Russia's lower house of Parliament, the State Duma, is poised to ratify a pivotal military logistics agreement with India, known as the Reciprocal Exchange of Logistics Agreement (RELOS), just ahead of President Vladimir Putin's scheduled state visit to New Delhi on December 4-5, 2025. Signed on February 18, 2025, in Moscow by Indian Ambassador Vinay Kumar and then-Russian Deputy Defence Minister Alexander Fomin, the pact aims to deepen bilateral military cooperation by facilitating mutual access to naval facilities and streamlining coordination for joint exercises and operations. The move, uploaded to the Duma's ratification database alongside a government note, underscores Moscow's commitment to bolstering ties with New Delhi amid evolving global security dynamics.
The RELOS agreement is designed to simplify procedures for shared military activities, including disaster relief efforts and peacetime engagements, while opening new avenues such as joint drills in challenging environments like the Arctic. It enables the Indian Navy's assets, including Talwar-class frigates and the aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya, to utilize Russian bases in frigid regions—strategically relevant given India's LNG imports from Russia's Yamal Peninsula. In return, the Russian Navy gains enhanced access to Indian facilities in the Indian Ocean Region, potentially countering influences from powers like China and strengthening Moscow's regional footprint.
The Russian government's accompanying note to Parliament emphasizes that "the ratification of the document will strengthen cooperation between Russia and India in the military sphere," highlighting the pact's role in expanding operational synergies. This ratification comes at a critical juncture, timed precisely before Putin's visit for the 23rd India-Russia bilateral summit, where leaders are expected to review progress on defense collaborations and other strategic partnerships. The agreement builds on decades of robust India-Russia defense relations, with Moscow remaining India's largest arms supplier, accounting for over 60% of New Delhi's military hardware imports in recent years.
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India-Russia military ties trace back to the Cold War era, evolving into a "special and privileged strategic partnership" post-2000, marked by landmark deals like the 2018 S-400 missile system purchase and joint ventures such as the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile. RELOS represents a modern extension of this legacy, focusing on logistical interoperability rather than hardware sales, and aligns with India's multi-alignment foreign policy while aiding Russia's pivot eastward amid Western sanctions. Analysts view the pact as a pragmatic step to enhance mutual resilience in an increasingly multipolar world.
Putin's visit, his first to India since the onset of the Ukraine conflict in 2022, is anticipated to yield discussions on energy security, trade targets aiming for $100 billion by 2030, and further defense co-production initiatives. The timely ratification of RELOS could feature prominently in summit outcomes, signaling uninterrupted momentum in bilateral relations despite geopolitical headwinds. Indian officials have expressed optimism, noting the agreement's potential to foster greater trust and efficiency in joint endeavors.
As ratification proceedings advance in the Duma, the development reaffirms the enduring resilience of India-Russia strategic convergence. With both nations navigating complex international landscapes—India balancing ties with the West and Russia seeking reliable partners—the RELOS pact exemplifies how targeted military logistics can underpin broader geopolitical stability, paving the way for a productive summit and sustained collaboration in the years ahead.
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