Russian FM Lavrov Arrives In India For Talks With PM Modi

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has arrived in New Delhi for talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi following a two-day trip to China.

• Lavrov will be seeking greater Indian support as the West tries to close international markets to Russian oil. India and Russia have already set up a rupee-ruble transaction mechanism to facilitate the purchase of oil.
• India is the world’s third biggest oil importer and has purchased at least 13 m/b of Russian oil since the war in Ukraine began, compared with 16 m/b from Russia in all of 2021.
• Asia Financial reports that the US State Department is aware of talks between Russia and India concerning the purchase of oil and reportedly has 'no objection to India buying Russian oil, provided it: buys it at discount doesn't significantly increase purchase volumes.'
• British foreign secretary Liz Truss is also in Delhi trying to underline the importance of democracy. The timing of her trip will be inopportune for the British government if India and Russia agree to closer cooperation.