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During a clear message to the United States, President Vladimir Putin stated to PM Narendra Modi that Russia is prepared to maintain “uninterrupted” shipments of oil to India. This declaration came when Putin and Modi met in the Indian capital and affirmed their bilateral ties were “resilient to external pressure.”

A Signal Aimed at the United States

The statement, made on Friday, appeared to be targeted at the United States and its allies, who have sought to compel New Delhi into reducing its close relations with Moscow. The backdrop comes after earlier US actions, such as additional trade penalties against Indian goods over its buying of Moscow's energy exports.

“Moscow remains a dependable exporter of energy resources and anything necessary for the advancement of India’s industry,” Putin remarked. “We are ready to keep ensuring the steady delivery of fuel for the fast-expanding Indian economy.”

The Indian leader, though he did not naming energy specifically, reinforced the theme by noting that “energy security has been a robust and crucial foundation of the India-Russia alliance.”

Challenging US Interference

In the lead-up to the meeting, in a TV appearance, Putin had criticized US interference on India's energy purchases. He argued, “Should America has the right to buy our uranium, why shouldn’t India have the same privilege?”

This trip was his initial trip to India since the onset of the war in Ukraine, and the two nations engaged in a deliberate effort to demonstrate that the personal rapport between the heads of state persisted strongly.

A Personal Welcome

In a unusual move, Modi met Putin upon his arrival. The two exchanged a hearty embrace like old friends before having a closed-door supper the night before the summit.

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

Expanding Defence and Economic Ties

Friday's talks resulted in multiple key agreements across defence and trade relations. A cornerstone agreement was the completion of an joint economic plan extending until 2030, which sets a goal to double commerce to a hundred billion USD per year by the target year.

Additionally vowed to restructure their defence ties. While Russia remains India's primary exporter of arms, this role has diminished over the past decade as India aims to broaden its supply base.

The official release emphasized plans for the joint production of advanced defence platforms, even if explicit reference of deals for the Sukhoi Su-57 were not made.

Overall, Russia and India affirmed that amid the “present intricate, tense, and uncertain global landscape, their relationship remain strong to external pressure.”