By N. C. Bipindra

New Delhi: Russia has cleared a major defence agreement with India just two days before President Vladimir Putin lands in New Delhi, signalling renewed momentum in a strategic partnership that has endured geopolitical turbulence.

On December 1, 2025, the Russian State Duma ratified the long-awaited Reciprocal Exchange of Logistic Support (RELOS) pact, setting the stage for smoother military cooperation between the two nations.

Announcing the development, State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin described India–Russia ties as “strategic and comprehensive,” adding that the agreement’s ratification marked a significant step forward in deepening bilateral defence engagement.

The approval follows a draft submitted last week by Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin.

What the RELOS Pact Enables

The RELOS agreement gives both militaries reciprocal access to each other’s bases for refuelling, maintenance, repairs, supplies, and berthing of ships and aircraft. It also covers logistics support during joint exercises, humanitarian missions, and disaster-relief operations.

In effect, Indian and Russian aircraft and warships will be able to operate in each other’s territories without bureaucratic bottlenecks. The pact also authorises the use of airspace and ports, enabling hassle-free movement of personnel and equipment.

A major strategic gain for India is access to Russian facilities in the Arctic, including along the Northern Sea Route from Vladivostok to Murmansk, an area where Russia maintains significant military infrastructure.

Analysts at ORF note that agreements like RELOS eliminate repetitive paperwork and allow “rolling settlement” for costs such as fuel and berthing.

Why RELOS Is Important for India

The pact strengthens India’s logistics network at a time when its Navy is expanding its operational footprint across the Indo-Pacific.

India has entered similar arrangements with the US, France, Japan, Australia, the UK, Singapore, South Korea, and Vietnam, but a Russia-specific agreement carries unique value.

India’s armed forces rely heavily on Russian-origin platforms from Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighters and T-90 tanks to S-400 air defence systems. RELOS ensures easy access to spares and technical support during deployments.

The Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses points out that access to Arctic ports will allow the Indian Navy to gain rare operational experience in polar conditions while supporting India’s scientific projects in the region.

Defence analysts note that, “If implemented effectively, RELOS could give India the logistical backbone to emerge as a true global naval power.” With Indian warships deployed across chokepoints in the wider Indo-Pacific, logistics access in friendly ports has become critical for sustained missions.

Indian Navy chief Admiral Dinesh K. Tripathi, in his annual media interaction ahead of Navy Day 2025 on December 2, 2025, said the India-Russia RELOS would “not be a conflict of interest” when viewed alongside the Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA) signed with the United States, or with any similar agreements with other nations.

How Russia Benefits

For Russia, the pact offers valuable reach into the Indian Ocean, an area of rising geopolitical competition. With Western sanctions limiting Moscow’s overseas activities, access to Indian facilities allows Russia to maintain a credible naval presence in Asia without establishing costly permanent bases.

It also helps Moscow balance China’s growing influence in the region while reinforcing a partnership that has historically anchored its engagement with South Asia.

A Long-Delayed Agreement Finally Moves Forward

The RELOS pact has been in the works for several years and was initially expected to be signed during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Vladivostok in 2019. After prolonged delays, both sides approved a draft in mid-2024.

Its ratification on the eve of Putin’s visit strongly suggests that the agreement could be formally sealed during bilateral talks, marking a major upgrade in India–Russia military interoperability and strategic access.

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