🔗 Share this article

During a defiant statement to the West, President Vladimir Putin has told PM Narendra Modi that Russia stands ready to provide “uninterrupted” supplies of energy resources to India. This declaration came during a summit where both heads of state met in New Delhi and asserted their bilateral ties were “resistant to external pressure.”

A Message Aimed at the United States

This affirmation, delivered Friday, appeared to be a direct challenge at Washington, that have tried to pressure New Delhi into scaling back its historical ties with Moscow. The context is in response to earlier American measures, notably the imposition of import duties on India because of its acquisition of Moscow's energy exports.

“Russia is a trustworthy source of oil and gas and anything necessary for the development of India’s energy sector,” the Russian president remarked. “Moscow stands willing to continue guaranteeing the uninterrupted flow of energy for the fast-expanding Indian economy.”

Modi, without referencing crude specifically, echoed the theme by stating that “secure fuel supplies has been a robust and vital pillar of the Indo-Russian cooperation.”

Questioning Washington's Stance

Prior to the talks, in a media interview, Putin had criticized Washington's stance over India's energy purchases. Putin stated, “Should America can claim the privilege to buy our atomic materials, then why can't India enjoy the same privilege?”

The visit represented his maiden trip to India after the start of the war in Ukraine, and the two nations made a clear show to project that the friendship between the men remained intact.

An Unusual Welcome

Taking an rare move, Prime Minister Modi welcomed directly Putin upon his arrival. The two embraced warmly as close allies before holding a private dinner on Thursday evening.

Modi referred to India's alliance with Russia as “a lodestar” and noted it was “founded on reciprocal esteem and profound confidence.”

Strengthening Defence and Economic Partnerships

Friday's talks yielded multiple key agreements regarding defence and financial collaboration. One significant result was the signing of an strategic roadmap that runs to 2030, which targets to boost bilateral trade to $100bn per year by the target year.

Additionally vowed to restructure their military partnership. Even as Russia remains India's largest supplier of weapons, its share has diminished over the past decade as India works to diversify its sources.

The joint statement stressed plans for the co-development of advanced military systems, even if explicit details of purchases such as the fifth-generation aircraft were not made.

Ultimately, Moscow and Delhi reiterated that in the “current complex, strained, and unpredictable geopolitical situation, Russian-Indian ties stay resilient to foreign influence.”