Reciprocal Exchange of Logistics Support (International Relations)
Reciprocal Exchange of Logistics Support (International Relations)
Why In News:
India-Russia Reciprocal Exchange of Logistics Support (RELOS) Agreement, signed in 2025, has enabled mutual use of each other's military logistics infrastructure for replenishment, fuel, stores, and spare parts. This adds Russia to India's expanding network of logistics partnerships.
What is a Logistics Agreement?
A Logistics Support Agreement (LSA) allows the military forces of one country to access logistics infrastructure at another country's military installations including naval ports, airfields, and army supply depots.
It enables replenishment during long-range operations and exercises.
These are not mutual defence treaties. They create no obligation for collective defence unlike NATO's Article 5.
India's Logistics Partnership Network
LEMOA (USA, 2016): India's first LSA. Covers mutual logistics access. Complemented by COMCASA (Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement, 2018) and BECA (Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement for Geo-spatial Cooperation, 2020), completing the three US foundational agreements.
Others: France (2018), Australia (2020), Japan (2020).
Russia (2025): Enables Indian Navy access to Russian Far East ports, supporting operations in Arctic littoral regions and participation in exercises such as VOSTOK.
Key Facts for Prelims
Strategic Autonomy: India's foreign and defence policy doctrine allows simultaneous logistics partnerships with the USA, Russia, France, and others without binding into any exclusive alliance.
Russia has historically supplied approximately 60% of India's military hardware. India is actively diversifying through the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative in defence.
Exercises with Russia: INDRA (army), INDRA NAVY, and AVIAINDRA (air force) are annual/biennial joint exercises under the defence partnership.