Russian President Vladimir Putin has used a high-profile summit in New Delhi to defiantly pledge "uninterrupted" shipments of oil to India, directly challenging pressure from Western nations led by the United States. The assurance came during his first visit to India since the invasion of Ukraine, at the annual bilateral summit with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday.
A Partnership "Resilient to External Pressure"
The meeting between the two leaders was marked by public displays of enduring friendship and a clear message that their strategic relationship would not be swayed by international condemnation of Russia's actions in Ukraine. In a joint statement, both leaders emphasised that in the current complex geopolitical situation, Russian-Indian ties remain "resilient to external pressure".
Modi personally greeted Putin at the airport, where the two shared a warm embrace, underscoring the personal rapport between them. This was followed by a private dinner on Thursday evening before the formal talks.
Energy Security as a Cornerstone
President Putin left no room for ambiguity regarding energy cooperation, a critical pillar of the relationship. "Russia is a reliable supplier of energy resources and everything necessary for the development of India’s energy sector," he stated. "We are ready to continue ensuring the uninterrupted supply of fuel for the rapidly growing Indian economy."
While Modi did not explicitly mention oil in his public remarks, he affirmed that energy security is a "strong and important pillar" of the bilateral partnership. This stance comes despite punitive measures from Washington; in August, US President Donald Trump imposed an additional 25% import tariff on India over its purchase of discounted Russian crude, arguing it undermined sanctions and funded the war.
In a televised interview prior to the summit, Putin challenged this US interference, questioning, "If the US has the right to buy our [nuclear] fuel, why shouldn’t India have the same privilege?"
Deepening Defence and Economic Ties
The summit yielded substantial new agreements, signalling an intent to broaden and modernise the decades-old alliance:
- An economic cooperation programme until 2030 was finalised, with an ambitious goal to double annual bilateral trade to $100 billion.
- In defence, the two nations agreed to move beyond a buyer-seller dynamic towards joint production of advanced defence platforms. Russia remains India's largest arms supplier, though Delhi has sought to diversify in recent years.
- The leaders committed to reshaping their defence partnership, though specific deals on systems like the Sukhoi Su-57 fighter jet were not detailed publicly.
Prime Modi described the Russia-India partnership as "a guiding star", built on mutual respect and deep trust. The summit's outcomes demonstrate a calculated reinforcement of ties, with both nations navigating a fraught international landscape by reaffirming a relationship they describe as time-tested.
