🔗 Share this article

During a unambiguous message to the West, Leader Vladimir Putin informed Prime Minister Narendra Modi that Russia remains committed to maintain “continuous” deliveries of crude oil to India. The announcement came as the two leaders met in the Indian capital and asserted their bilateral ties were “resistant to external pressure.”

A Statement For the West

The statement, issued after the annual summit, seemed to be a pointed rebuke at western countries, who have sought to pressure New Delhi into reducing its historical links with Moscow. This comes follows earlier US actions, including additional import duties targeting New Delhi due to its purchase of Russian oil.

“Moscow remains a trustworthy source of fuel and everything needed for the advancement of India’s energy sector,” the Russian president said. “Moscow stands willing to persist in securing the uninterrupted supply of energy for the fast-expanding Indian economy.”

Modi, without naming energy directly, supported the focus by saying that “secure fuel supplies has been a key and vital cornerstone of the bilateral alliance.”

Defying American Pressure

In the lead-up to the summit, during a TV appearance, Putin had criticized American pressure regarding India's energy purchases. He argued, “If the US is entitled to buy our atomic materials, how can you deny India have the equivalent access?”

This trip was his maiden trip to India after the beginning of the situation in Ukraine, and the two nations made a clear effort to display that the personal rapport between the men was undisturbed.

An Unusual Greeting

Employing an unusual step, the Indian PM welcomed directly Putin right off the plane. The two embraced warmly akin to longtime companions before enjoying a closed-door supper the night before the summit.

Modi referred to India's relationship with Russia as “a guiding star” and said it was “based on reciprocal esteem and strong faith.”

Reaffirming Defence and Economic Cooperation

The bilateral summit resulted in several important deals in the fields of military and trade relations. A major outcome was the signing of an economic cooperation programme aimed at 2030, which targets to increase twofold commerce to one hundred billion dollars each year by the 2030 deadline.

Furthermore pledged to reshape their strategic cooperation. While Russia is still India's largest source of defence equipment, its share has declined lately as India works to widen its procurement.

Their communique highlighted plans for the joint production of sophisticated military systems, although explicit details of systems like the Su-57 fighter jet were not made.

Ultimately, Moscow and Delhi reiterated that during the “ongoing challenging, tense, and volatile international environment, their relationship remain strong to outside forces.”