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In a defiant statement to the West, President Vladimir Putin informed Prime Minister Narendra Modi that Russia is prepared to provide “unbroken” shipments of crude oil to India. These remarks came when Putin and Modi met in the Indian capital and asserted their relationship were “immune to outside influence.”

A Signal Directed at the West

The statement, made on Friday, appeared to be a direct challenge at the United States and its allies, which have tried to urge New Delhi into curtailing its longstanding links with Moscow. The context comes after recent American measures, such as the introduction of trade penalties against Indian goods due to its acquisition of discounted Russian crude.

“Our nation is a trustworthy exporter of fuel and all required for the advancement of India’s industry,” the Russian president said. “Russia is prepared to continue guaranteeing the consistent flow of energy for the fast-expanding Indian economy.”

Prime Minister Modi, while not naming energy explicitly, echoed the sentiment by stating that “a stable energy base has been a robust and important foundation of the bilateral cooperation.”

Defying American Pressure

In the lead-up to the meeting, in a TV appearance, Putin had criticized American pressure regarding India's dealings with Russia. He argued, “When Washington can claim the privilege to buy our atomic materials, why shouldn’t India enjoy the identical right?”

Putin's arrival represented his maiden journey to India following the start of the war in Ukraine, and Moscow and Delhi undertook a clear attempt to demonstrate that the friendship between the two leaders persisted strongly.

An Unusual Reception

Taking an notable move, Modi welcomed directly Putin as he disembarked. The two exchanged a hearty embrace like longtime companions before enjoying a private dinner the night before the summit.

Modi in his statement called India's relationship with Russia as “a lodestar” and said it was “built on reciprocal esteem and deep trust.”

Reaffirming Bilateral Ties

The bilateral summit resulted in several significant pacts in the fields of military and trade relations. A major outcome was the signing of an economic cooperation programme aimed at 2030, which sets a goal to increase twofold mutual trade to one hundred billion dollars per year by the target year.

Additionally agreed to restructure their strategic cooperation. Although Russia remains India's biggest source of arms, its share has declined over the past decade as India works to diversify its procurement.

Their communique stressed plans for the co-development of advanced military systems, even if direct mention of systems like the Su-57 fighter jet were not made.

Ultimately, both nations restated that amid the “current complex, tense, and unpredictable international environment, their relationship remain strong to external pressure.”