🔗 Share this article

During a unambiguous message to Western nations, President Vladimir Putin has told Prime Minister Narendra Modi that Russia is prepared to maintain “uninterrupted” deliveries of oil to India. The announcement came during a summit where both heads of state met in New Delhi and declared their relationship were “resilient to outside influence.”

A Message Aimed at the United States

This affirmation, issued after the annual summit, appeared to be a direct challenge at the United States and its allies, that have repeatedly attempted to pressure New Delhi into reducing its longstanding ties with Moscow. The backdrop is in response to earlier Washington's moves, such as the introduction of tariffs targeting New Delhi because of its purchase of discounted Russian crude.

“Our nation is a reliable supplier of energy resources and all required for the advancement of India’s energy sector,” Putin stated. “Russia is prepared to keep securing the consistent flow of resources for the booming Indian economy.”

Modi, without mentioning oil specifically, reinforced the sentiment by saying that “a stable energy base has been a strong and important foundation of the India-Russia cooperation.”

Questioning US Interference

Before the meeting, during a television interview, Putin had questioned Washington's stance on India's oil imports. Putin stated, “Should America is entitled to buy our nuclear fuel, how can you deny India enjoy the same privilege?”

Putin's arrival was his maiden trip to India after the onset of the conflict in Ukraine, and both sides undertook a clear effort to display that the personal rapport between the heads of state was undisturbed.

An Unusual Reception

Employing an unusual gesture, Modi met Putin as he disembarked. They exchanged a hearty embrace akin to longtime companions before enjoying a private dinner together.

He in his statement called India's partnership with Russia as “a lodestar” and noted it was “based on reciprocal esteem and strong faith.”

Reaffirming Strategic Ties

The bilateral summit resulted in a number of significant pacts regarding defence and economic cooperation. One significant result was the signing of an economic cooperation programme extending until 2030, which aims to double mutual trade to $100bn each year by the target year.

Furthermore agreed to restructure their defence ties. While Russia continues to be India's largest exporter of arms, its share has diminished lately as India aims to broaden its procurement.

Their communique highlighted plans for the co-development of advanced weapons platforms, though explicit details of deals for the Sukhoi Su-57 were omitted.

In conclusion, Russia and India affirmed that amid the “ongoing challenging, strained, and uncertain geopolitical situation, the Indo-Russian partnership continue to be strong to external pressure.”