India and Russia have finalized a defence pact allowing each nation to station military personnel and equipment on the other's territory.
The agreement marks a significant escalation in strategic cooperation between the two countries. By permitting the presence of foreign troops and assets on sovereign soil, both nations are deepening a security relationship that has historically focused on equipment sales and joint exercises.
The pact was signed in February 2025 [4] and officially entered into force on Jan. 12, 2026 [5]. Under the terms of the agreement, each country is permitted to station up to 3,000 troops [1] within the other's borders.
In addition to ground forces, the agreement allows for the deployment of naval and aerial assets. Each nation may station five warships [2] and 10 aircraft [3] at military bases in the partner country.
Officials said the goal of the pact is to deepen defence cooperation and enhance the strategic partnership between India and Russia. The operationalization of these basing rights allows for more rapid deployment of forces and shared logistics, a move that shifts the nature of their bilateral military ties.
The deployment of these assets is intended to strengthen mutual security frameworks. While the specific locations of the bases have not been detailed in the reports, the pact provides the legal framework for the movement of these 3,000 troops [1] and associated hardware across borders.
“India and Russia have finalized a defence pact allowing each nation to station military personnel and equipment on the other's territory.”
This agreement represents a shift from a buyer-seller relationship to a reciprocal basing arrangement. By allowing the physical presence of foreign troops and warships, India and Russia are creating a tangible security interdependence that may complicate India's balancing act with Western allies while providing Russia with a strategic foothold in South Asia.
