As President Vladimir Putin's visit to New Delhi approaches on December 4-5 for the 23rd India-Russia bilateral summit, Russia's lower house of Parliament, the State Duma, is set to ratify a crucial military agreement with India. The agreement, known as the Reciprocal Exchange of Logistics Agreement (RELOS), was signed on February 18, 2025, in Moscow by Indian Ambassador Vinay Kumar and then-Deputy Defence Minister Alexander Fomin. The State Duma is expected to vote on the ratification of RELOS on Tuesday.
RELOS aims to enhance military cooperation between India and Russia by streamlining logistics and coordination for various joint activities. These activities include military exercises, disaster relief operations, and other collaborative endeavors. The agreement will simplify procedures for joint initiatives, leading to enhanced overall military cooperation.
The agreement facilitates the mutual dispatch of military units, warships, and warplanes to each other's territories, along with organizing mutual technical and logistical support. This could involve deploying troops for joint drills and training sessions, humanitarian assistance, and disaster response.
Experts suggest that RELOS could broaden the scope of peacetime operations for both nations. Specifically, the agreement could apply to joint exercises in the Arctic, especially as India transports LNG from the Yamal Peninsula. The Indian Navy's Talwar-class frigates and the INS Vikramaditya aircraft carrier, both equipped for Arctic conditions, could utilize Russian naval bases for logistical support. Conversely, the Russian Navy could leverage Indian facilities to strengthen its presence and counterbalance Chinese and other foreign activity in the Indian Ocean Region.
The Russian government believes that the ratification of RELOS will strengthen military cooperation with India. India and Russia already maintain a robust defense partnership, highlighted by the regular Tri-Services exercise INDRA and joint military programs like the BrahMos missile project and the Su-30MKI fighter program.
The timing of the ratification ahead of President Putin's visit underscores the importance of the strategic partnership between India and Russia. The visit is expected to yield significant outcomes in trade and defense, further solidifying bilateral ties.
