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In a unambiguous statement to Western nations, President Vladimir Putin has told PM Narendra Modi that Russia stands ready to maintain “uninterrupted” shipments of oil to India. These remarks came as the two leaders met in Delhi and asserted their bilateral ties were “resilient to foreign coercion.”

A Message Aimed at the Western Countries

The statement, made on Friday, appeared to be targeted at the United States and its allies, which have repeatedly attempted to urge New Delhi into curtailing its longstanding ties with Moscow. The backdrop is in response to recent American measures, including the imposition of import duties on India because of its purchase of Moscow's energy exports.

“Russia is a dependable source of fuel and all required for the development of India’s economy,” Putin said. “Russia is prepared to persist in securing the steady flow of fuel for the fast-expanding Indian economy.”

The Indian leader, without referencing crude directly, reinforced the focus by stating that “secure fuel supplies has been a robust and crucial foundation of the Indo-Russian partnership.”

Defying Washington's Stance

In the lead-up to the summit, during a TV appearance, Putin had challenged Washington's stance regarding India's oil imports. He argued, “If the US is entitled to buy our nuclear fuel, then why can't India claim the same privilege?”

This trip marked his initial journey to India since the start of the conflict in Ukraine, and the two nations engaged in a deliberate attempt to display that the friendship between the two leaders remained intact.

A Warm Welcome

Employing an rare step, the Indian PM met Putin as he disembarked. They shared a warm hug like old friends before holding a closed-door supper on Thursday evening.

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

Reaffirming Strategic Ties

Friday's talks resulted in a number of key agreements regarding military and economic cooperation. One significant result was the signing of an economic cooperation programme that runs to 2030, which sets a goal to boost commerce to one hundred billion dollars annually by the end of the decade.

Additionally pledged to restructure their strategic cooperation. While Russia is still India's biggest source of defence equipment, its share has reduced in recent years as India works to diversify its procurement.

The joint statement emphasized cooperation in the joint production of sophisticated defence platforms, though direct reference of deals for the Sukhoi Su-57 were not made.

In conclusion, both nations restated that amid the “current complex, difficult, and volatile global landscape, the Indo-Russian partnership remain strong to external pressure.”