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Amid a unambiguous statement to Western nations, President Vladimir Putin has told PM Narendra Modi that Russia remains committed to provide “uninterrupted” supplies of energy resources to India. These remarks came when Putin and Modi met in the Indian capital and declared their bilateral ties were “resistant to foreign coercion.”

A Message Aimed at the West

This affirmation, made on Friday, appeared to be a pointed rebuke at Washington, who have repeatedly attempted to pressure New Delhi into curtailing its historical relations with Moscow. The backdrop follows earlier Washington's moves, such as additional tariffs against Indian goods due to its purchase of Russian oil.

“Our nation is a reliable supplier of energy resources and all needed for the advancement of India’s economy,” the Russian president stated. “We are ready to continue ensuring the uninterrupted delivery of fuel for the rapidly growing Indian economy.”

Modi, without naming energy directly, reinforced the sentiment by noting that “a stable energy base has been a key and vital pillar of the bilateral cooperation.”

Defying Washington's Stance

In the lead-up to the meeting, during a television interview, Putin had challenged American pressure regarding India's energy purchases. He argued, “Should America is entitled to buy our atomic materials, then why can't India enjoy the equivalent access?”

This trip was his initial journey to India after the onset of the war in Ukraine, and both sides undertook a deliberate show to demonstrate that the friendship between the heads of state was undisturbed.

An Unusual Welcome

In a notable step, Modi welcomed directly Putin right off the plane. Both leaders shared a warm hug like close allies before having a one-on-one meal the night before the summit.

He later described India's relationship with Russia as “a lodestar” and added it was “founded on mutual respect and profound confidence.”

Reaffirming Defence and Economic Cooperation

The bilateral summit produced a number of important deals in the fields of defence and trade relations. A major outcome was the finalization of an economic cooperation programme that runs to 2030, which aims to increase twofold bilateral trade to $100bn per year by the 2030 deadline.

Additionally pledged to reshape their strategic cooperation. While Russia is still India's biggest supplier of defence equipment, its share has declined in recent years as India works to diversify its sources.

The official release emphasized an agreement on the collaborative manufacturing of advanced military systems, although direct mention of systems like the fifth-generation aircraft were left out.

Overall, both nations affirmed that in the “current complex, tense, and volatile geopolitical situation, Russian-Indian ties continue to be resilient to external pressure.”