IN PURSUIT OF REGAINING MOMENTUM: INDIA-RUSSIA RELATIONS

The first week of April marked the visit of the Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to New Delhi for a two-day visit.

- DIVYANSHU JINDAL

The fact that the visit took place in between his visits to China and Pakistan may just be a normal scheduling decision, but the increasingly visible search for regaining momentum in the relationship between the two countries can be felt from the intensity of recent visits by the likes of India Foreign Secretary to Moscow earlier this year and the much-awaited and upcoming visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin to India. These visits are being looked forward to even more considering how the cancellation of the India-Russia annual summit due to the ongoing pandemic was viewed as a sign of reducing traction and increasing cracks between the two countries, especially by the Chinese media.

The joint presser which concluded the meetings between the foreign ministers showcases how the two ‘time-tested’ friends are looking at the post-Covid world for enhancing cooperation and collaboration in different fields. While the Indian Foreign Minister highlighted the fact that talks with the Russian counterpart were warm, comprehensive, and productive, and there will indeed by the annual summit later this year, it is yet to see whether a renewed zeal has awakened in the aftermath of the pandemic, as several proposals, projects and ideas have been in existence since the last half-decade. But what we now need is a reinvigorated push to pursue these goals.