🔗 Share this article

During a unambiguous statement to the United States, President Vladimir Putin informed Prime Minister Narendra Modi that Russia is prepared to maintain “continuous” shipments of oil to India. The announcement came as the two leaders met in Delhi and declared their bilateral ties were “resistant to outside influence.”

A Statement For the West

Putin's comments, delivered Friday, seemed to be targeted at western countries, which have tried to urge New Delhi into reducing its close ties with Moscow. The backdrop is in response to previous American measures, notably additional import duties against Indian goods due to its acquisition of discounted Russian crude.

“Our nation is a reliable supplier of fuel and everything needed for the growth of India’s energy sector,” Putin said. “We are ready to keep ensuring the consistent supply of energy for the fast-expanding Indian economy.”

The Indian leader, though he did not naming energy directly, reinforced the theme by saying that “a stable energy base has been a key and important pillar of the Indo-Russian partnership.”

Questioning US Interference

In the lead-up to the meeting, in a media interview, Putin had challenged Washington's stance over India's dealings with Russia. The president questioned, “If the US has the right to buy our atomic materials, why shouldn’t India have the equivalent access?”

The visit was his maiden journey to India after the start of the war in Ukraine, and Moscow and Delhi made a deliberate attempt to project that the friendship between the men remained intact.

A Personal Welcome

Taking an unusual gesture, the Indian PM welcomed directly Putin upon his arrival. They exchanged a hearty embrace as longtime companions before holding a one-on-one meal together.

He referred to India's partnership with Russia as “a beacon” and said it was “founded on reciprocal esteem and deep trust.”

Reaffirming Strategic Cooperation

The meeting yielded several important deals regarding defence and trade relations. A cornerstone agreement was the completion of an joint economic plan extending until 2030, which sets a goal to boost bilateral trade to $100bn per year by the 2030 deadline.

Furthermore pledged to recalibrate their strategic cooperation. Although Russia is still India's largest supplier of weapons, the volume has diminished in recent years as India aims to broaden its sources.

The official release emphasized plans for the collaborative manufacturing of sophisticated military systems, though specific reference of systems like the fifth-generation aircraft were not made.

Overall, Moscow and Delhi reiterated that during the “current complex, strained, and unpredictable international environment, Russian-Indian ties remain durable to foreign influence.”