Russia parliament ratifies key pact on military, logistic support with India ahead of Putin’s state visit

Russia’s lower house of parliament, the State Duma, on Tuesday, December 2, 2025, approved a key military agreement with India ahead of President Vladimir Putin’s state visit to New Delhi on December 4-5.

The Mutual Logistics Support Agreement (RELOS), signed between the two governments on February 18, was sent to the Duma last week for approval by Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin.

Speaker of the State Duma Vyacheslav Volodin told the plenary session of the parliament: “Our relations with India are strategic and comprehensive and we value them. We understand that today’s ratification of the agreement is another step towards reciprocity and, of course, the development of our relations.”

The RELOS agreement determines the procedure for sending Russia’s military formations, warships and military aircraft to India and vice versa, as well as the organization of their mutual logistic support.

The agreement will regulate not only the shipment of soldiers and equipment but also their logistics.

The established procedure will be used during joint exercises, training, humanitarian assistance, disaster relief efforts after natural and man-made disasters, and in other agreed upon situations.

In a note published on the Duma’s website, the Russian Council of Ministers stated that the approval of the document would facilitate the mutual use of the two countries’ airspace and port visits by Russian and Indian warships.

It was also stated that the agreement will strengthen military cooperation between the two countries.