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Amid a unambiguous statement to the United States, Leader Vladimir Putin has told Prime Minister Narendra Modi that Russia stands ready to provide “unbroken” supplies of crude oil to India. This declaration came during a summit where both heads of state met in New Delhi and asserted their bilateral ties were “resilient to outside influence.”

A Statement Aimed at the West

The statement, delivered Friday, was widely seen to be a direct challenge at the United States and its allies, which have repeatedly attempted to pressure New Delhi into curtailing its historical links with Moscow. The backdrop comes after previous Washington's moves, notably the introduction of import duties against Indian goods because of its acquisition of Moscow's energy exports.

“Moscow remains a trustworthy supplier of fuel and anything required for the growth of India’s economy,” the Russian president stated. “Moscow stands willing to persist in securing the uninterrupted delivery of energy for the booming Indian economy.”

Modi, though he did not mentioning oil directly, echoed the sentiment by saying that “a stable energy base has been a strong and vital cornerstone of the India-Russia cooperation.”

Defying Washington's Stance

In the lead-up to the talks, during a television interview, Putin had questioned US interference regarding India's energy purchases. The president questioned, “Should America has the right to buy our nuclear fuel, how can you deny India enjoy the same privilege?”

This trip represented his maiden visit to India after the start of the situation in Ukraine, and both sides engaged in a visible show to demonstrate that the personal rapport between the two leaders was undisturbed.

An Unusual Welcome

Employing an rare gesture, Modi met Putin upon his arrival. Both leaders exchanged a hearty embrace akin to close allies before having a closed-door supper on Thursday evening.

He referred to India's alliance with Russia as “a lodestar” and added it was “based on mutual respect and profound confidence.”

Strengthening Strategic Cooperation

The meeting produced multiple key agreements in the fields of defence and economic cooperation. A cornerstone agreement was the finalization of an joint economic plan extending until 2030, which aims to double mutual trade to one hundred billion dollars each year by the target year.

Furthermore agreed to reshape their strategic cooperation. Even as Russia remains India's biggest exporter of weapons, the volume has diminished in recent years as India has sought diversify its sources.

The joint statement stressed plans for the joint production of sophisticated weapons platforms, even if direct details of purchases such as the Su-57 fighter jet were not made.

In conclusion, Moscow and Delhi affirmed that in the “current complex, difficult, and uncertain international environment, the Indo-Russian partnership remain resilient to foreign influence.”