Valdai Club

Indian envoy to Russia, Ambassador D. Bala Venkatesh Varma, discusses Indo-Russia ties and the recently concluded Modi-Putin Summit in Vladivostok. This conversation with ORF President Samir Saran lays special focus on the status of Jammu and Kashmir — after the abrogation of Article 370 — as well as on the Indo-Pacific region. 

We have engaged actively with Russia on our concept of the Indo-Pacific. During his visit to Moscow, External Affairs Minister Dr. Jaishankar spoke at-length at the Valdai Club. Russia plays a very important role with respect to integration processes on the Eurasian landmass in the context of the Greater Eurasian Partnership. We seek integration in the wider region of the Indo-Pacific. As Dr. Jaishankar highlighted, just as India is a strong power in the Indian Ocean with serious interests in the Pacific Ocean, Russia is a strong Pacific power with interests in the Indian Ocean. At the EEF plenary, the Prime Minister highlighted Vladivostok as being the Sangam of Eurasia and the Pacific, opening opportunities for the Arctic and the Northern Sea Route.

Read more on https://www.orfonline.org/expert-speak/india-russia-share-evergreen-relationship-of-trust-and-confid...