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Amid a clear signal to the West, Leader Vladimir Putin informed PM Narendra Modi that Russia is prepared to guarantee “unbroken” supplies of energy resources to India. The announcement came when Putin and Modi met in Delhi and declared their bilateral ties were “immune to external pressure.”

A Message Aimed at the West

The statement, issued after the annual summit, appeared to be targeted at western countries, which have tried to compel New Delhi into curtailing its close ties with Moscow. This comes follows recent US actions, notably the imposition of tariffs on India over its purchase of discounted Russian crude.

“Moscow remains a dependable source of oil and gas and all necessary for the growth of India’s energy sector,” Putin remarked. “Moscow stands willing to continue ensuring the uninterrupted delivery of resources for the booming Indian economy.”

Prime Minister Modi, though he did not referencing crude specifically, supported the theme by noting that “a stable energy base has been a robust and important cornerstone of the Indo-Russian partnership.”

Questioning Washington's Stance

Prior to the talks, via a TV appearance, Putin had challenged Washington's stance over India's energy purchases. Putin stated, “Should America is entitled to buy our nuclear fuel, why shouldn’t India enjoy the same privilege?”

Putin's arrival marked his maiden visit to India after the beginning of the war in Ukraine, and both sides undertook a clear effort to display that the personal rapport between the heads of state persisted strongly.

A Personal Greeting

Employing an notable gesture, the Indian PM welcomed directly Putin as he disembarked. The two embraced warmly akin to old friends before enjoying a closed-door supper together.

Modi in his statement called India's partnership with Russia as “a guiding star” and said it was “built on mutual respect and deep trust.”

Expanding Bilateral Cooperation

The bilateral summit yielded multiple significant pacts across defence and economic cooperation. A cornerstone agreement was the finalization of an joint economic plan that runs to 2030, which targets to double mutual trade to a hundred billion USD each year by the end of the decade.

Additionally vowed to reshape their military partnership. Although Russia continues to be India's largest supplier of weapons, this role has reduced over the past decade as India has sought broaden its sources.

The joint statement emphasized cooperation in the co-development of cutting-edge military systems, though specific details of purchases such as the Su-57 fighter jet were left out.

Ultimately, Moscow and Delhi affirmed that amid the “present intricate, tense, and volatile global landscape, the Indo-Russian partnership continue to be durable to external pressure.”