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During a unambiguous statement to Western nations, Leader Vladimir Putin informed PM Narendra Modi that Russia is prepared to provide “unbroken” supplies of crude oil to India. The announcement came when Putin and Modi met in Delhi and declared their partnership were “resilient to external pressure.”

A Message Aimed at the Western Countries

The statement, issued after the annual summit, was widely seen to be a direct challenge at the United States and its allies, which have repeatedly attempted to pressure New Delhi into scaling back its longstanding relations with Moscow. The backdrop is in response to previous Washington's moves, such as the introduction of trade penalties on India due to its acquisition of discounted Russian crude.

“Moscow remains a reliable source of fuel and everything needed for the growth of India’s energy sector,” Putin stated. “Moscow stands willing to continue securing the consistent flow of energy for the fast-expanding Indian economy.”

Prime Minister Modi, though he did not referencing crude directly, echoed the theme by stating that “a stable energy base has been a key and important pillar of the India-Russia partnership.”

Challenging US Interference

Prior to the summit, during a TV appearance, Putin had criticized American pressure over India's energy purchases. The president questioned, “When Washington has the right to buy our nuclear fuel, how can you deny India claim the same privilege?”

This trip was his initial visit to India since the start of the war in Ukraine, and both sides engaged in a deliberate attempt to project that the personal rapport between the men remained intact.

A Warm Greeting

Taking an unusual move, the Indian PM met Putin upon his arrival. They shared a warm hug akin to longtime companions before having a closed-door supper together.

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

Strengthening Bilateral Ties

Friday's talks yielded multiple key agreements in the fields of defence and trade relations. A major outcome was the finalization of an joint economic plan extending until 2030, which aims to boost bilateral trade to $100bn annually by the target year.

The leaders also agreed to reshape their strategic cooperation. While Russia continues to be India's primary exporter of weapons, this role has reduced lately as India works to broaden its sources.

Their communique emphasized cooperation in the joint production of cutting-edge defence platforms, although direct mention of purchases such as the Su-57 fighter jet were omitted.

In conclusion, Moscow and Delhi reiterated that during the “current complex, difficult, and volatile international environment, their relationship continue to be resilient to foreign influence.”