India–Russia Logistics Support Agreement ‘RELOS’

Q: With how many countries has the Government of India signed logistics agreements like RELOS?

7 countries – USA, France, Singapore, South Korea, Japan, Australia, and Russia

Q: What gifts were recently presented to the Russian President during his India visit?

Assam black tea, silver tea set, silver horse, marble chess set, Kashmiri saffron, and a Russian-language copy of the Shrimad Bhagavad Gita

Updated: 06 Dec 2025

3 Min Read

India–Russia Logistics Support Agreement ‘RELOS’

Recently, India and Russia signed the Reciprocal Exchange of Logistics Support Agreement (RELOS). India has signed military logistics agreements with seven major countries – the USA, France, Singapore, South Korea, Japan, Australia, and Russia.

Before President Vladimir Putin’s 2025 India visit, Russia officially approved the Reciprocal Exchange of Logistics Support (RELOS) Agreement with India.
The Reciprocal Exchange of Logistics Support Agreement (RELOS) is a bilateral military logistics pact between India and Russia that allows their armed forces to access each other's military facilities for refueling, repair, supply, berthing, and maintenance.
This agreement strengthens India–Russia defence cooperation and enhances India’s strategic reach from the Indo-Pacific to the Arctic and Eurasian region.
India has signed military logistics agreements (such as LEMOA, RELOS, ACSA) with at least seven major countries – the USA, France, Singapore, South Korea, Japan, Australia, and Russia.
Discussions or agreements are also ongoing with Vietnam, the UK, and the Philippines, enabling mutual access to fuel, bases, and supplies for enhanced maritime security and interoperability, and the total number continues to grow.

Objectives of the RELOS Agreement

To provide reciprocal access to each other's military bases, ports, and airfields for refueling, repair, and logistical support.
To strengthen defence cooperation by enabling smooth logistics during joint exercises and coordinated operations. By reducing deployment time and cost, it improves operational efficiency, especially for long-range naval missions.
To assist in fast and coordinated Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) operations during emergencies.
It formalizes logistics support, allowing mutual access to more than 40 Russian naval and air bases.
To enhance operational access and interoperability, India has multiple (LEMOA, COMCASA, BECA) logistics and defence cooperation agreements with different countries. RELOS with Russia complements these agreements but also provides unique strategic advantages.

Russian President Putin visited India on a two-day trip

Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in New Delhi on 4–5 December 2025 for the 23rd India–Russia Annual Summit during his official visit. During the two-day visit, President Putin held discussions with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Since the 2000 Strategic Partnership Declaration, India and Russia have held annual summits to strengthen long-term cooperation.
First visit after 2021: After a four-year gap, this is Putin’s first visit to India, reflecting renewed engagement.
Both leaders shared their views on regional and global issues of mutual benefit. Several agreements related to trade, economy, healthcare, academics, culture, and media were signed. President Droupadi Murmu also welcomed the Russian President, who received a 21-gun salute at Rashtrapati Bhavan, followed by a banquet in his honour.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi presented several gifts to President Putin, including Assam black tea, a silver tea set, a silver horse, a marble chess set, Kashmiri saffron, and a Russian-language copy of the Shrimad Bhagavad Gita.
The 1971 Treaty of Peace, Friendship and Cooperation laid the foundation for the Strategic Partnership. Since the Soviet era, India and Russia have maintained deep synergy in defence, energy, and nuclear cooperation.
Fifteen years ago, in 2010, the partnership was upgraded to a Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership.