🔗 Share this article Putin Assures Continuous Energy Deliveries to India in Rebuff of American Pressure In a unambiguous message to the West, President Vladimir Putin stated to PM Narendra Modi that Russia remains committed to guarantee “unbroken” deliveries of crude oil to India. The announcement came during a summit where both heads of state met in Delhi and asserted their partnership were “resistant to outside influence.” A Signal For the United States The statement, made on Friday, appeared to be a pointed rebuke at the United States and its allies, which have sought to pressure New Delhi into reducing its longstanding links with Moscow. The backdrop follows recent Washington's moves, notably the introduction of tariffs against Indian goods because of its purchase of Russian oil. “Our nation is a trustworthy exporter of fuel and all required for the growth of India’s economy,” Putin stated. “Moscow stands willing to continue securing the uninterrupted supply of energy for the booming Indian economy.” Prime Minister Modi, though he did not naming energy explicitly, reinforced the sentiment by saying that “secure fuel supplies has been a strong and crucial cornerstone of the Indo-Russian partnership.” Questioning US Interference In the lead-up to the summit, during a television interview, Putin had challenged American pressure over India's oil imports. The president questioned, “If the US has the right to buy our nuclear fuel, how can you deny India claim the same privilege?” Putin's arrival marked his initial trip to India since the start of the war in Ukraine, and Moscow and Delhi undertook a clear effort to display that the friendship between the men was undisturbed. A Personal Greeting Taking an rare gesture, Modi personally greeted Putin upon his arrival. The two exchanged a hearty embrace like close allies before having a closed-door supper on Thursday evening. He referred to India's relationship with Russia as “a guiding star” and added it was “founded on reciprocal esteem and deep trust.” Strengthening Bilateral Partnerships The bilateral summit produced several important deals regarding military and economic cooperation. One significant result was the finalization of an economic cooperation programme extending until 2030, which targets to boost mutual trade to one hundred billion dollars per year by the end of the decade. The leaders also agreed to reshape their strategic cooperation. Even as Russia remains India's biggest exporter of weapons, this role has diminished in recent years as India has sought broaden its procurement. The official release stressed cooperation in the collaborative manufacturing of cutting-edge military systems, although explicit reference of deals for the Su-57 fighter jet were left out. Ultimately, both nations affirmed that during the “current complex, difficult, and volatile global landscape, the Indo-Russian partnership continue to be strong to external pressure.”