The events held in New Delhi from May 13-15 – the bilateral visit of Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and the expanded BRICS ministerial meeting – once again demonstrated the unique and unprecedented nature of the Russian-Indian special and privileged strategic partnership.

Although these two important events took place in a complex and turbulent international environment, their results inspire confidence and testify to the growing influence and increased efforts of those countries that strive for a more just, democratic, and balanced multipolar world order.

Sergey Lavrov and Subrahmanyam Jaishankar discussed the two countries’ joint plans

Recent talks between the Russian and Indian Foreign Ministers S.V. Lavrov and S. Jaishankar were called upon to compare the positions of the two key powers on pressing regional and global issues and to determine a future schedule of bilateral contacts, including summit and high-level meetings, as well as important sessions of the two intergovernmental commissions on trade and economic, scientific and technical, cultural, and, separately, military-technical cooperation.

A comparison of approaches on international issues, given the unprecedentedly high level of trust and mutual understanding between the parties, predictably confirmed the closeness of Russia and India’s positions, including on the situation surrounding Ukraine, Iran, and the complex development of a multipolar world order. The ministers emphasized their interest in continuing the useful coordination of approaches in multilateral formats at the UN, SCO, BRICS, and the G20.

Despite the Indian leadership’s multi-vector and pragmatic foreign policy with its inherent “strategic autonomy” and balancing, the talks demonstrated converging views on key international and bilateral issues. A clear commitment was made to further develop regular political dialogue, expand mutually beneficial trade, economic, and investment cooperation, industrial collaboration, and partnership in the military-defense, nuclear, energy, high-tech, and scientific-space sectors.

Particular attention was paid to successful cooperation in the oil and gas sector, thanks to which bilateral trade is growing dynamically, now exceeding $65 billion. Given these trends, the goal set by the leaders of our countries to increase joint trade to $100 billion in the coming years is entirely feasible.

In short, this latest “synchronization of watches” convincingly demonstrated the two powers’ determination to further rapprochement, regardless of international context, and this course is a long-term priority of the time-tested strategic and responsible partnership between Russia and India. It should be added that, over the course of nearly 80 years of successfully and dynamically developing diplomatic relations, both sides have never had any doubts about the correctness of their course toward a comprehensive and effective expansion of bilateral cooperation, based on the consistently high level of trust and deep mutual understanding between the leaders and peoples of these two close, reliable, and stable partners.

This, however, does not mean that the two sides’ positions coincide on all issues; there are some differences on certain topics, primarily related to the actions of the United States and the collective West on the international stage. Nevertheless, this situation generally does not affect the nature and content of bilateral relations, which are largely unaffected by external factors.

India prepares to host the BRICS summit

India continues to confidently and productively exercise its BRICS chairmanship based on its four priorities: economic resilience, innovation, cooperation, and sustainable development. One of the most important events in preparation for the 18th BRICS summit in September, along with other events (of which there are more than 250), is the traditional meeting of the heads of foreign affairs of member and partner countries.

The ministers focused on discussing BRICS’s approaches to the most pressing and challenging international issues, primarily the situation surrounding Iran, as a significant and influential platform for like-minded global actors and a key pillar of multipolarity. It is crucial to achieve internal unity and a common consensus to collectively defend the interests of states in the Global South and effectively promote the formation of a more equitable and sustainable polycentric world order.

In this sense, the association does not act as an anti-Western bloc or force, but rather as a counterweight to the monopoly and leadership aspirations of the US-led collective West. It should be noted that the nearly doubling of BRICS’s size did not come without certain difficulties in making consolidated decisions. Following the expansion, the group now includes countries with diverse, sometimes conflicting, and difficult-to-reconcile interests, as was particularly evident in the US-Iran conflict.

Therefore, it was important for the Indian chairmanship to maintain at least a relative unity of approaches, a common understanding, and the effectiveness of the group amid the growing diversity of its members. In this regard, Russia was committed to supporting India’s challenging efforts to ensure the emerging structure was capable of making coordinated decisions. At the same time, the Russian side believes that further expansion without internal unity will only weaken its potential and capabilities as a significant centre of global power.

Other advocates of developing consolidated approaches to strengthen BRICS’s role in defending its common interests and the Global South without confrontation with the West also share this approach. During the plenary sessions, the ministers discussed pressing global and regional issues, the results of twenty years of BRICS cooperation, and prospects for its further development in all key areas – politics and security, economics and finance, and humanitarian ties. The following key priorities for the Indian Chairmanship were supported:

– promoting multilateralism;

– enhancing cooperation in the fight against terrorism;

– reforming global governance institutions, including the UN, the Security Council, the IMF, the World Bank, and others, with an emphasis on enhancing the role of developing countries;

– expanding dialogue on energy and food security, as well as climate change;

– strengthening cooperation in innovation and artificial intelligence;

– enhancing the role of BRICS member states in the international monetary and financial system;

– developing cultural cooperation and people-to-people contacts.

Notably, during the meeting, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with Sergey Lavrov and the BRICS foreign ministers, during which they exchanged views on pressing global and regional issues, including the situation in the Middle East, particularly in the Persian Gulf region, and Ukraine. The Indian Prime Minister emphasized his support for efforts to peacefully resolve conflicts through political and diplomatic means, the need to maintain the ceasefire, and preventing the failure of mediation efforts.

Meeting participants agreed with Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar’s statement on the constructive and stabilizing role of BRICS in the international arena and the need to improve the global governance system with an emphasis on strengthening the voice of the global majority.

At the conclusion of the ministerial meeting, a comprehensive final document was adopted, containing the positions of BRICS participants on a wide range of issues within the association’s purview.

Despite expected disagreements on the Middle East, particularly between Iran and the UAE, the BRICS ministerial meeting was productive and substantive. The exchange of views on a wide range of issues confirmed the importance of the association as a key platform for discussions and position formation. BRICS plays a significant role in shaping a polycentric world order that counters US unilateralism in a complex international environment. The results of the upcoming September summit will determine the future of this unique and influential group.

Anvar Azimov, Diplomat and political scientist, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Ph.D in History, Senior Research Fellow at the Eurasian Educational Institute of MGIMO of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia. Courtesy

https://journal-neo.su/2026/05/16/lavrov-and-jaishankar-synchronizing-watches-and-strengthening-russian-indian-ties/