Russia's State Duma ratifies military access agreement with India

Agreement simplifies Russian-Indian military visits and exercises

MOSCOW

The Russian lower chamber of parliament, the State Duma, ratified on Tuesday an intergovernmental agreement with India on the dispatch of military personnel, ships, and aircraft to each other's territories.

The document details relevant procedures for sending military units, naval vessels, and military aircraft from Russia to India and vice versa, as well as organizing reciprocal logistical support, according to the document published on the Duma's website.

As noted in the explanatory note, the agreement regulates not only the dispatch of military personnel and equipment but also their material support.

The established procedure will apply during joint exercises, trainings, provision of humanitarian aid, disaster relief operations, and other cases as agreed upon.

The government emphasized that ratification of the document will simplify mutual usage of airspace between the two countries and allow Russian and Indian military ships to enter each other's ports.

The agreement also strengthens cooperation between the states in the military domain.