In a significant development ahead of President Vladimir Putin’s upcoming visit to New Delhi, the Russian State Duma is scheduled to vote today on the ratification of a landmark defence logistics agreement signed with India earlier this year. The pact, known as the Reciprocal Exchange of Logistics Agreement (RELOS), aims to deepen bilateral military cooperation by allowing both nations to access each other’s military facilities, airbases, and naval ports for refuelling, repair, replenishment, and operational support.
The agreement was initially signed in February 2025 between India’s Ambassador to Russia and the Russian Deputy Defence Minister, marking a major step to modernise and streamline defence collaboration. Once ratified, RELOS is expected to enhance interoperability between the armed forces of both countries and facilitate joint exercises, maritime operations, and humanitarian missions.
The timing of the vote is strategically significant, as President Putin is scheduled to arrive in India on 4-5 December for high-level talks covering defence, energy, and regional security. Officials in Moscow have indicated that clearing the agreement before the visit would allow both sides to formally operationalise it during bilateral discussions.
The pact also holds broader geopolitical implications, strengthening India-Russia strategic ties amid shifting global alignments. RELOS would give India greater reach in the Arctic and the Russian Far East, while offering Moscow logistical access across the Indian Ocean Region. The Duma’s approval is widely expected, paving the way for an expanded and modernised defence partnership between the two long-standing allies.
