Defence Minister Rajnath Singh held bilateral meetings with his Russian and Belarusian counterparts on Thursday during the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Defence Ministers’ Meeting in Qingdao, China, focusing on regional security and defence cooperation.
Singh described his interaction with Belarusian Defence Minister Lieutenant General Viktor Khrenin as “enriching,” highlighting the growing ties between the two nations. Belarus is on track to join the SCO following the signing of its Memorandum of Obligation during India’s presidency in 2023.
Earlier, Singh met with Russian Defence Minister Andrey Belousov, where both sides reaffirmed their longstanding defence partnership. Singh noted the “insightful deliberations” aimed at strengthening India-Russia military ties, which include joint projects such as the S-400 missile system, Su-30 MKI and T-90 tank production, MiG-29 and Kamov helicopter supplies, and the BrahMos missile program.
India and Russia have transitioned from a buyer-seller model to joint research, development, and co-production of advanced defence technologies under the IRIGC-M&MTC framework.
Addressing the SCO forum, Singh called for unified global action against terrorism, radicalisation, and extremism. Citing the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 civilians, including a Nepali national, he emphasized India’s right to self-defence, referencing Operation Sindoor — a targeted airstrike campaign against terror infrastructure in Pakistan and PoK.
Singh urged SCO nations to reject double standards and hold terror sponsors accountable, declaring, “Epicentres of terrorism are no longer safe.”
This marks the first visit to China by an Indian Union Minister since the 2020 military standoff along the Line of Actual Control in eastern Ladakh