🔗 Share this article

Amid a clear message to Western nations, President Vladimir Putin stated to Prime Minister Narendra Modi that Russia stands ready to guarantee “continuous” supplies of oil to India. These remarks came during a summit where both heads of state met in Delhi and affirmed their bilateral ties were “resilient to foreign coercion.”

A Statement For the Western Countries

Putin's comments, issued after the annual summit, seemed to be a pointed rebuke at western countries, that have tried to compel New Delhi into scaling back its historical relations with Moscow. The backdrop follows recent US actions, notably additional import duties targeting New Delhi due to its acquisition of Moscow's energy exports.

“Moscow remains a trustworthy source of fuel and anything necessary for the advancement of India’s energy sector,” he stated. “We are ready to continue ensuring the consistent delivery of fuel for the fast-expanding Indian economy.”

Modi, without referencing crude explicitly, echoed the theme by stating that “energy security has been a robust and crucial cornerstone of the Indo-Russian cooperation.”

Challenging US Interference

Before the talks, via a TV appearance, Putin had questioned US interference on India's dealings with Russia. Putin stated, “When Washington can claim the privilege to buy our uranium, why shouldn’t India enjoy the same privilege?”

This trip was his initial trip to India since the start of the situation in Ukraine, and the two nations engaged in a clear show to demonstrate that the friendship between the two leaders persisted strongly.

A Warm Welcome

Employing an rare step, the Indian PM personally greeted Putin right off the plane. Both leaders embraced warmly akin to close allies before holding a private dinner on Thursday evening.

The Indian prime minister later described India's partnership with Russia as “a lodestar” and added it was “based on reciprocal esteem and strong faith.”

Reaffirming Strategic Cooperation

The bilateral summit produced multiple significant pacts regarding military and trade relations. One significant result was the finalization of an economic cooperation programme that runs to 2030, which aims to boost bilateral trade to $100bn per year by the end of the decade.

Furthermore pledged to recalibrate their strategic cooperation. While Russia remains India's primary source of weapons, its share has declined in recent years as India has sought diversify its sources.

The joint statement highlighted plans for the joint production of cutting-edge weapons platforms, although direct details of systems like the Su-57 fighter jet were not made.

Overall, both nations restated that amid the “current complex, difficult, and unpredictable global landscape, Russian-Indian ties remain durable to foreign influence.”