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In a unambiguous message to the West, Leader Vladimir Putin has told Prime Minister Narendra Modi that Russia stands ready to guarantee “unbroken” supplies of oil to India. This declaration came when Putin and Modi met in the Indian capital and asserted their partnership were “resistant to outside influence.”

A Message Directed at the United States

This affirmation, issued after the annual summit, appeared to be a direct challenge at western countries, who have tried to urge New Delhi into curtailing its historical links with Moscow. The context is in response to previous Washington's moves, including the imposition of import duties against Indian goods because of its buying of Russian oil.

“Our nation is a reliable supplier of oil and gas and anything needed for the growth of India’s industry,” Putin remarked. “Russia is prepared to persist in guaranteeing the steady supply of resources for the booming Indian economy.”

Prime Minister Modi, without mentioning oil explicitly, reinforced the focus by saying that “secure fuel supplies has been a robust and important foundation of the India-Russia partnership.”

Questioning US Interference

Before the meeting, in a television interview, Putin had challenged Washington's stance over India's dealings with Russia. Putin stated, “When Washington has the right to buy our uranium, then why can't India have the same privilege?”

This trip marked his first visit to India after the onset of the war in Ukraine, and Moscow and Delhi engaged in a clear effort to display that the bond between the heads of state persisted strongly.

A Personal Greeting

Employing an rare step, Prime Minister Modi personally greeted Putin right off the plane. They shared a warm hug akin to old friends before enjoying a one-on-one meal the night before the summit.

Modi referred to India's partnership with Russia as “a lodestar” and noted it was “based on mutual respect and strong faith.”

Expanding Strategic Cooperation

The bilateral summit yielded several key agreements in the fields of military and financial collaboration. A major outcome was the finalization of an economic cooperation programme extending until 2030, which targets to boost mutual trade to one hundred billion dollars per year by the 2030 deadline.

Additionally pledged to reshape their military partnership. Although Russia continues to be India's primary exporter of arms, this role has diminished over the past decade as India aims to broaden its sources.

The joint statement emphasized cooperation in the joint production of cutting-edge weapons platforms, although specific reference of deals for the Sukhoi Su-57 were not made.

Ultimately, Russia and India affirmed that during the “present intricate, strained, and uncertain global landscape, their relationship continue to be strong to outside forces.”