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In a clear message to the United States, Leader Vladimir Putin has told Prime Minister Narendra Modi that Russia is prepared to guarantee “uninterrupted” deliveries of energy resources to India. The announcement came during a summit where both heads of state met in New Delhi and declared their partnership were “immune to external pressure.”

A Message Aimed at the Western Countries

Putin's comments, issued after the annual summit, appeared to be a pointed rebuke at the United States and its allies, who have tried to compel New Delhi into reducing its close relations with Moscow. The backdrop follows previous US actions, including the introduction of tariffs on India because of its purchase of Moscow's energy exports.

“Moscow remains a reliable source of energy resources and anything required for the advancement of India’s energy sector,” Putin stated. “We are ready to continue guaranteeing the consistent flow of fuel for the rapidly growing Indian economy.”

Prime Minister Modi, while not referencing crude specifically, supported the sentiment by saying that “energy security has been a key and vital foundation of the Indo-Russian partnership.”

Challenging Washington's Stance

Before the summit, in a media interview, Putin had criticized US interference regarding India's oil imports. He argued, “If the US can claim the privilege to buy our atomic materials, why shouldn’t India claim the equivalent access?”

Putin's arrival marked his first visit to India since the onset of the conflict in Ukraine, and Moscow and Delhi engaged in a clear attempt to display that the bond between the two leaders persisted strongly.

A Warm Greeting

In a unusual gesture, Modi personally greeted Putin upon his arrival. The two exchanged a hearty embrace as longtime companions before having a one-on-one meal the night before the summit.

The Indian prime minister later described India's alliance with Russia as “a guiding star” and noted it was “founded on reciprocal esteem and profound confidence.”

Expanding Strategic Ties

Friday's talks yielded multiple key agreements in the fields of defence and trade relations. A cornerstone agreement was the finalization of an strategic roadmap extending until 2030, which targets to boost commerce to a hundred billion USD annually by the 2030 deadline.

Additionally pledged to reshape their military partnership. While Russia remains India's biggest exporter of defence equipment, the volume has diminished over the past decade as India works to widen its procurement.

Their communique stressed plans for the collaborative manufacturing of advanced weapons platforms, even if explicit reference of purchases such as the Sukhoi Su-57 were not made.

Overall, Russia and India reiterated that amid the “current complex, difficult, and unpredictable global landscape, their relationship stay strong to external pressure.”