EAM Jaishankar raises safety of Indian seafarers with Russian FM Lavrov after MV Golden Leo attack

By R Anil Kumar

Bengaluru/Manila, Philippines, July 22, 2026. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on July 22, reiterated India’s “strong concern” over the safety of Indian seafarers during talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Manila, days after an attack on the commercial vessel MV Golden Leo claimed the lives of four Indian nationals.

The meeting, held on the sidelines of the ASEAN-related Foreign Ministers’ meetings, included a review of bilateral ties and discussions on key regional and global developments.

Sharing details of the meeting on X, Jaishankar said, “An in-depth review of our bilateral relations with FM Sergey Lavrov of Russia. Reiterated our strong concern regarding the safety of Indian seafarers in the region.”

He said the two leaders reviewed various aspects of the India-Russia partnership, including trade and investment, energy and connectivity, science and technology, and mobility.

“Discussed various aspects of our partnership, including trade & investment, energy & connectivity, science & technology, and mobility. Also exchanged views on the Ukraine conflict and the Gulf situation,” Jaishankar said.

The Russian Foreign Ministry also confirmed the meeting, stating on X that Lavrov and Jaishankar held talks in Manila.

Jaishankar is in the Philippine capital to participate in the ASEAN-India Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, the East Asia Summit (EAS) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting and the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF).

The meeting came a day after the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) summoned Russian Charge d’Affaires Vladimir Ladanov over the July 19 attack on MV Golden Leo, conveying India’s “grave concerns and unequivocal condemnation” of the incident.

In a statement, the MEA said attacks targeting commercial shipping undermine the safety, security and stability of international maritime commerce.

“The Ministry conveyed India’s grave concerns and unequivocal condemnation of the attack on the commercial vessel MV Golden Leo on 19 July 2026, which resulted in the tragic loss of four Indian lives, emphasizing that such attacks undermine the safety, security, and stability of international maritime commerce,” the ministry said.

The MEA said the Russian diplomat was asked to convey India’s concerns to Moscow, stressing that attacks on commercial shipping and the loss of innocent civilian lives are unacceptable.

According to the ministry, the vessel was departing the Ukrainian port of Odesa on Sunday evening when it came under attack. Of the 17 crew members on board, five were Indian nationals. Four Indians were killed in the incident, while another sustained critical injuries.

The Ukrainian Navy accused Russia of carrying out a missile strike on the Guinea-Bissau-flagged grain carrier, alleging that three Kh-59/Kh-69 cruise missiles struck the vessel as it was leaving the combat zone. According to the Ukrainian Navy, the attack hit the starboard side of the ship’s superstructure, triggering a fire, after which rescue operations were launched.

The MEA reiterated that the safety of civilian shipping and freedom of navigation must be protected in accordance with international norms.

Sharing details of the meeting in a post on X, Jaishankar said, “Had a good lunch conversation with FM Vivian Balakrishnan of Singapore this afternoon in Manila. Always appreciate his insights and assessments on the region, as also on global developments.”

Jaishankar is in the Philippines to participate in the ASEAN-India Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, the East Asia Summit (EAS) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting and the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), besides holding a series of bilateral engagements with his counterparts.

Earlier in the day, Jaishankar met Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and reiterated India’s “strong concern” over the safety of Indian seafarers following the attack on the commercial vessel MV Golden Leo, which claimed the lives of four Indian nationals.

“An in-depth review of our bilateral relations with FM Sergey Lavrov of Russia. Reiterated our strong concern regarding the safety of Indian seafarers in the region,” Jaishankar said. The two ministers also reviewed cooperation in trade and investment, energy, connectivity, science and technology, and mobility, while exchanging views on the Ukraine conflict and the Gulf situation.

Jaishankar also held talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, during which he said a stable and cooperative India-China relationship based on “mutual respect, mutual interest and mutual sensitivity” could make a valuable contribution to a multipolar Asia and a multipolar world.

He stressed that peace and tranquillity along the border remain essential for the normalisation of bilateral ties. Jaishankar welcomed recent developments, including the resumption of direct flights, the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra and border trade, while noting that issues such as fair market access, trade balance and supply chain predictability also require attention.

The External Affairs Minister later met US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, with the two leaders reviewing priority areas of the India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership. Their discussions covered trade and tariffs, energy, defence and security, critical minerals, artificial intelligence, as well as regional, global and multilateral issues.

The bilateral meeting coincided with the Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, where India, Australia, Japan and the United States reaffirmed their commitment to a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific and reiterated support for ASEAN centrality.

Earlier, Jaishankar also met Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Philippines Foreign Secretary Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro.

He said his discussions with Wong focused on advancing the outcomes of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit to Australia and preparations for the Quad meeting.

During his meeting with Lazaro, Jaishankar reviewed progress in the India-Philippines Strategic Partnership, with discussions covering trade and investment, education, defence and security, maritime cooperation, capacity building and recent developments in the Indo-Pacific.

Peace and tranquillity in border areas prerequisite for normal ties’: EAM Jaishankar tells Chinese FM Wang Yi

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said a stable and cooperative relationship between India and China, based on mutual respect, mutual interest and mutual sensitivity, could make a “valuable contribution” to a multipolar Asia and a multipolar world, while stressing that peace and tranquillity along the border remain essential for the normalisation of bilateral ties.

Jaishankar made the remarks during a meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on the sidelines of the East Asia Summit (EAS) and ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) Foreign Ministers’ meetings in Manila.

In his opening remarks, Jaishankar said the meeting provided an opportunity to review the progress in bilateral relations and exchange views on regional and global developments.

“Since the meeting of our leaders in Kazan in October 2024, relations between India and China have been gradually normalising. This direction was further affirmed when they met in Tianjin last August,” he said.

“We believe that a stable and cooperative relationship can best be developed on the basis of mutual respect, mutual interest and mutual sensitivity. Such a relationship can make a valuable contribution to a multipolar Asia and a multipolar world,” the External Affairs Minister added.

Jaishankar underscored that maintaining peace and tranquillity in the border areas was a prerequisite for normal bilateral ties.

“Peace and tranquillity in the border areas is obviously the prerequisite for normal ties,” he said, adding that both sides had engaged since the leaders’ meeting in Kazan to advance this objective and that the relevant bilateral mechanisms should receive “full support and strong encouragement.”

Noting that India and China are two large neighbouring countries with their own national interests, Jaishankar said differences should be managed through dialogue and should not be allowed to escalate into disputes.

“It is natural that as two large and important nations, and that too proximate neighbours, India and China would have their own particular interests. That is why our leaders had agreed that differences should not become disputes. It is the responsibility of diplomacy to properly manage them,” he said.

Welcoming recent steps towards normalisation, Jaishankar cited the resumption of direct flights, updates to the visa regime, the restart of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra and the resumption of border trade.

He, however, said several issues still require attention, including fair market access, trade balance, supply chain predictability, and facilitating official and people-to-people exchanges.

“We also need to agree on the meetings of various mechanisms and platforms as per our mutual priorities,” he said.

Jaishankar also appreciated China’s support for various BRICS initiatives during India’s chairmanship of the grouping this year.

“India is the chair of BRICS this year. Let me take the opportunity to appreciate the support that China has given to various BRICS activities and initiatives during our chairship,” he said.

Describing the global situation as “extremely complicated”, Jaishankar said the meeting provided a timely opportunity to exchange views on key international issues.

The External Affairs Minister is in the Philippines for a two-day visit to participate in the ASEAN-India Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, the East Asia Summit Foreign Ministers’ Meeting and the ASEAN Regional Forum, besides holding bilateral meetings with counterparts from several countries.

Jaishankar meets Singapore FM in Manila, discusses regional and global developments

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on July 22, also met with Singapore Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan on the sidelines of the ASEAN-related Foreign Ministers’ Meetings in Manila, where the two leaders exchanged views on regional and global developments.