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In a unambiguous message to Western nations, Leader Vladimir Putin has told Prime Minister Narendra Modi that Russia remains committed to maintain “uninterrupted” deliveries of crude oil to India. This declaration came during a summit where both heads of state met in New Delhi and asserted their relationship were “immune to external pressure.”

A Signal Aimed at the West

The statement, made on Friday, was widely seen to be targeted at western countries, that have repeatedly attempted to pressure New Delhi into reducing its close ties with Moscow. The context comes after recent US actions, including additional trade penalties against Indian goods due to its buying of Russian oil.

“Moscow remains a trustworthy supplier of fuel and everything needed for the growth of India’s economy,” Putin said. “Moscow stands willing to persist in guaranteeing the consistent flow of energy for the fast-expanding Indian economy.”

Prime Minister Modi, while not naming energy specifically, supported the theme by noting that “a stable energy base has been a key and crucial foundation of the India-Russia alliance.”

Defying Washington's Stance

Before the talks, during a television interview, Putin had challenged American pressure over India's energy purchases. The president questioned, “If the US has the right to buy our nuclear fuel, how can you deny India claim the same privilege?”

Putin's arrival represented his initial trip to India after the start of the war in Ukraine, and both sides made a visible attempt to demonstrate that the friendship between the two leaders was undisturbed.

A Warm Greeting

Employing an rare move, Modi welcomed directly Putin right off the plane. The two shared a warm hug as longtime companions before holding a private dinner on Thursday evening.

He in his statement called India's alliance with Russia as “a beacon” and noted it was “founded on shared respect and deep trust.”

Strengthening Bilateral Ties

The bilateral summit yielded several key agreements across defence and economic cooperation. A major outcome was the finalization of an joint economic plan aimed at 2030, which targets to double bilateral trade to $100bn per year by the end of the decade.

The leaders also pledged to recalibrate their defence ties. While Russia continues to be India's primary source of defence equipment, its share has diminished lately as India works to widen its procurement.

Their communique stressed plans for the joint production of sophisticated military systems, although direct mention of deals for the fifth-generation aircraft were omitted.

Overall, Moscow and Delhi restated that during the “ongoing challenging, strained, and uncertain global landscape, their relationship continue to be durable to external pressure.”