🔗 Share this article

During a clear statement to the West, Leader Vladimir Putin informed Prime Minister Narendra Modi that Russia remains committed to provide “continuous” supplies of crude oil to India. These remarks came during a summit where both heads of state met in Delhi and declared their bilateral ties were “immune to external pressure.”

A Statement For the United States

The statement, made on Friday, appeared to be targeted at western countries, which have tried to urge New Delhi into curtailing its longstanding links with Moscow. The context is in response to previous US actions, notably the imposition of tariffs against Indian goods because of its buying of Moscow's energy exports.

“Our nation is a trustworthy exporter of energy resources and all required for the growth of India’s energy sector,” he said. “Russia is prepared to continue ensuring the consistent delivery of fuel for the rapidly growing Indian economy.”

The Indian leader, though he did not naming energy directly, echoed the sentiment by saying that “a stable energy base has been a strong and crucial cornerstone of the bilateral alliance.”

Questioning Washington's Stance

Before the meeting, during a television interview, Putin had questioned Washington's stance regarding India's dealings with Russia. The president questioned, “If the US can claim the privilege to buy our atomic materials, how can you deny India have the same privilege?”

The visit marked his first journey to India since the beginning of the conflict in Ukraine, and the two nations engaged in a visible effort to project that the personal rapport between the men was undisturbed.

A Personal Welcome

Taking an rare step, the Indian PM welcomed directly Putin upon his arrival. They shared a warm hug like longtime companions before holding a one-on-one meal the night before the summit.

Modi later described India's relationship with Russia as “a beacon” and added it was “built on shared respect and profound confidence.”

Expanding Defence and Economic Cooperation

The bilateral summit resulted in a number of important deals across military and trade relations. A cornerstone agreement was the finalization of an joint economic plan aimed at 2030, which sets a goal to increase twofold bilateral trade to $100bn each year by the target year.

The leaders also vowed to reshape their military partnership. While Russia remains India's biggest exporter of arms, the volume has reduced in recent years as India aims to widen its supply base.

The joint statement highlighted plans for the collaborative manufacturing of advanced defence platforms, although direct mention of purchases such as the Su-57 fighter jet were left out.

Overall, both nations restated that during the “present intricate, tense, and uncertain global landscape, their relationship stay strong to outside forces.”