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In a defiant signal to the West, Leader Vladimir Putin has told Prime Minister Narendra Modi that Russia is prepared to guarantee “unbroken” supplies of crude oil to India. These remarks came during a summit where both heads of state met in New Delhi and affirmed their relationship were “resistant to outside influence.”

A Signal Directed at the West

The statement, issued after the annual summit, seemed to be targeted at the United States and its allies, who have sought to pressure New Delhi into curtailing its close ties with Moscow. This comes comes after previous Washington's moves, including additional import duties on India due to its acquisition of discounted Russian crude.

“Russia is a trustworthy supplier of oil and gas and all required for the advancement of India’s industry,” the Russian president remarked. “Moscow stands willing to persist in guaranteeing the consistent delivery of fuel for the fast-expanding Indian economy.”

Prime Minister Modi, while not referencing crude directly, echoed the focus by saying that “energy security has been a key and vital foundation of the bilateral cooperation.”

Challenging US Interference

Prior to the talks, via a television interview, Putin had challenged US interference regarding India's dealings with Russia. Putin stated, “Should America is entitled to buy our atomic materials, why shouldn’t India claim the same privilege?”

Putin's arrival was his maiden trip to India after the beginning of the situation in Ukraine, and Moscow and Delhi made a visible attempt to project that the friendship between the two leaders was undisturbed.

An Unusual Welcome

In a unusual gesture, the Indian PM welcomed directly Putin upon his arrival. The two shared a warm hug akin to longtime companions before enjoying a closed-door supper the night before the summit.

He referred to India's relationship with Russia as “a beacon” and said it was “based on mutual respect and profound confidence.”

Strengthening Bilateral Cooperation

The meeting resulted in multiple key agreements regarding defence and financial collaboration. One significant result was the signing of an economic cooperation programme that runs to 2030, which targets to boost commerce to $100bn each year by the end of the decade.

Additionally vowed to reshape their strategic cooperation. Even as Russia remains India's primary source of weapons, this role has diminished in recent years as India aims to broaden its sources.

The joint statement highlighted cooperation in the collaborative manufacturing of cutting-edge weapons platforms, though direct details of deals for the Sukhoi Su-57 were not made.

Overall, both nations reiterated that in the “present intricate, strained, and unpredictable global landscape, the Indo-Russian partnership stay strong to foreign influence.”