India to Join Russia in Strategic Arctic Military Deal

India is joining Russia in the Arctic Circle as Vladimir Putin strengthens military presence, including nuclear weapons and attack submarines.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi signed a new military agreement with Putin that will give India access to Russian naval ports in the strategic Arctic Corridor linking Europe and Asia.

Under the deal, Russia will also train Indian seafarers to operate in polar waters, a move officials say will boost Putin’s alliance in a region expected to become a significant new frontier.

The agreement was confirmed during Putin’s two-day state visit to India, where he is seeking support despite US calls to boycott Russia.

Putin said new logistical routes between the two countries were being forged in the Arctic to strengthen their alliance.

Ahead of the visit, the Russian Duma ratified the “Reciprocal Exchange of Logistics Support (Relos)” agreement, granting India access to Russian naval ports along the Northern Sea Route (NSR), the Arctic shortcut between Europe and Asia stretching from Vladivostok to Murmansk.

The deal allows the transfer of warships, aircraft, and forces between Russia and India, securing mutual logistical support.

With his “dear friend” Modi standing beside him, Putin said co-operation on the NSR, the International North-South Transport Corridor, and the Chennai-Vladivostok Maritime Corridor would accelerate under the agreement.

According to officials, Russian and Indian strategists have quietly pursued Arctic co-operation for over a decade, navigating the fast-melting ice caps.

The move signals a clear escalation in the battle for control over the polar region. Russia’s Northern Fleet and parts of its nuclear stockpile are based in the Kola peninsula, and Putin is seeking full naval control over the Arctic to block Western access to key shipping routes.

For India, the agreement strengthens defence and economic ties independently of US pressure.

Officials say Relos will open new routes from Chennai’s warm waters to the icy edges of the Arctic, providing alternatives to traditional lanes like the Suez Canal.

Indian officials argue the NSR could cut shipping distances between northern Europe and the Indo-Pacific by up to 40%, offering long-term support for supply chains disrupted by geopolitical tensions.

On December 4, Modi personally received Putin at the Indian Air Force’s airport, breaking protocol. The leaders then drove together to the prime minister’s residence in New Delhi for a private dinner.

Trade between India and Russia reached nearly £52 billion in 2024-25, though heavily tilted in Russia’s favour, with India’s exports totalling less than £3.7 billion.

Moscow has encouraged greater Asian participation in the Arctic after US and European sanctions pushed European and American firms out.

China has expanded its presence in the region, and Russia has increasingly invited India to follow suit.

New Delhi’s Arctic engagement remains modest, but officials say the country aims to strengthen connectivity as melting ice extends navigation seasons.

Defending the relationship against criticism from Western capitals, Putin said neither country used the partnership “to act against anyone”, highlighting a commitment to a multipolar world.

An Indian government spokesperson said:

“The India-Russia partnership has been among the steadiest in the contemporary era with a shared commitment to a multipolar world as well to expand the engagement beyond the traditional military, nuclear and space cooperation.”

India’s ties with Russia date back decades, rooted in Cold War politics and deep cooperation on defence and energy.

The visit is Putin’s first since the invasion of Ukraine, and comes as the US continues to pressure New Delhi to stop buying Russian oil.

Before Putin’s arrival, reports suggested India had secured a £1.5 billion submarine deal with Russia, with delivery expected within two years.