Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev in Baku on October 23, marking a significant step in strengthening bilateral relations between India and Azerbaijan. The discussions focused on expanding cooperation across various sectors, underscoring the commitment of both nations to deepen their partnership.
During the meeting, Jaishankar conveyed greetings from Indian President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, expressing his appreciation for President Aliyev’s positive outlook towards enhancing ties. This visit is part of a broader diplomatic effort that has seen increased engagements between the two countries.
Jaishankar’s trip to Azerbaijan included talks with his Azerbaijani counterpart to review the current state of bilateral relations and explore new avenues for collaboration. This follows the presentation of credentials by India’s Ambassador to Azerbaijan, Abhay Kumar, to President Aliyev on October 16, where he reaffirmed New Delhi’s dedication to expanding its relationship with Baku.
Earlier in October, India’s Minister of State for External Affairs, Kirti Vardhan Singh, attended the seventh summit of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) in Baku. Singh emphasized India’s commitment to peace, cooperation, and regional stability, calling for collective action against cross-border terrorism.
The ongoing diplomatic exchanges, including a meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Aliyev at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in September, highlight a continued focus on collaboration and shared interests. The recent meeting in Baku is part of these sustained efforts to bolster ties between India and Azerbaijan.