Lavrov vows India energy deals will be honored amid global pressure
Lavrov vows India energy deals will be honored amid global pressure
Lavrov reassures India that energy agreements will hold, highlighting Kudankulam work and a strong bilateral bond ahead of his New Delhi visit.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has pledged that all energy supply agreements with India will be fulfilled, even as he warned against unfair external competition. He framed the relationship as built on friendship and converging interests, insisting there is no scenario in which Moscow and New Delhi diverge. He recalled the phrase 'Hindi-Rusi bhai bhai' as more than a slogan, calling it a cultural bond that guides the partnership.
In a wide-ranging interview with Russia Today-India ahead of his visit to New Delhi, Lavrov praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi as one of the most energetic leaders the world has seen. He said Modi is driving India toward greater sovereignty in the economy, military, defence, culture, and civilizational preservation, and vowed that India’s energy interests will not be sacrificed to outside pressures.
On energy supply specifics, Lavrov stressed that Russia continues to back India with hydrocarbons, including gas, oil, and coal, while noting that India has occasionally declined Russian LNG under sanctions and talks continue on permitted cargoes. He asserted that Russia has never failed to fulfil its obligations to India or any other partner.
He highlighted the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant in Tamil Nadu as a flagship project, with construction beginning in March 2002 and the first power unit operating since February 2016 at its design capacity of 1,000 MW. He said work on new power units is ongoing and that the plant is expected to achieve full capacity in 2027, reflecting a long-term energy collaboration with Russia.
Lavrov's remarks arrive as New Delhi engages in high-level diplomacy amid a volatile global environment. They echo comments by India's External Affairs Minister Jaishankar that India-Russia ties remain valuable, and follow a flurry of talks between Jaishankar and Lavrov ahead of regional meetings. The two countries continue to navigate energy and strategic interests in a rapidly shifting world, with both sides signaling commitment to deepen cooperation.
