🔗 Share this article

In a clear statement to the West, Leader Vladimir Putin informed PM Narendra Modi that Russia remains committed to guarantee “continuous” shipments of crude oil to India. These remarks came during a summit where both heads of state met in New Delhi and asserted their relationship were “resistant to foreign coercion.”

A Statement Aimed at the Western Countries

Putin's comments, delivered Friday, appeared to be targeted at western countries, that have sought to urge New Delhi into scaling back its close ties with Moscow. The backdrop follows recent US actions, such as additional trade penalties against Indian goods over its acquisition of discounted Russian crude.

“Our nation is a dependable exporter of oil and gas and anything needed for the development of India’s economy,” the Russian president remarked. “Moscow stands willing to persist in guaranteeing the consistent supply of fuel for the fast-expanding Indian economy.”

Prime Minister Modi, without mentioning oil directly, reinforced the focus by stating that “secure fuel supplies has been a key and vital foundation of the bilateral partnership.”

Questioning Washington's Stance

Before the summit, in a media interview, Putin had criticized Washington's stance over India's energy purchases. The president questioned, “If the US has the right to buy our atomic materials, how can you deny India enjoy the identical right?”

The visit represented his first visit to India after the onset of the conflict in Ukraine, and the two nations engaged in a deliberate effort to project that the friendship between the heads of state was undisturbed.

An Unusual Reception

In a unusual step, the Indian PM personally greeted Putin upon his arrival. They shared a warm hug akin to longtime companions before holding a one-on-one meal together.

He in his statement called India's partnership with Russia as “a lodestar” and noted it was “founded on shared respect and profound confidence.”

Expanding Bilateral Cooperation

Friday's talks resulted in multiple significant pacts regarding defence and trade relations. A cornerstone agreement was the completion of an economic cooperation programme extending until 2030, which targets to double bilateral trade to a hundred billion USD annually by the end of the decade.

The leaders also agreed to reshape their strategic cooperation. Although Russia remains India's primary source of defence equipment, the volume has reduced lately as India works to diversify its supply base.

The joint statement emphasized cooperation in the joint production of sophisticated military systems, though direct details of deals for the Sukhoi Su-57 were left out.

In conclusion, Moscow and Delhi reiterated that during the “present intricate, difficult, and volatile global landscape, the Indo-Russian partnership stay resilient to outside forces.”