Logistics agreement with Russia

Logistics agreement with Russia

Part of: Prelims and GS – II- International Relations

Context: India is all set to conclude the bilateral logistics agreement with Russia soon while the agreement with the U.K. is in the final stages of conclusion.

Key Takeaways

• The Reciprocal Exchange of Logistics Agreement (RELOS) is likely to be signed by Indiain next two months
• The agreement is an administrative arrangements facilitating access to military facilities for exchange of fuel and provisions on mutual agreement 
• This cooperation simplifies logistical support and increases operational turnaround of the military when operating away from India.
• India has signed similar logistics agreements with all Quad countries, France, Singapore and South Korea beginning with LEMOA with the U.S in 2016.

About LEMOA: The Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement 

• It was signed between India and the US in August 2016.
• It allows the military of each country to replenish from the other’s bases: access supplies, spare parts and services from the other country’s land facilities, air bases, and ports, which can then be reimbursed. 
• This is extremely useful for Navy-to-Navy cooperation, since the US and India are cooperating closely in the Indo-Pacific.
• To put this simple words, it is like going to a friend’s garage and workshop to refuel one’s car and getting repairs done. But, by doing this, one is also exposing one’s car and technology to the friend, and that requires trust.
• If signing LEMOA needed trust, its application enhances the trust. It took almost a decade to negotiate LEMOA. 

Read More on Indo-US Defence Deals