How does one read the Reciprocal Logistics Support Agreement (RELOS) between India and Russia? It was ratified by Russia’s lower house of parliament just a day before President Putin’s arrival in India (Dec 4), his last visit was in 2021 (although he and Modi met in Tianjin, China in September for the BRICS summit).
India had signed RELOS in February this year, Russia taking longer. But StratNewsGlobal learns that Russia had been pressing India to sign a logistics agreement along the same or similar lines it had signed with the Americans.
Recall India had signed a clutch of “foundational agreements” with the US. These were a logistics agreement LEMOA in 2016, COMCASA in 2018 covering communications compatibility and security, BECA covering geospatial data and precision targeting in 2020 and SOSA in 2024 covering security of defence material supply chains.
RELOS with Russia echoes the same goals and is expected to be particularly useful as India gears up for the next phase of its Arctic mission. With a permanently manned station on the ice continent, India will need help as it ramps up support and sustenance along with fine tuning and upgrading its scientific wherewithal.
RELOS will also help India train and orient its military personnel to Arctic operations. This would be a leg up from their expertise in high altitude warfare (Ladakh to Siachen and Arunachal Pradesh).
It’s also important to note that as the earth warms due to climate change, and vast packs of Arctic ice melt, India needs to prepare for the maritime challenges and the commercial opportunities that will open up.
Here the Russians have asked India to build Arctic-worthy ships for them. The Russians lack the manpower, which India can easily provide.
Here’s a snapshot of some of the main points of RELOS:
*It will facilitate the replenishment of essential supplies (fuel, rations, spare parts) thus enabling continuous, uninterrupted military presence in crucial regions.
* It will provide berthing facilities for troops, warships, and aircraft.
* It will be applicable during both wartime and peacetime missions.
* It will enable smoother utilisation of the host nation’s existing logistics networks. Enhances ability to respond swiftly to crises.
* It formalizes and standardizes the existing practices for all reciprocal logistic services undertake presently.
* It lays down limit of max No of ships, aircraft and or troops that can form part of transit or be hosted at a given time.
* It formalizes and standardizes the existing practices for all reciprocal logistic services undertaken presently.
The pact will allow five warships, 10 aircraft, and 3000 troops to be simultaneously stationed in the territory of the partner country for a period of five years, and if both parties agree, it can be extended for another five years.
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