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Amid a defiant message to Western nations, President Vladimir Putin has told PM Narendra Modi that Russia remains committed to maintain “continuous” supplies of crude oil to India. The announcement came when Putin and Modi met in Delhi and asserted their bilateral ties were “resistant to outside influence.”

A Signal For the Western Countries

The statement, issued after the annual summit, appeared to be targeted at the United States and its allies, who have tried to compel New Delhi into curtailing its longstanding ties with Moscow. The backdrop comes after previous American measures, such as the introduction of tariffs targeting New Delhi because of its purchase of Moscow's energy exports.

“Russia is a dependable supplier of energy resources and anything required for the advancement of India’s energy sector,” the Russian president said. “Russia is prepared to keep ensuring the uninterrupted delivery of energy for the fast-expanding Indian economy.”

The Indian leader, though he did not mentioning oil directly, reinforced the focus by stating that “a stable energy base has been a strong and important cornerstone of the bilateral alliance.”

Questioning Washington's Stance

Before the meeting, during a TV appearance, Putin had criticized American pressure on India's oil imports. The president questioned, “When Washington can claim the privilege to buy our uranium, then why can't India enjoy the identical right?”

The visit was his initial visit to India since the onset of the situation in Ukraine, and Moscow and Delhi undertook a deliberate attempt to project that the friendship between the heads of state was undisturbed.

An Unusual Greeting

In a notable move, Modi met Putin as he disembarked. They shared a warm hug like old friends before holding a closed-door supper the night before the summit.

He later described India's relationship with Russia as “a guiding star” and said it was “based on mutual respect and deep trust.”

Expanding Strategic Ties

The meeting produced a number of significant pacts in the fields of military and trade relations. A cornerstone agreement was the finalization of an strategic roadmap extending until 2030, which aims to double bilateral trade to one hundred billion dollars each year by the 2030 deadline.

Additionally pledged to recalibrate their defence ties. Although Russia remains India's primary source of arms, its share has declined over the past decade as India has sought broaden its procurement.

The official release highlighted cooperation in the co-development of cutting-edge military systems, although direct reference of deals for the Su-57 fighter jet were not made.

In conclusion, both nations reiterated that during the “present intricate, tense, and unpredictable international environment, their relationship continue to be strong to external pressure.”