RELOS and India-Russia Relation

• 24 Jun 2024

For Prelims: The Indo-Soviet Friendship Treaty of 1971, Quad ,Indian monsoon ,(GSOMIA Declaration on the India-Russia Strategic Partnership, Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership, Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant (KKNPP), Agreement on the Programme for Military-Technical Cooperation, MiG-21, Su-30, Ukraine Crisis

For Mains: Strategic Significance of India-Russia Relations, Key Issues and Way Forward.

Source: TH

Why in News?

Recently, the India-Russia mutual logistics agreement named the Reciprocal Exchange of Logistics Agreement (RELOS) is now ready for finalisation. It will facilitate military cooperation between India and Russia, including joint exercises, training, and disaster relief efforts.

What is Reciprocal Exchange of Logistics Agreement (RELOS)?

• About:
  • The Reciprocal Exchange of Logistics Agreement (RELOS) between India and Russia is a significant administrative arrangement that will enhance military cooperation between the two nations.
• Purpose:
  • This agreement is designed to streamline military logistics support, making joint operations and long-distance missions more efficient and cost-effective for both India and Russia.
• Significance:
  • Sustained Operations:
    • 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.
  • Strategic Advantages:
    • It will enable smoother utilisation of the host nation's existing logistics networks. Enhances ability to respond swiftly to crises.
    • It will provide a strategic edge to the military operations of both countries thereby reducing overall mission costs.
  • Expanded Military Reach:
    • Enhances India's maritime outreach and influence in strategically important regions.
    • Boosts Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) and shared logistics facilities could enable better information exchange about maritime activities, enhancing both countries' situational awareness.
  • Balancing Quad Agreements:
    • RELOS balances India's logistics agreements with Quad countries and Russia's non-Quad stance.
    • Strengthens Russian presence in Indo-Pacific without Quad involvement.
    • It Counterbalances US influence and China's regional role for both India and Russia.
  • Scientific Interconnections:
    • India’s primary engagements in the Arctic are focused on understanding scientific interconnections between Arctic sea ice melting and changes in Indian monsoon systems.

What are India's Logistics Agreements with Various Countries?

• India and USA:
  • General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA): It was signed in 2002, to facilitate sharing military intelligence between India and the USA.
  • Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA), 2016: Allows mutual use of military logistics facilities.
  • Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement (BECA), 2020: Provides India access to U.S. geospatial intelligence data.
  • Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement (COMCASA), 2018: Enables the transfer of encrypted communication equipment.
• India and France:
  • Facilitates logistical support during joint exercises, port visits, and humanitarian efforts
    • Promotes stability in the Pacific and Indian Ocean regions.
    • Enables maritime intelligence sharing.
• India and Australia:
  • Comprehensive Mutual Logistics Support Agreement (MLSA), 2020.
    • Emphasises shared vision for Indo-Pacific maritime cooperation.
• India and Japan:
  • Allows Close Coordination of Services (ACSA), 2020 and supplies between armed forces.

How has the Relationship Between India and Russia Evolved?

• Historical Genesis:
  • The Indo-Soviet Friendship Treaty of 1971: In the wake of the Indo-Pak war (1971), Russia supported India while the US and China supported Pakistan.
  • Declaration on the India-Russia Strategic Partnership: In October 2000, India-Russia ties acquired a qualitatively new character with enhanced levels of cooperation in almost all areas of the bilateral relationship.
  • Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership: During the visit of the Russian President to India in December 2010, the Strategic Partnership was elevated to the level of a “Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership”.
• Bilateral Trade:
  • Bilateral trade has been substantial, with India's total reaching approximately USD 13 billion in 2021-22.
  • Russia ranks as India’s seventh largest trading partner, a significant rise from its position in previous years.
• Political Engagement:
  • Politically, both countries engage through annual meetings of two Inter-Governmental Commissions: One focused on Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technological, and Cultural Cooperation (IRIGC-TEC) and another on Military-Technical Cooperation (IRIGC-MTC).
• Defence and Security Relations: Both countries regularly conduct the Tri-Services exercise ‘INDRA‘.
  • The joint military programs between India and Russia include:
    • BrahMos cruise missile program
    • 5th generation fighter jet program
    • Sukhoi Su-30MKI programme
  • The military hardware purchased/leased by India from Russia includes:
    • S-400 Triumf
    • Kamov Ka-226 200 to be made in India under the Make in India initiative
    • T-90S Bhishma
    • INS Vikramaditya aircraft carrier program
    • AK-203 Rifles
• Science and Technology:
  • The partnership dates back to the early days after India's independence when Soviet assistance was pivotal in establishing institutions like the Bhilai Steel Plant and supporting India's space program.
  • Today, collaboration extends to advanced fields such as nanotechnologies, quantum computing, and India’s manned spaceflight program (Gaganyaan).

What are the Key Challenges in India-Russia Relations?

• Strategic Shifts:
  • Closer Ties with China: Russia seeks to avoid conflicts on two fronts (West and China).
    • Increasing Sino-Russian military and economic cooperation affects India's strategic calculations.
  • Improved Relations with Pakistan: It can be due to strengthening US-India ties and it complicates India's regional strategy.
• India's Diplomatic Balancing Act:
  • India’sgreat power calculations create the dilemma to choose between a “comprehensive global strategic partnership” with the US on one hand, and its “special and privileged partnership” with Russia on the other.
• Russia-Ukraine Crisis Response:
  • India faced significant criticism in the West for refraining from condemning the Russian invasion of Ukraine and for its continued expansion of energy and economic cooperation with Moscow.
• Declining Defence Imports:
  • There has been a gradual decline in the defence purchase of India from Russia because of its desire to diversify its defence imports which heightened competition for Russia.
    • It will also force it to explore other potential buyers like Pakistan.

Way Forward

• Enduring Defense Partnership: Russia is expected to remain a crucial defence partner for India in the foreseeable future, likely for several decades, due to the substantial Russian inventory in India's defence forces.
• Collaborative Export Strategy: India and Russia are exploring ways to leverage India as a manufacturing hub for Russian-origin defense equipment and services.
  • The goal is to export these products to third countries, expanding their market reach.
  • Examples like discussions about producing Russian Ka-226T helicopters in India for export to third countries.
• Diversification of Economic Ties: Expand cooperation beyond defense, focusing on areas like energy, technology, and space, like the ongoing partnership in the Sakhalin-1 project.
• Strategic Balancing: Maintain the 'special and privileged partnership' while balancing relations with other powers. Continue participating in forums like BRICS and SCO while also engaging with Quad nations.
• Space Collaboration: Enhance cooperation in space exploration and satellite technology. Joint missions for deep space exploration or satellite-based navigation systems.

Drishti Mains Questions:

What is the Significance of RELOS and how does the changing global geopolitical landscape affect the dynamics of the India-Russia relationship? Suggest measures to ensure the continued positive trajectory of these bilateral ties.

UPSC Civil Services Examination Previous Year Question (PYQ)

Prelims

Q. Recently, India signed a deal known as ‘Action Plan for Prioritization and Implementation of Cooperation Areas in the Nuclear Field’ with which of the following countries? (2019)

(a) Japan
(b) Russia
(c) The United Kingdom
(d) The United States of America

Ans: B

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Mains

Q. What is the significance of Indo-US defence deals over Indo-Russian defence deals? Discuss with reference to stability in the Indo-Pacific region. (2020)