St. Petersburg [Russia], June 28 (ANI): The Indian Army has further strengthened its strategic partnership with the Russian Land Forces during the 4th Indo-Russian Inter-Governmental Commission (IRIGC) Sub Working Group (Land) meeting held in St. Petersburg from June 25 to 27. The high-level defence interaction focused on expanding bilateral cooperation in key technological and operational areas, including unmanned systems, Counter-Unmanned Aerial Systems (C-UAS), electronic warfare, and logistics support equipment.
As part of the engagement, Indian delegates visited prominent Russian military institutions, including the Mikhailovskaya Artillery Academy and the 56th Guards District Training Centre under the Leningradsky Military District, furthering professional military understanding and collaboration.
This deepening military relationship comes amid broader regional diplomatic efforts. Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also held bilateral discussions with his Russian counterpart, Defence Minister Andrey Belousov, on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Defence Ministers’ Meeting in Qingdao, China.
Upon arrival in Qingdao, Singh was welcomed by Chinese Defence Minister Admiral Dong Jun and participated in a group photograph with SCO leaders. He later joined counterparts, including Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, for discussions centered on regional security and cooperation.
The SCO Defence Ministers’ Meeting, held from June 25 to 26, provides a multilateral platform for member states to address pressing regional and international security concerns. The Indian Ministry of Defence, in a press release, reiterated New Delhi’s commitment to SCO’s founding principles—emphasizing sovereignty, territorial integrity, non-interference, mutual respect, and equality among member states.
During his address, Rajnath Singh is expected to advocate for enhanced counter-terrorism coordination, regional peace, and connectivity. The Ministry added that Singh will also meet bilaterally with defence ministers from other participating countries to reinforce India’s security engagements.
The SCO, established in 2001, has evolved into a significant forum for promoting political, security, economic, and cultural cooperation. India joined as a full member in 2017 and held the rotating chairmanship in 2023. The organization now includes ten member states: India, China, Russia, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Iran, and Belarus. China currently holds the 2025 chair under the theme “Upholding the Shanghai Spirit: SCO on the Move.”
(ANI)
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