SRINAGAR: India’s National Security Advisor Ajit Doval arrived in Moscow for high-level discussions on the India-Russia strategic partnership, with a focus on defence and security cooperation, Russian news agency TASS reported.
The visit comes against the backdrop of mounting pressure from the United States, where the Trump administration continues to warn countries with close ties to Russia, including India, of potential trade repercussions.
According to sources cited by TASS, this is a pre-scheduled diplomatic engagement centered on strengthening bilateral defence collaboration. The talks are expected to address the evolving geopolitical landscape, including the supply of Russian oil to India.
Earlier this month, US President Donald Trump announced a proposed 25 per cent tariff on Indian goods, calling it a “penalty”. He further remarked that India and Russia could “take their dead economies down together,” prompting a sharp response from India, which emphasized its status as the world’s fastest-growing major economy.
Trump also claimed that India has historically sourced most of its military hardware from Russia and ranks among Russia’s largest energy buyers, alongside China.
In response to these remarks, India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on as per NDTV report, rejected criticism from the US and EU over its Russian oil imports as “unjustified.” The MEA pointed out that many Western countries have continued their own trade with Russia, particularly in energy, while publicly opposing Moscow’s actions in Ukraine.
“India will take all necessary measures to safeguard its national interests and economic security,” the MEA asserted, accusing the West of “double standards”. It noted that EU trade with Russia in 2024 exceeded India’s by a wide margin.
