Russia’s lower house of parliament, the State Duma, has formally approved the Reciprocal Exchange of Logistic Support (reLOS) agreement with India—an important development that comes just days ahead of President Vladimir Putin’s state visit to New Delhi on December 4–5. The pact marks a significant step in strengthening strategic military interoperability between the two long-standing defence partners.

🇷🇺🇮🇳 Pact to Deepen Strategic Cooperation

The reLOS pact—initially signed on February 18 and forwarded for ratification last week by Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin—lays down a structured mechanism for the deployment of military units, warships, and aircraft between India and Russia. The agreement also spells out comprehensive logistic support that both nations can provide each other, including:

• Fuel and refuelling support
• Maintenance and repair services
• Berthing and port logistics
• Supplies and medical assistance
• Operational support during missions

At the Duma’s plenary session, Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin highlighted the strategic significance of the pact, stating that its ratification represents another major step toward strengthening long-term defence reciprocity.

🌍 When Will the Agreement Apply?

The reLOS pact will be applicable during a wide range of joint and mutually approved operations, including:

• Bilateral and multilateral military exercises
• Training missions
• Humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR)
• Natural and man-made disaster response
• Other deployments mutually agreed upon by both governments

A statement on the Duma’s website emphasized that the pact will streamline access to each other’s airspace, making it easier for naval vessels to conduct port calls and for aircraft to conduct coordinated operations. The approval sends a clear signal of Moscow’s intent to reinforce its defence partnership with India ahead of Putin’s high-level visit.

🚀 Big-Ticket Defence Deals on the Agenda: Su-57 & S-400

The pact’s ratification comes just a day after the Kremlin confirmed that discussions on major defence platforms—including the Sukhoi Su-57 fifth-generation stealth fighter and additional S-400 air defence systems—will feature prominently during the Modi-Putin summit.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said:

He also reiterated the importance of protecting bilateral ties from external interference, calling the India–Russia partnership “mutually beneficial.”

India’s Past Role in Su-57 Development

India was originally a major collaborator in the FGFA (Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft) programme based on the Su-57 platform and contributed toward shaping advanced requirements. However, concerns about:

• cost overruns
• limited technology access
• performance gaps

led India to exit the programme. Despite this, the Su-57 continues to be part of ongoing military-technical discussions.

🛡️ Status of the S-400 Deal

India and Russia signed a $5 billion agreement in 2018 for five S-400 squadrons. Out of these, three have already been delivered, with the remaining units expected to be discussed during the Putin-Modi meeting.

The S-400 continues to be a priority for India’s air defence strategy despite geopolitical pressures and CAATSA-related concerns from the West.

⭐ Why This Pact Matters

The reLOS agreement places India–Russia defence cooperation on a similar footing as India’s logistics pacts with the US, France, Australia, Japan and South Korea, signifying:

• greater operational reach for both militaries
• simplified logistics during joint exercises
• closer strategic alignment
• enhanced readiness during crises and regional contingencies

With Putin’s visit around the corner, the approval of the reLOS pact reinforces the deep and evolving nature of the India–Russia defence partnership, even amid shifting global alliances.

India has firmly dismissed claims circulating in Pakistani media that New Delhi denied overflight permission to a Pakistani aircraft carrying humanitarian assistance to cyclone-ravaged Sri Lanka. Calling the allegations “baseless, misleading, and part of routine propaganda”, Indian officials clarified that the request from Islamabad was processed swiftly and in accordance with international norms.

Rapid clearance given within hours

According to officials, Pakistan submitted its overflight request around 1:00 pm (IST) on Monday, seeking same-day clearance to traverse Indian airspace en route to Colombo. Recognising the humanitarian nature of the mission — intended to transport emergency relief supplies to Sri Lanka — India handled the request with special urgency.

The clearance was processed, approved, and formally communicated to Pakistani authorities by 5:30 pm (IST) the very same day, completing the procedure in just about four hours — much faster than standard inter-governmental clearances.

Officials emphasised that New Delhi granted permission despite Pakistan continuing to block its own airspace for Indian flights for several years.

Cyclone Ditwah devastates Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka is presently grappling with the catastrophic aftermath of Cyclone Ditwah, which unleashed widespread floods, landslides, and infrastructural destruction across multiple regions.

• Over 300 people have lost their lives
• Thousands have been displaced
• Roads, bridges, and communication lines remain severely disrupted

Emergency operations are intensifying as new areas continue to report distress signals.

India’s Operation Sagar Bandhu: Major humanitarian support underway

In response to the unfolding crisis, India has activated Operation Sagar Bandhu, a large-scale humanitarian relief mission aimed at supporting its closest maritime neighbour.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed deep grief over the loss of lives and assured Colombo of India’s unwavering support.
Under the operation:

• 53 tonnes of relief materials have been delivered to Sri Lanka via air and sea operations since November 28
• Items include food supplies, medical kits, tents, water purification systems, blankets, and essential rescue gear
• Over 2,000 stranded Indian nationals have already been evacuated from disaster-hit zones
• NDRF teams are actively participating in ongoing rescue operations across isolated and severely affected regions

In its latest update, the Ministry of External Affairs stated:

A pattern of misinformation

This incident adds to a series of claims by Pakistani media targeting India on diplomatic or humanitarian matters. Indian officials maintain that such narratives are aimed at misleading the public and distorting bilateral interactions, especially when coordination involves sensitive humanitarian operations.

Despite these challenges, India’s swift clearance demonstrates its commitment to humanitarian principles, regional cooperation, and its longstanding policy of supporting Sri Lanka in times of crisis.

Congress Working Committee (CWC) member and Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor once again skipped an important strategy meeting convened by Sonia Gandhi ahead of the Winter Session of Parliament, intensifying internal chatter about his political positioning and long-term association with the party. The Winter Session begins on December 1 and runs until December 19.

Tharoor’s absence raised eyebrows because the strategy group meeting—attended by senior leaders—was expected to chalk out the party’s approach inside Parliament amid the government’s legislative plans.

Why Tharoor skipped the meeting

According to Tharoor’s office, the MP was in Kerala and travelling back with his 90-year-old mother, and therefore could not reach Delhi in time. The clarification comes at a time when his repeated absence is being linked to internal friction.

Congress general secretary KC Venugopal also missed the meeting due to commitments related to local body elections in Kerala.

Second major absence in weeks

This is the second such instance in recent weeks. Tharoor had previously skipped a Congress meeting on the SIR (Special Infrastructure Region) controversy citing ill health. However, his appearance at a Prime Minister Narendra Modi event just a day earlier, coupled with Instagram posts praising the Prime Minister, triggered unease within the Congress leadership.

His social-media appreciation for PM Modi’s governance model—particularly references to India shifting from an “emerging market” to an “emerging model”—has deepened the perception that Tharoor is increasingly out of sync with Congress’s central narrative.

Tharoor’s praise for PM Modi creates internal tremors

In his remarks, Tharoor had highlighted:

• Modi’s efforts to overturn a colonial “slave mentality”
• His push for cultural self-confidence and national pride
• India’s resilience amid global instability

These comments were seen by many as stepping beyond healthy dissent and bordering on ideological divergence.

Tharoor, however, has categorically denied rumours of quitting Congress, calling it “over-interpretation” of his opinions rather than a sign of shifting allegiance.

Party leaders openly question his intentions

Some Congress leaders, however, have publicly demanded clarity.

Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit told ANI:

This strong language reflects the frustration within a section of the party that views Tharoor as increasingly unconventional and unpredictable in his public messaging.

Another senior leader added that Tharoor “does not fully understand the realities of the country,” escalating tensions further.

A long-running strain

Tharoor’s uneasy equation with the party’s old guard is not new.
Since his divergence during Operation Sindoor, and earlier during the Congress presidential election where he contested against Mallikarjun Kharge, he has remained both influential and peripheral—viewed as an asset for public perception but often criticised for ideological flexibility.

His continued absence from closed-door strategy discussions is now reigniting questions about:

• his political future inside Congress,
• whether he is signalling dissatisfaction,
• or if his actions are being misinterpreted due to factional divisions.

Is he parting ways with Congress?

At present, no concrete evidence suggests a defection.
Tharoor maintains he is committed to Congress and describes differences as “internal democracy, not rebellion.”

However, the combination of:

• repeated absences,
• visible admiration for the Prime Minister,
• and strong public criticism from within his own party

has undeniably intensified speculation ahead of the Winter Session.

For now, the Congress MP stands at the crossroads of perception—insisting he is loyal, even as many in his party grow sceptical.