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During a defiant message to the West, President Vladimir Putin has told PM Narendra Modi that Russia stands ready to guarantee “uninterrupted” deliveries of crude oil to India. This declaration came during a summit where both heads of state met in Delhi and declared their relationship were “resistant to foreign coercion.”

A Statement Aimed at the United States

The statement, made on Friday, was widely seen to be a pointed rebuke at Washington, which have tried to compel New Delhi into curtailing its longstanding relations with Moscow. This comes follows earlier American measures, such as the introduction of import duties against Indian goods because of its acquisition of Russian oil.

“Moscow remains a trustworthy source of fuel and anything required for the advancement of India’s economy,” he remarked. “Moscow stands willing to continue securing the consistent flow of resources for the booming Indian economy.”

Modi, while not referencing crude explicitly, echoed the focus by stating that “a stable energy base has been a strong and crucial foundation of the bilateral alliance.”

Defying Washington's Stance

Prior to the summit, in a TV appearance, Putin had challenged American pressure on India's dealings with Russia. He argued, “If the US can claim the privilege to buy our nuclear fuel, why shouldn’t India enjoy the same privilege?”

The visit represented his maiden journey to India after the start of the conflict in Ukraine, and Moscow and Delhi undertook a clear attempt to project that the bond between the men persisted strongly.

An Unusual Greeting

Taking an notable gesture, Modi personally greeted Putin right off the plane. The two exchanged a hearty embrace like longtime companions before having a closed-door supper on Thursday evening.

He in his statement called India's alliance with Russia as “a guiding star” and added it was “built on mutual respect and strong faith.”

Reaffirming Defence and Economic Cooperation

The bilateral summit resulted in several important deals in the fields of defence and financial collaboration. A cornerstone agreement was the completion of an joint economic plan that runs to 2030, which targets to double bilateral trade to $100bn annually by the end of the decade.

Additionally vowed to restructure their defence ties. While Russia continues to be India's primary exporter of arms, the volume has declined over the past decade as India works to broaden its procurement.

The official release stressed plans for the co-development of cutting-edge military systems, although explicit reference of purchases such as the fifth-generation aircraft were left out.

In conclusion, Moscow and Delhi reiterated that in the “present intricate, difficult, and volatile geopolitical situation, their relationship remain strong to external pressure.”