🔗 Share this article

During a clear statement to the United States, President Vladimir Putin informed PM Narendra Modi that Russia stands ready to maintain “unbroken” shipments of energy resources to India. The announcement came during a summit where both heads of state met in Delhi and asserted their bilateral ties were “resistant to foreign coercion.”

A Statement Aimed at the United States

The statement, issued after the annual summit, was widely seen to be a pointed rebuke at Washington, who have repeatedly attempted to pressure New Delhi into scaling back its longstanding relations with Moscow. This comes follows previous American measures, notably the introduction of import duties targeting New Delhi over its purchase of Moscow's energy exports.

“Russia is a trustworthy exporter of oil and gas and anything required for the growth of India’s energy sector,” the Russian president stated. “Moscow stands willing to persist in securing the steady delivery of fuel for the fast-expanding Indian economy.”

Prime Minister Modi, without mentioning oil specifically, supported the focus by saying that “secure fuel supplies has been a key and important pillar of the bilateral alliance.”

Challenging Washington's Stance

Prior to the talks, via a television interview, Putin had criticized US interference on India's energy purchases. Putin stated, “Should America has the right to buy our uranium, then why can't India enjoy the same privilege?”

The visit was his initial trip to India following the onset of the situation in Ukraine, and Moscow and Delhi engaged in a clear show to project that the personal rapport between the heads of state persisted strongly.

An Unusual Greeting

In a notable step, Prime Minister Modi met Putin upon his arrival. They exchanged a hearty embrace like old friends before having a private dinner the night before the summit.

Modi referred to India's partnership with Russia as “a lodestar” and said it was “based on mutual respect and profound confidence.”

Reaffirming Strategic Cooperation

The bilateral summit produced a number of significant pacts in the fields of defence and trade relations. A cornerstone agreement was the signing of an strategic roadmap that runs to 2030, which targets to double commerce to a hundred billion USD each year by the target year.

The leaders also agreed to restructure their defence ties. While Russia continues to be India's biggest source of defence equipment, the volume has reduced lately as India aims to broaden its supply base.

The official release emphasized cooperation in the collaborative manufacturing of sophisticated weapons platforms, even if specific reference of systems like the Su-57 fighter jet were not made.

Overall, Moscow and Delhi restated that amid the “ongoing challenging, strained, and uncertain international environment, their relationship continue to be durable to foreign influence.”