‘We value them’: Russia approves key defence pact ‘RELOS’ with India ahead of Putin’s Delhi visit

The RELOS agreement lays out how Russian military units, ships, and aircraft can be sent to India, and how Indian forces can be sent to Russia.

Russia’s lower house of parliament, the State Duma, approved an important military agreement with India on Tuesday, just days before President Vladimir Putin’s visit to New Delhi on December 4–5. The pact, called the Reciprocal Exchange of Logistic Support (RELOS), was originally signed on February 18. Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin sent it to the Duma for approval last week.

During the session, State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin said that Russia values its long-standing partnership with India. He added that passing this agreement is another move that strengthens trust and deepens cooperation between the two countries.

“Our relations with India are strategic and comprehensive, and we value them. We understand that today’s ratification of the agreement is another step toward reciprocity and, of course, the development of our relations,” he said.

The RELOS agreement lays out how Russian military units, ships, and aircraft can be sent to India, and how Indian forces can be sent to Russia. It also sets the rules for how both sides will provide each other with logistical help during such deployments.

The pact covers not just the movement of troops and equipment, but also how supplies, support, and services will be managed.

These rules will apply during joint military exercises, training missions, humanitarian work, and disaster relief operations — whether the emergencies are natural or caused by human activity. The agreement can also be used in any other situation that both countries agree on.

A note published on the State Duma’s website said that approving the agreement will make it easier for both countries to use each other’s airspace and allow their warships to dock at one another’s ports.

The document also states that the pact will further strengthen military cooperation between India and Russia.