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In a clear signal to Western nations, President Vladimir Putin has told Prime Minister Narendra Modi that Russia is prepared to guarantee “continuous” supplies of oil to India. The announcement came as the two leaders met in New Delhi and asserted their partnership were “resilient to external pressure.”

A Signal Aimed at the United States

This affirmation, issued after the annual summit, seemed to be targeted at the United States and its allies, which have repeatedly attempted to pressure New Delhi into curtailing its close ties with Moscow. This comes comes after previous US actions, including the imposition of import duties on India due to its purchase of Moscow's energy exports.

“Our nation is a trustworthy source of oil and gas and everything necessary for the advancement of India’s industry,” he remarked. “We are ready to keep securing the steady supply of energy for the fast-expanding Indian economy.”

Prime Minister Modi, though he did not referencing crude explicitly, echoed the sentiment by stating that “a stable energy base has been a strong and vital pillar of the Indo-Russian partnership.”

Challenging American Pressure

Prior to the talks, during a TV appearance, Putin had questioned Washington's stance regarding India's dealings with Russia. He argued, “When Washington is entitled to buy our uranium, why shouldn’t India enjoy the same privilege?”

Putin's arrival marked his initial visit to India after the start of the conflict in Ukraine, and Moscow and Delhi made a clear show to display that the friendship between the two leaders remained intact.

A Personal Greeting

Employing an unusual gesture, the Indian PM personally greeted Putin as he disembarked. They embraced warmly akin to longtime companions before having a private dinner together.

He later described India's partnership with Russia as “a beacon” and added it was “built on reciprocal esteem and profound confidence.”

Reaffirming Defence and Economic Partnerships

Friday's talks produced several important deals in the fields of military and economic cooperation. A cornerstone agreement was the finalization of an joint economic plan that runs to 2030, which aims to double commerce to $100bn annually by the end of the decade.

The leaders also agreed to restructure their strategic cooperation. Even as Russia is still India's largest exporter of defence equipment, the volume has declined over the past decade as India works to diversify its sources.

The joint statement emphasized cooperation in the joint production of cutting-edge military systems, even if explicit mention of deals for the Su-57 fighter jet were not made.

In conclusion, Russia and India affirmed that during the “ongoing challenging, difficult, and uncertain geopolitical situation, their relationship remain resilient to external pressure.”