What does the India-Russia logistics agreement allow?, Pg8

Key Highlights:

• The Reciprocal Exchange of Logistics Agreement (RELOS), a bilateral logistics support agreement between India and Russia, was operationalized in January 2026.
• The agreement was signed in Moscow on February 18, 2025, and ratified by Russian President Vladimir Putin on December 15, 2025.
• RELOS allows for reciprocal use of military bases and ports for supplies, repair, and fuel during joint exercises, training, port calls, and Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) situations.
• It stipulates a maximum of 3,000 troops for specific engagements and is valid for a period of five years.
• The agreement does not permit the permanent stationing of troops or assets on each other's territory.

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Detailed Insights:

• Logistics Support Agreements (LSAs) are foundational military cooperation agreements for administrative purposes, simplifying procedures and reducing bureaucracy.
• India has similar LSAs with nine countries, including the U.S. (Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement - LEMOA), the U.K., France, Vietnam, Japan, Australia, and Singapore.
• RELOS defines procedures for supporting military formations, port calls of warships, and the use of airspace and airfield facilities by military aircraft of both countries.
• It covers services such as port and repair, medical support, delivery of food and technical resources, and reciprocal access to military facilities.
• A significant aspect of RELOS is the access it provides to Russian military facilities in the Arctic, facilitating cooperation as new navigation routes emerge due to global warming.
• The agreement clarifies that any deployment of assets and personnel is subject to mutual agreement for specific visits or exercises, not permanent basing.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Logistics Support Agreement (LSA): A military cooperation agreement enabling reciprocal use of bases and ports for supplies, repair, and fuel during specific activities.
• Reciprocal Exchange of Logistics Agreement (RELOS): The specific LSA signed between India and Russia, operationalized in 2026.
• Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA): The first LSA signed by India, with the United States in 2016.