MOSCOW, Dec 3: Russia’s State Duma, the lower house of Parliament, on Tuesday ratified a major intergovernmental agreement with India that sets out procedures for dispatching military personnel, as well as military ships and aircraft, to each other’s territory.
The logistics pact marks a significant step toward deepening defence cooperation ahead of President Vladimir Putin’s state visit to New Delhi begining on December 4 for the 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit.
The Reciprocal Exchange of Logistics Support (RELOS) agreement, signed in February 2025 by Indian Ambassador Vinay Kumar and then-Deputy Defence Minister Alexander Fomin, allows mutual use of military facilities, airspace, and ports for joint exercises, training, humanitarian missions, and disaster relief operations.
It will also streamline operations in challenging regions such as the Arctic.
According to TASS, the agreement stipulates, “The agreement between the Government of the Russian Federation and the Government of the Republic of India on the procedures for dispatching military units, naval ships, and military aircraft of the Russian Federation to the territory of the Republic of India, and military units, naval ships, and military aircraft of the Republic of India to the territory of the Russian Federation, and the organization of their mutual logistical support, signed in Moscow on February 18, 2025, shall be ratified.”
An explanatory note emphasizes that the accord will simplify the deployment of troops , port calls by naval vessels, and the use of airspace and airfield infrastructure by Russian and Indian military aircraft.
The document also outlines arrangements for logistical support to military formations, naval vessels, and military aircraft of both countries during exercises, training, humanitarian assistance operations, disaster relief, and other joint activities.
The Cabinet highlighted that ratification will facilitate the mutual use of airspace and allow Russian and Indian warships easier access to each other’s ports. Overall, the agreement will significantly strengthen military cooperation between the two countries.
(UNI)
The post Russia’s Duma ratifies military logistics pact ahead of Putin’s India visit appeared first on Daily Excelsior.