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Amid a clear message to the West, President Vladimir Putin has told PM Narendra Modi that Russia stands ready to guarantee “unbroken” deliveries of energy resources to India. This declaration came as the two leaders met in New Delhi and asserted their partnership were “immune to outside influence.”

A Message Aimed at the United States

This affirmation, made on Friday, appeared to be targeted at western countries, that have tried to urge New Delhi into scaling back its longstanding relations with Moscow. The backdrop comes after recent US actions, notably additional tariffs against Indian goods over its purchase of Russian oil.

“Moscow remains a trustworthy source of energy resources and everything required for the advancement of India’s energy sector,” he remarked. “Moscow stands willing to continue securing the steady delivery of energy for the rapidly growing Indian economy.”

Modi, though he did not naming energy explicitly, echoed the focus by stating that “a stable energy base has been a strong and vital pillar of the Indo-Russian cooperation.”

Challenging American Pressure

Before the summit, via a TV appearance, Putin had criticized US interference on India's dealings with Russia. The president questioned, “Should America is entitled to buy our uranium, how can you deny India enjoy the equivalent access?”

This trip was his initial visit to India after the start of the conflict in Ukraine, and Moscow and Delhi undertook a visible show to project that the bond between the two leaders remained intact.

An Unusual Reception

In a unusual gesture, Modi welcomed directly Putin right off the plane. Both leaders shared a warm hug akin to old friends before enjoying a closed-door supper together.

The Indian prime minister in his statement called India's partnership with Russia as “a guiding star” and said it was “based on shared respect and deep trust.”

Expanding Defence and Economic Cooperation

Friday's talks resulted in multiple significant pacts across defence and trade relations. A cornerstone agreement was the finalization of an economic cooperation programme that runs to 2030, which aims to double commerce to $100bn each year by the end of the decade.

Additionally agreed to restructure their defence ties. Even as Russia continues to be India's biggest supplier of weapons, the volume has declined lately as India has sought diversify its sources.

The official release highlighted cooperation in the collaborative manufacturing of sophisticated weapons platforms, although direct mention of deals for the Su-57 fighter jet were left out.

Overall, Russia and India affirmed that during the “present intricate, difficult, and unpredictable geopolitical situation, their relationship continue to be strong to external pressure.”