Relos deal with Russia expands India's maritime footprint and ambitions

The Relos deal with Russia expands India’s maritime footprint and ambitions, extending its presence from Chennai in the Indian Ocean to the ice edges of the Arctic.

As Russian President Vladimir Putin visited India last week for a two-day state visit, the defence relationship between the two nations had already gathered momentum. In the run-up to the visit, Russia’s State Duma ratified the Reciprocal Exchange of Logistic Support (Relos) agreement, originally signed in Moscow on February 18, 2025.

Part of India’s broader maritime strategy

The move forms part of a broader strategic plan that began with the SAGAR doctrine in 2015, which first articulated a more expansive maritime role. This was followed by initiatives such as the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI), the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) and the Information Fusion Centre–Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR).

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India signed its first logistics pact, LEMOA, with the US in 2016 and has since continued discussions with partners including Japan, Australia, France, Oman and the Philippines.

Ratification signals renewed strategic commitment

The ratification of Relos, completed ahead of Putin’s arrival in New Delhi, strengthens the operational foundation of India–Russia military cooperation and reflects a renewed commitment to a decades-old strategic partnership.

Relos is a bilateral logistics pact that outlines procedures for dispatching military units, conducting port calls, using airspace and airfields and providing logistical support during missions, joint exercises and humanitarian or disaster-related operations.

State Duma Chairman Vyacheslav Volodin said, “Russia’s relations with India are strategic and comprehensive in nature. We value them and understand that today, by ratifying the Agreement, we take another step towards reciprocity, openness and the development of relations.”

Expanding India’s reach from the Indian Ocean to the Arctic

The agreement enables Indian and Russian forces to operate more efficiently during joint exercises, training missions, humanitarian operations and disaster relief by streamlining refuelling, replenishment, maintenance and other logistical needs.

Relos significantly extends India’s strategic reach, particularly for the Indian Navy, by granting access to Russian naval ports along the Northern Sea Route from Vladivostok to Murmansk.

This broadens India’s operational exposure to Arctic and polar waters — regions where it currently lacks a permanent presence — complementing its scientific and maritime interests in the Arctic. In return, Russia receives reciprocal access to Indian naval bases in the Indian Ocean Region.

Strengthening interoperability across a vast maritime arc

By creating a logistics network that spans the Arctic to the Indian Ocean, the pact strengthens interoperability between the two armed forces. It boosts India’s operational reach and logistical resilience, while providing Russia access to strategic facilities in the IOR.

Both nations stand to benefit from smoother coordination during peacetime and crisis situations, underscoring the enduring nature of India–Russia defence cooperation in an increasingly complex geopolitical landscape.