Saturday, 22 August 2026
External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar will undertake a two-day official visit to Russia on August 23 and 24, with the India-Russia strategic partnership set to receive fresh diplomatic and economic attention.
The visit, at the invitation of Russian First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov, will centre on the 27th Session of the India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technological and Cultural Cooperation (IRIGC-TEC). Jaishankar and Manturov will co-chair the meeting.
The IRIGC-TEC is one of the key mechanisms through which India and Russia review and advance cooperation in trade, investment, energy, technology, connectivity and other economic sectors.
Trade and Economic Cooperation
The latest meeting comes as both countries seek to expand bilateral economic engagement and address challenges affecting trade.
The previous, 26th session of the commission, held in Moscow in August 2025, discussed measures to reduce trade barriers, improve logistics and connectivity, strengthen payment mechanisms and advance negotiations for an India-Eurasian Economic Union Free Trade Agreement.
India-Russia bilateral trade has grown substantially in recent years. According to India’s Ministry of External Affairs, trade reached US$68.7 billion during 2024–25, making economic cooperation an increasingly important pillar of the relationship.
Energy continues to be a major component of bilateral ties, while both countries are also looking at opportunities in technology, investment, manufacturing and other emerging sectors.
Jaishankar–Lavrov Meeting
During his visit, Jaishankar will also meet Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
The two ministers are expected to discuss the full range of India-Russia relations and exchange views on major regional and international developments. Their discussions are likely to include issues affecting the wider geopolitical environment, including the Ukraine conflict and developments in West Asia.
India has consistently maintained that dialogue and diplomacy are essential for resolving international conflicts and has continued engagement with all major stakeholders.
Defence Cooperation
The Russia visit also follows recent discussions on defence cooperation.
A meeting of the Working Group on Planning of the India-Russia Intergovernmental Commission on Military and Military-Technical Cooperation was held in New Delhi on August 20 and 21.
The two sides reviewed ongoing cooperation, outlined priorities for 2027 and discussed ways to expand interaction between the Indian and Russian armed forces.
Defence remains one of the longstanding pillars of India-Russia relations, even as New Delhi continues to diversify its defence procurement and strengthen cooperation with a wider range of international partners.
A Partnership in Transition
India and Russia continue to describe their relationship as a Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership. Defence, energy, nuclear cooperation, space, science and technology have traditionally formed its core.
However, the relationship is also evolving. Both sides are seeking stronger economic links, greater investment, improved connectivity and more balanced trade.
Jaishankar’s Moscow visit therefore comes at an important juncture. The 27th IRIGC-TEC meeting provides an opportunity to move beyond traditional areas of cooperation and identify new avenues for economic and technological partnership.
His meeting with Lavrov, meanwhile, will offer an important diplomatic platform for India and Russia to coordinate views on major regional and global developments.
For India, the objective remains clear: preserve the depth of the longstanding relationship with Russia while expanding cooperation into new economic, technological and strategic areas.
Source: Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India; Russian Embassy in India.
