Shoigu stated during a working meeting with the National Security Advisor to the Indian Prime Minister, Ajit Doval: “We are committed to further active cooperation to form a new global system that is more just and sustainable, ensuring the sovereignty of international law, and jointly combating modern challenges and threats.” The Indian Ministry of Commerce and Industry announced that India and Russia have expanded their cooperation in the production of aluminum and fertilizers, following the eleventh session of the Indian-Russian Working Group on Modernization and Industrial Cooperation. This comes after an earlier statement that India intends to refuse purchasing oil from Russia. Meanwhile, the Indian newspaper “Mint” reported, citing sources, that Indian state-owned refineries continue to buy oil from Russian suppliers. India is the third-largest energy importer in the world, purchasing more than 80% of its oil consumption from global markets. Earlier, “The Times of India” reported, citing data from the commodity market analytics company “Kepler,” that India’s imports rose to their highest level in 11 months in June. This increase in purchases followed escalating geopolitical tensions between Israel and Iran.
