Russia to deploy troops and warships in India under new military agreement

India and Russia Sign Defence Pact Allowing Military Deployment on Each Other’s Soil

New Delhi - India and Russia have signed a significant defence agreement, allowing both countries to station military personnel, warships, and aircraft on each other’s territory. The Reciprocal Exchange of Logistics Support (RELOS) bilateral agreement, which was signed in February last year, is now operational.

The pact facilitates the use of each other’s military bases, naval ports, and airfields during peace and wartime. India has allowed a foreign military to temporarily station soldiers on its soil for the first time, marking a significant shift in the country’s defence policies.

Under the agreement, both countries can deploy 3,000 troops, five warships, and 10 military aircraft on each other’s territory. The logistics support pact also covers services such as refuelling, repairs, and supplies for warships and aircraft.

The RELOS agreement will remain active for five years, with provisions to extend it with mutual consent. The Kremlin stated that the purpose of the Agreement is to define the procedure for the deployment of military formations, port calls by warships, and the use of airspace and airfield infrastructure by military aircraft of the Parties.

The pact also sets the framework for a wide range of services, including air traffic control, navigation support, and aircraft security. For airborne platforms, the pact includes fuel, lubricants, and maintenance services. RELOS will facilitate cross-training between militaries alongside Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) missions in the countries’ areas of interest.

The defence sector has been a central pillar of the Russia-India bilateral relationship since the Cold War era. The agreement gives Russia groundbreaking access to the Indian Ocean, while allowing New Delhi to access ports along the northern sea route from Vladivostok to Murmansk.

According to Andrey Kortunov, academic director of the Russian International Affairs Council, the RELOS agreement deepens the existing bilateral partnership. “It gives the sides unrestricted access to the partner’s infrastructure and provides for reciprocal limited military presence on each other’s territory,” he said.

Source: Al Jazeera