At the heart of the visit was the ratification of the ‘Reciprocal Exchange of Logistics Support’ (RELOS) pact, a deal that quietly extends India’s and Russia’s military cooperation into Russia’s Arctic ports and the Northern Sea Route (NSR). Estimates suggest the region holds over 35,700 billion cubic metres of natural gas and over 2,300 million metric tons of oil and condensate, the majority of which are located in the Yamal and Gydan peninsulas, lying on the south side of the Kara Sea. In the shorter term, perhaps the most immediate benefit to Putin is the implicit endorsement from his Indian counterpart that the cornerstone energy relationship between the two countries is far from over, despite increased pressure from the West.
Author: Simon Watkins
Published at: 2025-12-17 22:00:00
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