Virendra Pandit
New Delhi: While some high-value deals are expected during the two-day official visit of President Vladimir Putin to India, beginning Thursday, Russia has already cleared a major defence deal ahead of his crucial trip, the media reported on Wednesday.
Putin will land in New Delhi on Thursday evening to participate in the 23rd India–Russia Annual Summit at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He will have a private dinner with PM Modi the same evening. On Friday, the two leaders will participate in bilateral summit.
President Draupadi Murmu has also invited him to a state banquet on Friday evening, before he returns to Moscow, according to reports.
Days before his arrival in New Delhi, State Duma, the Lower House of Russia’s bicameral Federal Assembly, has approved the Reciprocal Exchange of Logistic Support (RELOS) agreement. The move signals a renewed push to streamline operational cooperation between the two militaries.
The pact, signed on February 18 and submitted for ratification last week by Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, was cleared on Tuesday.
Vyacheslav Volodin, Speaker of the State Duma, said, “Our relations with India are strategic and comprehensive, and we value them. We understand that today’s ratification of the agreement is another step toward reciprocity and development of our relations.”
The RELOS framework allows both countries to deploy soldiers, warships and military aircraft to each other’s bases and receive logistical support such as fuel, food, repair facilities and transport.
The arrangement covers troop and equipment movement and lays down procedures for supplies and maintenance during joint exercises, training, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations.
The ratification will allow mutual use of airspace and port calls for Indian and Russian military vessels, expanding the scope of operational access and strengthening overall defence cooperation.
During Putin’s high-profile visit, defence cooperation is expected to feature prominently. Discussions may include the possible supply of Su-57 stealth jets and additional S-400 air defence systems, deployed successfully during the Operation Sindoor in May 2025 to thwart Pakistan’s air attacks.
Russia, still the largest supplier to India’s defence needs, is also being considered a partner for expanded co-production of military hardware, although its share in India’s arms imports has halved over the past 15 years.
President Putin’s visit, first in four years, is coming against a backdrop of persistent US pressure on India over its defence and energy ties with Russia. The Donald Trump administration has imposed a 50 percent tariff on Indian imports, including a 25 percent penalty specifically linked to India’s purchase of Russian oil, effective from August 27.