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During a clear signal to the United States, President Vladimir Putin has told PM Narendra Modi that Russia remains committed to provide “uninterrupted” shipments of energy resources to India. The announcement came during a summit where both heads of state met in Delhi and asserted their bilateral ties were “resistant to external pressure.”

A Signal Directed at the Western Countries

The statement, issued after the annual summit, appeared to be a direct challenge at the United States and its allies, who have tried to compel New Delhi into curtailing its close links with Moscow. The backdrop comes after earlier American measures, including additional import duties targeting New Delhi because of its acquisition of Russian oil.

“Our nation is a reliable supplier of fuel and everything needed for the growth of India’s energy sector,” the Russian president remarked. “We are ready to continue securing the steady delivery of energy for the booming Indian economy.”

Modi, though he did not referencing crude explicitly, reinforced the sentiment by noting that “energy security has been a strong and vital foundation of the bilateral partnership.”

Challenging American Pressure

Prior to the talks, via a TV appearance, Putin had questioned Washington's stance regarding India's oil imports. Putin stated, “When Washington has the right to buy our nuclear fuel, then why can't India claim the identical right?”

Putin's arrival was his initial journey to India after the start of the war in Ukraine, and the two nations engaged in a deliberate effort to display that the friendship between the heads of state was undisturbed.

An Unusual Greeting

Taking an rare move, the Indian PM met Putin as he disembarked. They exchanged a hearty embrace as old friends before having a private dinner on Thursday evening.

The Indian prime minister in his statement called India's relationship with Russia as “a lodestar” and added it was “based on shared respect and strong faith.”

Expanding Bilateral Cooperation

Friday's talks produced several key agreements in the fields of defence and economic cooperation. One significant result was the signing of an economic cooperation programme that runs to 2030, which sets a goal to increase twofold bilateral trade to a hundred billion USD per year by the target year.

Additionally vowed to reshape their defence ties. While Russia remains India's largest supplier of arms, the volume has declined over the past decade as India aims to widen its supply base.

The joint statement emphasized cooperation in the joint production of cutting-edge weapons platforms, though explicit details of deals for the Sukhoi Su-57 were not made.

Ultimately, both nations reiterated that in the “current complex, difficult, and volatile global landscape, their relationship remain resilient to outside forces.”