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Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a law ratifying an intergovernmental defence agreement with India that lays down procedures for the movement and deployment of military assets between the two countries, according to an official publication on Russia’s legal acts website.
The agreement, known as the Reciprocal Exchange of Logistics Agreement (RELOS), provides a framework for the deployment of military formations, the docking of warships in each other’s ports, and the use of airspace and airfield infrastructure by military aircraft of both nations. It also covers logistical support during joint military exercises, training activities, humanitarian assistance, disaster relief operations and other mutually agreed engagements.
An official note accompanying the ratification said the agreement is intended to deepen bilateral defence cooperation by facilitating smoother operational interaction between the armed forces of Russia and India.
Russian Ambassador to India Denis Alipov underscored the strategic importance of the relationship in remarks to Russian media outlet SolovievLive. India is extremely important to us as an economic and political partner. It views Russia as one of the key poles in the multipolar world order, as its strategic partner, which has had and will continue to have a decisive impact on global development,” he said.
The RELOS pact is being projected as a significant step in strengthening long-standing Russia–India defence ties, particularly at a time of shifting global security dynamics and growing emphasis on interoperability among partner militaries.
The ratification comes amid continued high-level engagement between New Delhi and Moscow, with defence and energy cooperation remaining central pillars of the bilateral relationship. Russia remains one of India’s principal defence partners, while energy trade, especially crude oil supplies, has also featured prominently in recent exchanges between the two sides.
Analysts see the formalisation of logistics support mechanisms as reinforcing the strategic partnership, enabling both countries to expand the scope and frequency of joint activities across the Indo-Pacific and Eurasian regions.
Team BharatShakti
