India and Russia: Strong Army Talks in New Delhi on 24 May 2026

Overview 

India and Russia held Army talks on 24 May 2026 in New Delhi. Both sides discussed defence cooperation, training, and logistics. A new logistics agreement called RELOS now allows troops and ships to use each other’s bases. The two countries are old friends and want to build more weapons together.

A New Step in an Old Friendship

India and Russia have been friends for many decades. On 24 May 2026, top Army officers from both countries met in New Delhi. They wanted to expand defence cooperation and improve joint military capabilities. This was not a casual meeting. It was the 5th Sub Working Group (Land) meeting. This group works under a bigger body called the India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Military & Military Technical Cooperation, or IRIGC-M&MTC for short. Both sides talked about training, new skills, and how to work better together on the ground.

What Is IRIGC-M&MTC?

The IRIGC-M&MTC is the main platform for military and military-technical cooperation between India and Russia. It is an institutional mechanism. That means both countries have a proper system to discuss defence matters regularly. The Indian Army and the Russian Land Forces use this platform to share ideas. They talk about joint training, building new capabilities, and coordinating operations. This system has worked well for many years. The 5th Sub Working Group (Land) meeting is part of this larger framework.

The 5th Sub Working Group (Land) Meeting

This meeting took place in New Delhi on 24 May 2026. It was the fifth time this group met. The focus was on land forces. Both sides discussed mutual learning. That means Indian soldiers learn from Russian soldiers, and Russians learn from Indians. They also talked about operational synergy. Synergy means working together so that the whole team is stronger than each part alone. The meeting also covered bilateral military capabilities. Both countries want to know what the other can do and how they can help each other.

Visit to the Shatrujeet Brigade

During the visit, the Russian delegation went to see the Shatrujeet Brigade. This is an Indian Army unit. Visiting a real brigade helps Russian officers understand how Indian soldiers train and fight. It also builds personal bonds between military leaders. Such visits are very important for trust and friendship. When soldiers meet face to face, cooperation becomes easier.

The Reciprocal Exchange of Logistics Agreement (RELOS)

One of the biggest news items is the RELOS. RELOS stands for Reciprocal Exchange of Logistics Agreement. This agreement came into effect on 12 January 2026. It was ratified in December 2025. What does RELOS allow? It allows India and Russia to use each other’s military bases and facilities. More specifically, each country can station up to 3,000 troops, five warships, and ten aircraft in the other country’s territory. This is a very big step. It means if Indian ships need fuel or repairs near Russia, they can get help. Similarly, Russian troops can operate from Indian bases. This makes both armies stronger and more flexible.

Future Defence and Strategic Cooperation

The talks in May 2026 are just one part of a bigger picture. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov visited India in May 2026 as well. He discussed defence manufacturing, space cooperation, and fertiliser supplies. Both sides want to make weapons together in India. This is part of India’s “Make in India” programme. They also want to work together in space. That could