Putin India Visit 2025: Is the approval of Russia-India RELOS agreement before Putin’s visit a sign of a major strategic change? Is this deal going to create a new power equation in Asia by allowing sharing of warships, airspace and military support?
New Delhi/Moscow. The defense partnership between India and Russia is already considered very strong, but the big step that has come just before Putin’s visit to India has given a new direction to this relationship. The State Duma, the parliament of Russia, has approved the very important RELOS Defense Agreement with India. This is the same agreement that will allow the armies of both the countries to use each other’s land, airspace and ports. There is curiosity in both the countries about this agreement because this is the first time that India and Russia are combining their military logistics support at this level. The question is – is this agreement limited only to logistics or is there some big strategic planning hidden behind it?
Russia-India RELOS Agreement: Will now warships and military aircraft be able to move easily?
RELOS means Reciprocal Exchange of Logistic Support Agreement. In simple language, this agreement will give easy access to each other’s facilities, fuel, supplies, repair and port-airbase support to the armies of both the countries.
This means that:
- Russian warships and military aircraft will be able to come to India.
- Indian Navy and Air Force will be able to use Russian facilities.
- Logistic support for the armies of both the countries will be easier and faster.
- In any joint exercise, training or emergency, the response time will be halved.
Experts believe that this agreement will further strengthen India’s role in the Indian Ocean and Indo-Pacific. At the same time, Russia will also get a strong partner for its military movement in Asia.
Is the approval of RELOS a sign of some bigger message before Putin’s visit to India?
State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin said that India-Russia relations are very deep and strategic. Getting this approval two days before Putin’s visit in itself shows that Russia sees India as a major partner. This approval has come at the same time when the world is divided into two major factions – the Ukraine war continues, relations between the West and Russia are very bad, and the security scenario in Asia is constantly changing. In such an environment, the logistics agreement between India and Russia gives an important signal.
Is this agreement limited only to logistics or is there larger geo-strategic planning behind it?
RELOS is not limited to just refueling and port use. Inside it includes:
- joint military exercise
- humanitarian aid
- disaster relief
- Movement of troops and military equipment
- Fast-track support in times of war and crisis
These provisions suggest that India and Russia are preparing to work together on future security challenges.
Will the RELOS agreement take India-Russia defense partnership to the next level?
After this agreement, military cooperation between the two countries will become easier, faster and more effective than before. This agreement not only enhances strategic confidence but also signals that the India-Russia defense partnership is going to become stronger in the times to come.