NSA Doval meets Patrushev in Moscow, discusses maritime, defence ties

New Delhi: National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval and Aide to the President and Chairman of the Maritime Board of Russia, Nikolai Patrushev, met in Moscow and discussed steps to advance cooperation in the maritime and defence sectors.

Doval and Patrushev during their meeting on Friday assessed the status of proposals discussed during Patrushev's visit to New Delhi in November 2025.

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Their discussions focused on expanding cooperation in maritime connectivity, shipbuilding, defence collaboration, and the training of sailors for operations in polar waters, ET has learnt.

India has keen to develop its own shipbuilding industry for commercial purposes and Russia besides South Korea and Norway are among the partners to develop the industry here.

The two officials also exchanged views on regional and global developments. Doval and Patrushev share strong chemistry since their days in respective intelligence agencies.

Earlier on Friday, Doval met First Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation, Denis Manturov, in Moscow, and the two leaders reviewed bilateral cooperation in a range of areas, including defence, energy and civilian space sectors.

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During the November visit Patrushev had met Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh and the leadership of the Indian Navy and discussed plans for joint exercises as well as matters related to strengthening military-technical cooperation, ET had then reported. Issues of strategic stability in the Indo-Pacific Region had also figured in the November deliberations as Russia seeks to enhance its Naval presence in the Indian Ocean Region to make it inclusive. India has been open to the presence of partner countries including Russia in the Indo-Pacific region to keep it stable and secure amid big power ambitions.