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Amid a clear message to the United States, Leader Vladimir Putin stated to PM Narendra Modi that Russia is prepared to maintain “continuous” supplies of crude oil to India. This declaration came when Putin and Modi met in the Indian capital and asserted their relationship were “resistant to foreign coercion.”

A Statement Aimed at the Western Countries

This affirmation, made on Friday, seemed to be a pointed rebuke at western countries, that have repeatedly attempted to compel New Delhi into scaling back its close ties with Moscow. The context follows earlier US actions, notably the introduction of trade penalties targeting New Delhi over its purchase of Russian oil.

“Our nation is a dependable supplier of fuel and all needed for the growth of India’s industry,” he stated. “Russia is prepared to keep ensuring the uninterrupted delivery of energy for the rapidly growing Indian economy.”

The Indian leader, though he did not naming energy directly, supported the focus by stating that “a stable energy base has been a robust and crucial cornerstone of the bilateral partnership.”

Challenging US Interference

Prior to the talks, in a media interview, Putin had challenged Washington's stance on India's dealings with Russia. Putin stated, “Should America is entitled to buy our uranium, then why can't India have the equivalent access?”

This trip marked his first trip to India after the beginning of the war in Ukraine, and the two nations undertook a deliberate show to display that the personal rapport between the two leaders persisted strongly.

An Unusual Reception

Employing an unusual step, Prime Minister Modi welcomed directly Putin upon his arrival. They exchanged a hearty embrace like old friends before having a one-on-one meal on Thursday evening.

The Indian prime minister in his statement called India's relationship with Russia as “a lodestar” and noted it was “founded on reciprocal esteem and strong faith.”

Expanding Bilateral Ties

The meeting resulted in multiple significant pacts regarding military and trade relations. A cornerstone agreement was the finalization of an economic cooperation programme extending until 2030, which aims to increase twofold bilateral trade to a hundred billion USD per year by the 2030 deadline.

The leaders also agreed to restructure their military partnership. While Russia is still India's largest source of arms, the volume has diminished over the past decade as India aims to broaden its supply base.

The joint statement stressed plans for the joint production of sophisticated defence platforms, even if specific reference of systems like the Sukhoi Su-57 were omitted.

Ultimately, Moscow and Delhi reiterated that in the “present intricate, strained, and unpredictable international environment, the Indo-Russian partnership continue to be strong to foreign influence.”