New Delhi: India and Russia strengthened their long-standing strategic partnership on Thursday by signing eight wide-ranging agreements during the 23rd Annual Summit held in New Delhi. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin jointly presided over the signing ceremony, reaffirming their commitment to expand bilateral cooperation despite turbulent global politics and persistent Western scrutiny.
The agreements signed cover a remarkably broad spectrum economic cooperation, defense logistics, energy, labour mobility, healthcare, agriculture, technology exchange, and space collaboration. Together, they represent one of the most diverse sets of India-Russia agreements inked in recent years.
A flagship achievement was the new Economic Cooperation Agreement 2030, a roadmap designed to boost trade, streamline investment, expand market access, and enhance the movement of professionals between the two nations. This long-term pact reflects both countries’ intention to move beyond the traditional defense-centric relationship and weave deeper economic interdependence.
One of the most strategically significant developments was the activation of the Reciprocal Exchange of Logistic Support (RELOS) agreement, recently ratified by Russia’s State Duma. This military-to-military logistics pact allows Indian and Russian naval ships, aircraft, and personnel to use each other’s bases, ports, and facilities for refueling, repairs, joint training, humanitarian missions and disaster relief.
The pact is expected to significantly expand India’s operational reach in the Arctic, Indian Ocean Region and Far East, while giving Russia more access to the Indian coastline and the Indian Navy’s growing set of logistics hubs. Officials described RELOS as a milestone that aligns India-Russia defense cooperation with the format India already shares with the US, France, Australia and several Indo-Pacific partners.
Energy was another pillar spotlighted by both leaders. President Putin assured India that uninterrupted energy supply including fossil fuels, nuclear cooperation and emerging clean-energy technologies would remain a priority for Moscow.
Russia’s reaffirmation on energy comes against the backdrop of fluctuating global oil markets and continuing Western pressure on India to reduce its intake of discounted Russian crude. Yet, both countries reiterated that their energy partnership is stable, long-term and insulated from geopolitical pressures.
The two sides also discussed deeper cooperation in critical minerals, including rare earths and metals essential for India’s electronics, renewable energy and electric-mobility sectors.
Beyond the strategic sectors, several agreements focused on civilian cooperation. These include frameworks for labour mobility, healthcare partnerships, telemedicine initiatives, agriculture development, and joint research in science and technology. Both governments noted that people-centric agreements signal a widening of the bilateral agenda, ensuring benefits that reach ordinary citizens.
India and Russia also renewed their commitment to space collaboration, building on decades of cooperation from early satellite launches to Russia’s contributions to India’s human-spaceflight programme. Maritime infrastructure development, particularly in Russia’s Far East and Chennai-Vladivostok shipping link, is also on the agenda.
Putin’s visit drew significant attention internationally, particularly from Western nations that have repeatedly urged India to rethink its ties with Moscow following the 2022 Ukraine conflict. The visit also coincided with renewed tension between India and the United States, partly due to tariff disputes under the Trump administration and Washington’s discomfort with India’s continued Russian oil imports.
However, both Modi and Putin underscored that India–Russia ties remain stable, independent and immune to external pressures. Their joint statement declared that both nations will continue to “cooperate on the basis of mutual respect, strategic trust and shared interests.”
Prime Minister Modi said the agreements demonstrate the “strength and maturity” of the India-Russia relationship. He emphasised that the partnership has always adapted to new challenges and continues to deliver tangible outcomes.
President Putin praised India’s balanced and sovereign foreign policy and highlighted that Moscow views Delhi as one of its most reliable global partners. He expressed confidence that the new agreements will “open fresh avenues for innovation, industry and long-term cooperation.”