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Amid a clear signal to Western nations, Leader Vladimir Putin has told Prime Minister Narendra Modi that Russia remains committed to provide “uninterrupted” deliveries of crude oil to India. These remarks came as the two leaders met in New Delhi and asserted their partnership were “immune to foreign coercion.”

A Signal Aimed at the United States

This affirmation, delivered Friday, seemed to be targeted at western countries, that have repeatedly attempted to urge New Delhi into curtailing its longstanding relations with Moscow. This comes is in response to earlier Washington's moves, including the introduction of import duties targeting New Delhi due to its buying of discounted Russian crude.

“Moscow remains a dependable supplier of energy resources and anything necessary for the growth of India’s energy sector,” Putin said. “Russia is prepared to continue securing the steady delivery of fuel for the booming Indian economy.”

Modi, without referencing crude explicitly, echoed the focus by noting that “secure fuel supplies has been a robust and vital pillar of the Indo-Russian partnership.”

Challenging US Interference

Before the summit, during a TV appearance, Putin had challenged American pressure over India's energy purchases. He argued, “When Washington is entitled to buy our nuclear fuel, then why can't India enjoy the equivalent access?”

Putin's arrival represented his first trip to India since the start of the war in Ukraine, and Moscow and Delhi engaged in a visible show to display that the personal rapport between the two leaders remained intact.

A Warm Greeting

Taking an rare step, Prime Minister Modi met Putin upon his arrival. Both leaders embraced warmly like old friends before enjoying a private dinner the night before the summit.

Modi referred to India's relationship with Russia as “a lodestar” and said it was “founded on mutual respect and strong faith.”

Reaffirming Bilateral Partnerships

The meeting produced a number of significant pacts in the fields of defence and trade relations. A cornerstone agreement was the completion of an economic cooperation programme extending until 2030, which aims to double commerce to one hundred billion dollars annually by the 2030 deadline.

The leaders also vowed to reshape their strategic cooperation. Although Russia remains India's primary source of arms, the volume has reduced in recent years as India has sought widen its supply base.

The joint statement highlighted an agreement on the collaborative manufacturing of cutting-edge military systems, even if explicit mention of deals for the Sukhoi Su-57 were left out.

Overall, both nations restated that in the “present intricate, strained, and uncertain geopolitical situation, the Indo-Russian partnership stay resilient to foreign influence.”