Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev met in Baku on October 23 to discuss enhancing bilateral relations and expanding cooperation between India and Azerbaijan. Jaishankar’s visit signifies the ongoing diplomatic efforts between the two nations to strengthen their partnership.
During the meeting, Jaishankar conveyed greetings from Indian President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, expressing gratitude for President Aliyev’s positive stance on fostering closer ties. This visit is a continuation of the diplomatic engagements that have been occurring between the two countries, aimed at exploring new avenues of cooperation.
Jaishankar’s visit included discussions with his Azerbaijani counterpart, focusing on reviewing the current state of bilateral relations and identifying potential opportunities for collaboration. This visit follows an earlier diplomatic event on October 16, where India’s Ambassador to Azerbaijan, Abhay Kumar, presented his credentials to President Aliyev, reinforcing India’s commitment to expanding bilateral relations.
Earlier in October, Kirti Vardhan Singh, India’s Minister of State for External Affairs, attended the seventh summit of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) in Baku. At the summit, Singh emphasized India’s dedication to peace, cooperation, and regional stability, advocating for collective action against cross-border terrorism.
The recent discussions between Jaishankar and Aliyev are part of a series of diplomatic initiatives, including a meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Aliyev on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Kyrgyzstan on September 1. These engagements highlight the mutual interest of both nations in exploring shared interests and strengthening their diplomatic and economic ties.