to this relationship is intensive defence cooperation, with Russia serving as a serious provider of navy gear to India and each nations participating in joint navy workout routines, co-development of superior navy platforms, and expertise transfers, in response to the Russian information company.

More lately, vitality collaboration has turn out to be one other robust pillar of bilateral ties. The Kudankulam nuclear energy plant (KNPP), India’s largest, is being inbuilt Tamil Nadu with technical help supplied by Moscow.

Russia’s experience in nuclear expertise has been instrumental in advancing India’s capabilities, fostering a mutually useful partnership, in response to RT. The two international locations have pledged to deepen their nuclear cooperation, recognizing its strategic significance for vitality safety and technological development.

Over the previous 18 months, India has emerged as one of many largest importers of Russian oil–a stand New Delhi has needed to defend on many events from accusations by Western media, and even some political leaders, of funding ‘Russia’s warfare’ with Ukraine.