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During a defiant statement to the West, President Vladimir Putin stated to Prime Minister Narendra Modi that Russia is prepared to provide “uninterrupted” deliveries of crude oil to India. This declaration came when Putin and Modi met in the Indian capital and asserted their relationship were “immune to external pressure.”

A Message Aimed at the West

This affirmation, delivered Friday, seemed to be targeted at western countries, which have tried to pressure New Delhi into scaling back its close ties with Moscow. The context is in response to previous American measures, notably the introduction of import duties targeting New Delhi because of its acquisition of Russian oil.

“Our nation is a trustworthy exporter of oil and gas and everything needed for the development of India’s economy,” he remarked. “Russia is prepared to keep securing the uninterrupted flow of fuel for the fast-expanding Indian economy.”

Prime Minister Modi, though he did not referencing crude specifically, reinforced the theme by saying that “a stable energy base has been a robust and crucial pillar of the India-Russia partnership.”

Questioning Washington's Stance

Before the meeting, during a media interview, Putin had questioned Washington's stance on India's energy purchases. Putin stated, “If the US can claim the privilege to buy our nuclear fuel, then why can't India claim the same privilege?”

This trip marked his first journey to India following the start of the situation in Ukraine, and Moscow and Delhi undertook a clear effort to project that the personal rapport between the two leaders persisted strongly.

An Unusual Welcome

Employing an rare step, the Indian PM personally greeted Putin as he disembarked. The two embraced warmly akin to close allies before enjoying a closed-door supper on Thursday evening.

Modi later described India's relationship with Russia as “a guiding star” and said it was “founded on mutual respect and profound confidence.”

Strengthening Bilateral Ties

Friday's talks yielded multiple significant pacts regarding military and trade relations. A major outcome was the signing of an economic cooperation programme aimed at 2030, which targets to increase twofold commerce to one hundred billion dollars annually by the 2030 deadline.

The leaders also agreed to restructure their strategic cooperation. Even as Russia remains India's biggest exporter of defence equipment, this role has reduced in recent years as India has sought broaden its sources.

The joint statement stressed an agreement on the co-development of advanced defence platforms, though specific reference of deals for the fifth-generation aircraft were left out.

Overall, Russia and India affirmed that amid the “ongoing challenging, tense, and volatile geopolitical situation, Russian-Indian ties continue to be durable to external pressure.”