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May 10, 2026
Sukhoi Su-57 stealth fighters and additional S-400 air defence systems are on the agenda for the meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Vladimir Putin, Russia has moved swiftly to formalise a crucial military cooperation pact with India. The State Duma, Russia’s lower house of parliament, approved the Reciprocal Exchange of Logistic Support (reLOS) agreement, just days before Putin’s state visit to New Delhi on December 4–5.
The reLOS pact, originally signed on February 18 and forwarded for ratification last week by Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, sets out the procedure for the deployment of military units, warships and aircraft between India and Russia. It also lays down the full spectrum of logistical support that both sides can offer each other from fuel and maintenance to berthing, supplies and operational assistance whenever required.
During the Duma’s plenary session, Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin said the strategic value of the move, stating that the ratification marks another step toward deeper reciprocity and long-term cooperation.
The agreement will be applicable during joint military exercises, training missions, humanitarian assistance operations, natural or man-made disaster relief efforts and in any other situation mutually approved by both governments.
A note issued on the Duma’s official website said the ratification will simplify access to each other’s airspace and enable Russian and Indian naval vessels to make port calls with far greater ease. With Putin scheduled to land in New Delhi next week, the approval of the reLOS pact signals Moscow’s intent to reinforce its long-standing defence partnership with India.
