Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed into federal law a key military cooperation agreement with India, formally completing Russia’s internal legal process for the pact. The agreement, which focuses on reciprocal logistical support between the armed forces of the two countries, is expected to strengthen long-standing defence ties between New Delhi and Moscow.

According to the Kremlin chancery, President Putin signed the agreement on Monday following its approval from both chambers of the Russian parliament earlier this month. The pact is officially known as the Reciprocal Exchange of Logistics Support (RELOS) agreement.

As reported by news agency PTI, the agreement was first ratified by the State Duma, the lower house of the Russian parliament, on December 2. It was subsequently cleared by the Federation Council, the upper house, on December 8. Following parliamentary approval, the document was sent to the Russian President for final assent, which has now been granted. With the signing, Russia has completed its domestic legislative requirements for the agreement.

The RELOS agreement lays down detailed procedures governing the movement of military formations, warships, and military aircraft between Russia and India. It also sets out the framework for providing logistical support to each other’s armed forces when operating on the other’s territory.

According to an explanatory note prepared by the Russian Cabinet of Ministers, the agreement is designed to regulate not only the dispatch of troops and military equipment, but also the logistical arrangements associated with such deployments. This includes various support services that may be required when military units from one country are operating in the other.

The framework established under the pact is intended to be used primarily during joint military exercises and training programmes conducted by the two countries. It also applies to humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations, reflecting the broader scope of cooperation beyond combat-related activities.

The agreement further states that its provisions may be applied in other situations as well, provided both India and Russia give mutual consent. In a note published on the State Duma’s official website, the Russian Cabinet of Ministers said that ratifying the agreement would facilitate the mutual use of airspace by Indian and Russian military aircraft. The note also highlighted provisions related to port calls by warships of both countries. Under the new framework, these port visits are expected to become procedurally simpler, reducing bureaucratic hurdles and improving operational coordination.

The cabinet added that the agreement would make a significant contribution to strengthening military cooperation between Russia and India, reinforcing their strategic partnership in defence and security matters. Despite the signing of the agreement into federal law by President Putin, the pact will not come into force immediately. According to the article, the agreement will become operational only after the formal exchange of instruments of ratification between Russia and India. This exchange is a necessary step to complete the legal process on both sides and officially activate the agreement.

The signing of the RELOS agreement follows President Putin’s two-day state visit to India on December 4. During the visit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi personally received the Russian President upon his arrival. The two leaders then travelled together for an informal meeting, underscoring the close personal and diplomatic ties between them.

Formal bilateral talks between President Putin and Prime Minister Modi were held the following day and lasted for more than two hours. During these discussions, the two sides reviewed various aspects of the India-Russia partnership.

After the talks, both countries agreed to approve a programme of economic cooperation extending until 2030, reflecting their intention to deepen collaboration across multiple sectors, including defence, trade, and strategic affairs.

The RELOS agreement is seen as an important step in enhancing military interoperability and logistical coordination between India and Russia. Once fully operational, it is expected to support joint activities, improve response capabilities during emergencies, and further cement defence cooperation between the two long-standing partners.