NextFin news, On August 21, 2025, Reliance Industries, one of India's largest conglomerates, significantly boosted its imports of Russian crude oil. This move aligns with the ongoing deepening of energy cooperation between India and Russia, as highlighted during a high-level meeting in Moscow.
Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Moscow on the same day. Following their talks, Jaishankar emphasized the importance of sustained energy cooperation through trade and investment between the two countries. He also reaffirmed the strong defense and military-technical cooperation that continues to underpin the bilateral relationship.
The meeting underscored the strategic partnership between India and Russia, described by Jaishankar as one of the most stable major-country relationships since World War II. Both sides expressed commitment to further deepen their "special and privileged strategic partnership," with plans for Russian President Vladimir Putin to visit India by the end of 2025.
Reliance's increased imports of Russian oil come amid international scrutiny and criticism, particularly from the United States, which has imposed additional tariffs on Indian imports in response to India's large-scale purchases of Russian crude and other goods. Jaishankar publicly countered these criticisms, highlighting the sovereign right of India to pursue its energy security and strategic interests.
The enhanced energy cooperation is part of a broader context of India maintaining and expanding its trade and defense ties with Russia despite geopolitical pressures. This includes substantial imports of Russian crude oil and military equipment, which have drawn criticism from the U.S. administration.
These developments were reported by multiple sources, including a detailed report by Sankei Shimbun published on August 22, 2025, and covered by Yahoo! Japan News. The reports confirm the timing of the meeting and the statements made by the Indian External Affairs Minister.
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