Raksha Mantri Meets Russian Defence Minister at SCO Meet in Qingdao
Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh met Russian Defence Minister Mr Andrey Belousov on the sidelines of the SCO Defence Ministers’ Meeting held in Qingdao, China, on June 26, 2025. The meeting marked a significant step in bolstering Indo-Russian defence cooperation amidst a complex global geopolitical climate.
During the bilateral talks, both leaders held in-depth discussions on issues ranging from regional security and cross-border terrorism to strategic defence collaboration. The Russian Minister expressed solidarity with India over the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir on April 22, calling it a horrendous and cowardly act.
Key outcomes of the meeting included reaffirmation of timely delivery of the S-400 air defence systems, upgrades to the Indian Air Force’s Su-30 MKI fleet, and acceleration of procurement processes for critical military hardware. These discussions take on added importance in the context of India’s ongoing “Operation Sindoor” and the push for self-reliance in defence production.
The meeting underscored the deep-rooted and time-tested strategic ties between India and Russia, with both sides committing to enhanced defence partnership and cooperation to meet emerging security challenges and maintain regional stability.
