Rajnath Singh holds bilateral meeting with Russian defence minister

New Delhi, Jun 27: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh held a bilateral meeting with the Defence Minister of the Russian Federation, Mr Andrey Belousov, on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Meeting in Qingdao, China.

The two Ministers held wide-ranging discussions on regional and global security developments, cross-border terrorism, and ongoing as well as future avenues of bilateral defence cooperation.

The Russian Defence Minister reaffirmed the depth and resilience of the longstanding India-Russia strategic partnership and expressed solidarity with India in the wake of the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir, on April 22, 2025. The meeting assumed special significance in the context of India’s ongoing counter-terrorism operations under Operation Sindoor and the emerging imperative of accelerating defence production. Discussions included enhancing collaboration in critical areas such as air defence systems, air-to-air missile capabilities, modernisation of existing platforms, and joint defence manufacturing.

Key subjects of mutual interest such as the timely supply of S-400 air defence systems, upgrades to Su-30 MKI fighter aircraft, and fast-tracked procurement of essential military hardware were also deliberated upon. Both Ministers reaffirmed their commitment to deepening defence cooperation in a manner that supports India’s self-reliance in defence manufacturing and enhances operational preparedness.