🔗 Share this article

In a defiant message to Western nations, Leader Vladimir Putin informed Prime Minister Narendra Modi that Russia remains committed to maintain “unbroken” shipments of crude oil to India. This declaration came when Putin and Modi met in New Delhi and declared their relationship were “immune to foreign coercion.”

A Message Directed at the West

The statement, issued after the annual summit, was widely seen to be a pointed rebuke at Washington, that have tried to pressure New Delhi into curtailing its close ties with Moscow. The context is in response to earlier Washington's moves, including the imposition of trade penalties against Indian goods over its buying of Moscow's energy exports.

“Our nation is a dependable source of oil and gas and anything necessary for the development of India’s industry,” he remarked. “Moscow stands willing to continue guaranteeing the uninterrupted supply of resources for the rapidly growing Indian economy.”

Modi, while not mentioning oil specifically, supported the focus by stating that “a stable energy base has been a strong and vital foundation of the India-Russia partnership.”

Defying American Pressure

In the lead-up to the meeting, during a TV appearance, Putin had challenged Washington's stance regarding India's oil imports. The president questioned, “If the US is entitled to buy our uranium, how can you deny India have the identical right?”

The visit marked his initial trip to India after the onset of the war in Ukraine, and both sides made a clear show to project that the friendship between the men persisted strongly.

A Personal Welcome

Employing an unusual gesture, the Indian PM met Putin as he disembarked. They embraced warmly as longtime companions before enjoying a private dinner the night before the summit.

Modi referred to India's relationship with Russia as “a beacon” and added it was “founded on mutual respect and profound confidence.”

Strengthening Defence and Economic Ties

The meeting produced multiple important deals regarding military and economic cooperation. One significant result was the signing of an strategic roadmap that runs to 2030, which sets a goal to boost bilateral trade to $100bn each year by the 2030 deadline.

The leaders also vowed to recalibrate their military partnership. Even as Russia continues to be India's biggest source of weapons, this role has reduced in recent years as India aims to diversify its sources.

Their communique emphasized plans for the co-development of advanced military systems, even if specific mention of systems like the Sukhoi Su-57 were left out.

Ultimately, both nations restated that in the “current complex, tense, and unpredictable global landscape, Russian-Indian ties stay resilient to external pressure.”