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During a clear message to the United States, Leader Vladimir Putin stated to PM Narendra Modi that Russia is prepared to guarantee “continuous” supplies of oil to India. These remarks came when Putin and Modi met in New Delhi and declared their relationship were “resilient to outside influence.”

A Statement Directed at the United States

This affirmation, delivered Friday, was widely seen to be a pointed rebuke at the United States and its allies, that have repeatedly attempted to pressure New Delhi into reducing its historical links with Moscow. This comes follows earlier US actions, such as additional trade penalties on India due to its purchase of discounted Russian crude.

“Our nation is a trustworthy exporter of oil and gas and anything necessary for the advancement of India’s economy,” he remarked. “Moscow stands willing to persist in ensuring the consistent supply of resources for the rapidly growing Indian economy.”

Prime Minister Modi, while not naming energy explicitly, echoed the sentiment by stating that “energy security has been a key and vital cornerstone of the India-Russia partnership.”

Questioning Washington's Stance

In the lead-up to the meeting, via a television interview, Putin had questioned American pressure regarding India's energy purchases. The president questioned, “When Washington is entitled to buy our uranium, why shouldn’t India claim the same privilege?”

This trip marked his first visit to India following the onset of the war in Ukraine, and Moscow and Delhi undertook a deliberate attempt to demonstrate that the personal rapport between the two leaders remained intact.

An Unusual Welcome

Taking an rare step, the Indian PM met Putin as he disembarked. They shared a warm hug as longtime companions before enjoying a private dinner on Thursday evening.

Modi referred to India's alliance with Russia as “a lodestar” and added it was “built on shared respect and profound confidence.”

Reaffirming Strategic Cooperation

The bilateral summit yielded several important deals in the fields of defence and economic cooperation. A cornerstone agreement was the signing of an economic cooperation programme aimed at 2030, which targets to boost mutual trade to a hundred billion USD annually by the end of the decade.

Additionally pledged to reshape their strategic cooperation. Even as Russia continues to be India's primary exporter of arms, the volume has reduced over the past decade as India has sought diversify its procurement.

The joint statement highlighted cooperation in the joint production of sophisticated defence platforms, although direct reference of purchases such as the fifth-generation aircraft were omitted.

In conclusion, both nations reiterated that during the “current complex, tense, and uncertain geopolitical situation, the Indo-Russian partnership remain durable to foreign influence.”