In high-profile diplomatic engagements in New York, India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met with his Russian and Iranian counterparts on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly session. These high-stakes talks arrived shortly after US President Donald Trump enacted the ‘Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026’, a measure that authorises intensified sanctions and tariffs on nations importing energy resources from Moscow and Tehran. In response to mounting geopolitical pressures, India has reaffirmed its stance on safeguarding energy access for its 1.4 billion citizens through diversified sourcing.
During his bilateral dialogue with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Jaishankar reviewed the progress of bilateral relations and joint cooperation within the expanded BRICS bloc. According to the Russian Foreign Ministry, both dignitaries evaluated their special and privileged strategic partnership alongside pressing global crises, notably the conflict in Ukraine and heightened volatility across the Middle East. They agreed to sustain strong coordination across multilateral forums like the UN, G20, and BRICS, following the recent BRICS summit hosted by India.
Jaishankar’s sit-down with Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi focused primarily on the unfolding crisis in the Gulf. Taking to social media platform X, Jaishankar expressed appreciation for the discussions and committed to maintaining close communication as regional dynamics evolve.
Beyond bilateral diplomacy, the External Affairs Minister participated in wider regional and technological forums. He co-chaired the India-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Troika Ministerial Meeting, where progress on the Joint Action Plan for 2024 to 2028 was examined and new free-trade agreement negotiations were welcomed. The talks emphasized mutual cooperation across commerce, food and energy security, emerging technologies, and the protection of international commercial shipping lanes.
Rounding out his engagements, Jaishankar co-hosted a specialized dialogue with Greek Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis on the role of artificial intelligence in international peace and maritime security. He highlighted that while AI offers immense potential for search-and-rescue missions, disaster mitigation, and infrastructure resilience, rising system autonomy creates unprecedented challenges in cyber warfare, accountability, and rapid escalation, requiring adherence to the UN Charter and international maritime laws.