Responding to a question on secondary US sanctions against India for importing Russian oil, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov made it clear: New Delhi’s choices are its own.
“There is no threat to the economic partnership between India and Russia,” Lavrov told ANI on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly (UNGA). He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar had already underlined that India decides its partners independently.
Lavrov added that if Washington wanted to enhance bilateral trade with India, New Delhi was open to hearing proposals. “But when it comes to trade, investment, economic, military, technological and other relations between India and third states, India will discuss only with those states in question,” he stressed.
Lavrov pushes India, Brazil for permanent UNSC seats
Shifting from sanctions to global governance, Lavrov used his UNGA speech to call for Security Council reforms, backing India and Brazil for permanent membership.
“The issue of Security Council reform is particularly important. Russia calls for its democratisation through expanding representation from Asia, Africa and Latin America. We support the application of Brazil and India for permanent seats,” he said.
He argued that the current structure was stuck in 1945, failing to reflect today’s geopolitical realities. “The global majority is loudly asserting its rights. The SCO and BRICS play a special role as mechanisms for coordinating the interests of the Global South and East,” Lavrov added.
Global South ‘awakening’ and an anti-colonial call
Lavrov framed his appeal within what he described as a 'Global South awakening'. He said countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America were demanding a fairer share of global representation.
“The process of decolonisation and other major upheavals have changed the political map of the planet,” he said. To symbolically underline this, Lavrov proposed that December 14 be observed as the Day of Struggle Against Colonialism.
He insisted Russia’s approach to UNSC reform was not revolutionary but corrective: “Russia advocates for reforming the UN Security Council but does not campaign for a revolution against anyone.”
Russia’s diplomatic irritants with the US
Lavrov also revealed that the third round of consultations between Russia and the US on bilateral irritants will take place this fall. He noted, however, that there are “not many cases” where Russian and American interests coincide.
“But when they do, it would be stupid not to implement mutually beneficial projects. The most important thing is to avoid a hot confrontation,” he remarked.
Lavrov also complained that Moscow is often unable to send full delegations to New York due to US visa restrictions, calling it a 'serious violation' of the UN host country agreement.
On a forward-looking note, Lavrov confirmed that President Vladimir Putin will visit India in December.
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