Russia prepares for biggest defence agreement with India as crucial vote comes today

Russia: The Duma, the lower house of Russia's parliament, will vote on Tuesday on a defense agreement with India that could strengthen the military ties between the two countries more than ever. This agreement is related to the India-Russia Reciprocating Logistics Exchange, i.e., RELOS. Its specialty is that this decision is being taken just before Putin's visit to India, which further increases its importance.

What changes will the RELOS agreement bring on the ground?

In simple language, this agreement will make work easier for the armies of both the countries. During any military exercise or operation, India and Russia will be able to use each other's military facilities for refueling, repairs, supplies or any other necessary help. This will save time in joint exercises and work will be able to proceed without interruption. This facility will also be very useful in disaster relief or humanitarian missions.

When was the agreement signed?

It was signed in Moscow on 18 February 2025. The document was formalized by India's Ambassador Vinay Kumar and Russia's Deputy Defense Minister at the time, Alexander Fomin. Now it will be implemented as soon as it gets permission from the Russian Parliament.

Why is Putin's visit considered so special?

President Vladimir Putin is arriving on a two-day visit to India on Thursday. He is to have an annual summit with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This meeting held every year is considered a sign of the strength of relations between the two countries. This time too it is expected that concrete progress will be seen in areas like defense, trade, energy and new technology.
Even at a time of increasing global tensions, this regular communication between India and Russia shows that both countries have confidence in each other and are ready to take the relationship forward.

How are diplomatic experts viewing this visit?

Former Indian Ambassador Ajay Malhotra recently said that Putin's visit to India clearly shows that India stands firm on its independent foreign policy. He also said that the visit is not just a formality but a reaffirmation of the deep ties that have existed for decades. According to him, the friendship between India and Russia does not depend on any one incident but stands on continuous trust.

What will happen next after voting?

If the Duma approves the RELOS agreement on Tuesday, the armies of both the countries will immediately start working towards implementing it. Further outlines on this are expected to be decided during Putin's visit. This step will not only strengthen military cooperation but will also give a new direction to the strategic partnership between India and Russia.