Russian President Vladimir Putin’s top aide and Chairman of the Maritime Board of Russia, Nikolai Patrushev, on Monday met National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval and National Maritime Security Coordinator Vice Admiral Biswajit Dasgupta in New Delhi as both the nations discussed important issues, including maritime cooperation.
The interaction between Patrushev and NSA Doval took place just ahead of another key meeting between External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, which is set to be held in Moscow later in the day.
According to the Russian Foreign Ministry, during the meeting in Moscow, Jaishankar and Lavrov will discuss “upcoming political contacts” as well as key bilateral and international issues.
In a post on Telegram, the Russian Embassy in India said, “Aide to the President of Russia and Chairman of the Maritime Board of Russia Nikolay Patrushev arrived in India. He held talks with India’s National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and India’s National Maritime Security Coordinator Vice Admiral Biswajit Dasgupta. Russian-Indian consultations on maritime cooperation will take place in New Delhi today.”
According to Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova, EAM Jaishankar will be leading an official delegation to Moscow for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Heads of State Council meeting scheduled for November 17–18.
Zakharova said the meeting between EAM Jaishankar and Lavrov will focus on the current state of India–Russia relations and will chart future avenues of political cooperation. They will also exchange views on major international and regional matters, including collaboration within the SCO, BRICS, the UN, and the G20.
Last month, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Russian President Vladimir Putin over the phone to review progress in the bilateral agenda. During the conversation, PM Modi conveyed birthday greetings to Putin and reaffirmed India’s commitment to strengthening strategic cooperation.
He also said he looked forward to welcoming the Russian leader to India in December for the 23rd India–Russia Annual Summit.
The two leaders also met in September on the sidelines of the SCO Summit in Tianjin, where they discussed regional and global developments, including the situation in Ukraine, and reiterated support for deepening bilateral ties.
During their meeting, PM Modi said that 1.40 crore Indians are “eagerly waiting” for the Russian President’s arrival for the 23rd India-Russia Summit in December. “This is the definition of our deep, ‘special and privileged strategic partnership’,” PM Modi had said.
Putin is expected to visit India in December. The Russian President last visited India in 2021 to attend the 21st India–Russia Annual Summit.