The State Duma is poised to ratify the Reciprocal Exchange of Logistics Agreement (RELOS) with India ahead of President Vladimir Putin’s state visit on December 4-5 for the 23rd bilateral summit, according to reports.
By PTI November 29, 2025, 11:14:41 AM IST (Published)
Signed in Moscow on February 18, 2025 by Indian Ambassador Vinay Kumar and then-Deputy Defence Minister Alexander Fomin, RELOS is designed to deepen military cooperation between the two countries by simplifying logistics for joint activities.
The Duma has uploaded the agreement and the Russian government’s explanatory note to its ratification database. Russian news agency TASS quoted the government as saying ratification will strengthen military cooperation with India.
RELOS aims to streamline coordination for joint military exercises, disaster relief operations and other peacetime activities by reducing procedural barriers for reciprocal support.
Defence sources say the pact will make it easier to conduct joint drills and humanitarian responses. Analysts note the agreement could broaden where peacetime operations take place, potentially covering Arctic exercises as India ships LNG from the Yamal Peninsula.
India’s Talwar-class frigates and the INS Vikramaditya, which are capable of operating in Arctic conditions, could use Russian naval bases for logistics, while Russian vessels could access Indian facilities to bolster their presence in the Indian Ocean Region, helping offset Chinese and other external activity in the area.
(Edited by : Gareema Bangad)
