🔗 Share this article

Amid a clear message to the West, President Vladimir Putin has told Prime Minister Narendra Modi that Russia stands ready to provide “uninterrupted” supplies of oil to India. These remarks came during a summit where both heads of state met in Delhi and affirmed their relationship were “immune to external pressure.”

A Message For the United States

The statement, issued after the annual summit, seemed to be targeted at western countries, who have repeatedly attempted to compel New Delhi into curtailing its longstanding relations with Moscow. The backdrop comes after previous American measures, notably the introduction of trade penalties against Indian goods because of its buying of discounted Russian crude.

“Moscow remains a trustworthy supplier of energy resources and everything necessary for the growth of India’s industry,” he remarked. “Moscow stands willing to persist in guaranteeing the steady delivery of energy for the fast-expanding Indian economy.”

Modi, without naming energy directly, supported the theme by noting that “secure fuel supplies has been a key and vital foundation of the India-Russia cooperation.”

Defying US Interference

Before the meeting, during a television interview, Putin had challenged US interference over India's oil imports. He argued, “If the US is entitled to buy our atomic materials, why shouldn’t India enjoy the same privilege?”

This trip marked his first journey to India after the start of the situation in Ukraine, and Moscow and Delhi undertook a clear show to project that the personal rapport between the heads of state persisted strongly.

A Personal Welcome

Taking an rare gesture, Prime Minister Modi personally greeted Putin upon his arrival. They embraced warmly akin to longtime companions before enjoying a one-on-one meal on Thursday evening.

He in his statement called India's relationship with Russia as “a beacon” and noted it was “based on shared respect and deep trust.”

Reaffirming Bilateral Cooperation

The bilateral summit produced a number of key agreements in the fields of defence and trade relations. A major outcome was the signing of an joint economic plan aimed at 2030, which sets a goal to increase twofold mutual trade to $100bn per year by the 2030 deadline.

Additionally agreed to reshape their strategic cooperation. While Russia is still India's largest supplier of weapons, this role has declined over the past decade as India works to broaden its sources.

The joint statement emphasized plans for the collaborative manufacturing of cutting-edge defence platforms, though direct details of systems like the fifth-generation aircraft were left out.

Ultimately, both nations restated that during the “present intricate, strained, and volatile international environment, the Indo-Russian partnership remain durable to outside forces.”