India’s great balancing act: Activating Russian RELOS as Trump re-engages Pakistan

NEW DELHI: As the Trump administration leans closer to Pakistan amid escalating conflicts in West Asia, India has moved to solidify its own strategic depth. The RELOS agreement is now officially in force, allowing India and Russia reciprocal access to land, naval, and air force bases. Under the terms of the pact, both nations are permitted to deploy up to five warships, 3,000 soldiers, and 10 fighter jets to each other’s military facilities.

The Reciprocal Exchange of Logistics Agreement (RELOS), signed in Moscow on February 18, 2025, establishes a framework for seamless cooperation during both peacetime and conflict. Following official confirmation yesterday, the pact is set to take effect on January 12, significantly broadening the scope of Indo-Russian military synergy. While India maintains a similar arrangement with the United States, that agreement remains restricted to refuelling and basic logistics. RELOS breaks new ground by allowing the actual deployment of Indian military units within Russian bases. By operationalising this pact, New Delhi is sending a clear signal: it remains committed to its historic partnership with Moscow, even amidst intense U.S. pressure regarding Russian oil imports.

The activation of RELOS extends India’s strategic reach into the Arctic region—a territory rapidly emerging as a maritime hotspot. This expansion includes:

• Access to the High North: India gains a strategic foothold in Russia's Arctic territories for a sustained presence.
• Major Port Access: Indian vessels are authorized to anchor in Murmansk and Severomorsk.
• Energy Security: Facilitates LPG imports from the Yamal Peninsula, with Russian ports serving as essential transit points.
• Maintenance: Indian ships gain the right to refuel and undergo technical repairs at Russian facilities.
• Reciprocity: Indian ports will similarly open to Russian naval and merchant ships for a renewable five-year term.

Beyond infrastructure, the RELOS pact serves as a massive catalyst for integrated military operations, effectively institutionalising the cooperation between the two armed forces:

• Elevated Joint Exercises: The agreement provides a streamlined legal and logistical framework, significantly boosting the scale and frequency of joint military drills across all wings of the armed forces.
• Comprehensive Support Systems: In addition to warships gaining guaranteed port access, the pact ensures a steady supply of essential resources—including refuelling, technical repairs, food, water, and specialised maintenance services.
• Aeronautical Integration: For air operations, the two nations will now share critical air traffic control data, aeronautical information, and advanced navigation systems, ensuring seamless coordination for military aircraft.
• Humanitarian and Combat Resilience: The agreement specifically outlines protocols for joint soldier training and collaborative responses to humanitarian crises, natural disasters, and the remediation of war-related damage.