Russia and India have agreed on a new format for military cooperation: the countries will be able to deploy aircraft, ships, and military personnel on each other’s territory. The corresponding intergovernmental agreement has already been published on the official legal information portal and entered into force on January 12.
Up to 3,000 military personnel could be stationed on each other’s soil at any one time, in a significant boost to defence cooperation between the two long-standing strategic partners. The arrangement, revealed in an agreement published on Russia’s official legal information portal, also permits the deployment of up to 10 military aircraft and 5 warships simultaneously.
The deal outlines the rules for the reciprocal deployment of military units, naval vessels and aircraft, while also covering logistical, technical and operational support for forces hosted by either country. The document includes 21 articles and will be valid for five years with automatic extension. It stipulates the cases in which military personnel may be sent to another country.
At the same time, the parties agreed to simplify the use of airspace and the entry of ships into each other’s ports.
