Defence, tech on Lavrov agenda

Sandeep Dikshit

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, April 1

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will visit India for two days on April 5 to discuss the advancement of ties in key emerging theatres of geopolitics. Russia has expressed keen interest in investing in new and emerging high technologies, defence, waterways, railways and steel.

The ground was prepared by Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla’s visit to Moscow, where he met Lavrov, Deputy Foreign Ministers Sergey Ryabkov and Igor Morgulov.

Sources said both sides would prominently discuss Afghanistan as Lavrov could be accompanied by Russia’s special envoy for Afghanistan Zamir Kabulov.

The other areas where both sides envisage closer cooperation is Indian involvement in the gigantic oilfield Vankor and the development of the Russian Far East with the help of a $1 billion Indian Line of Credit (LoC).

The Lavrov-Jaishankar interaction will touch on an emerging pillar of cooperation — vaccines — with the manufacturing of Sputnik-V here expected to free domestic capacity to meet its UN-related and commercial commitments for its supply.

Lavrov’s arrival is part of the roadmap for sustained interaction agreed upon by both sides which will culminate in a Modi-Putin summit.

Last year was the first time that a Russia-India summit could not be held in 20 years due to the pandemic.