🔗 Share this article

During a clear statement to Western nations, President Vladimir Putin stated to Prime Minister Narendra Modi that Russia stands ready to provide “uninterrupted” shipments of energy resources to India. The announcement came when Putin and Modi met in the Indian capital and asserted their relationship were “immune to outside influence.”

A Statement Aimed at the United States

The statement, made on Friday, was widely seen to be a pointed rebuke at Washington, who have tried to urge New Delhi into reducing its historical links with Moscow. The context is in response to recent American measures, notably the imposition of trade penalties against Indian goods because of its acquisition of discounted Russian crude.

“Russia is a reliable supplier of oil and gas and anything needed for the growth of India’s energy sector,” the Russian president stated. “Russia is prepared to keep guaranteeing the steady flow of fuel for the booming Indian economy.”

Modi, without mentioning oil specifically, echoed the theme by noting that “energy security has been a key and crucial cornerstone of the India-Russia cooperation.”

Challenging American Pressure

In the lead-up to the summit, during a television interview, Putin had questioned Washington's stance regarding India's oil imports. He argued, “When Washington has the right to buy our atomic materials, why shouldn’t India have the equivalent access?”

The visit marked his initial journey to India following the onset of the war in Ukraine, and both sides engaged in a visible effort to display that the bond between the two leaders remained intact.

A Personal Reception

Employing an unusual move, the Indian PM welcomed directly Putin as he disembarked. They embraced warmly like longtime companions before holding a one-on-one meal on Thursday evening.

The Indian prime minister referred to India's alliance with Russia as “a beacon” and added it was “based on mutual respect and profound confidence.”

Expanding Defence and Economic Cooperation

The meeting resulted in a number of significant pacts regarding defence and trade relations. A major outcome was the completion of an strategic roadmap that runs to 2030, which sets a goal to double bilateral trade to $100bn per year by the 2030 deadline.

The leaders also vowed to restructure their military partnership. Although Russia remains India's largest exporter of arms, the volume has reduced lately as India has sought broaden its sources.

Their communique highlighted cooperation in the co-development of sophisticated military systems, although specific mention of deals for the Su-57 fighter jet were left out.

In conclusion, Moscow and Delhi affirmed that during the “ongoing challenging, strained, and uncertain international environment, Russian-Indian ties continue to be durable to external pressure.”