Rajnath Singh will travel to China for SCO meeting of Defence ministers
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Rajnath Singh will travel to China for SCO meeting of Defence ministers
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is in Qingdao for the SCO Defence Ministers’ meeting. He will engage in bilateral talks with his Chinese and Russian counterparts, addressing regional security and West Asia tensions. Simultaneously, the Indian Army has signed ₹2,000 crore contracts to enhance counterterrorism operational readiness. The visit comes at a time when India has conducted anti-terror strikes against Pakistan – an SCO member.
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New Delhi: Union defence minister Rajnath Singh , who is travelling to Qingdao for the SCO Defence Ministers’ meeting , will hold bilateral talks with his Chinese and Russian counterparts to discuss wide ranging issues, including the ongoing tensions in West Asia.The minister is leading a high-level Indian delegation for the meeting and will present the country’s vision for global peace and security, economic cooperation and connectivity, and call for joint efforts to eliminate terrorism. Officials said that Rajnath Singh will also stress on the need for greater trade in the region and joint efforts to counter extremism. The visit comes at a time when India has conducted anti-terror strikes against Pakistan – an SCO member.Another SCO member, Iran has come under attack from Israel and the US for its nuclear programme. India had earlier disassociated itself from an SCO statement that protested against the strikes on Iran and called for restoration of peace and tranquility. “India attaches special importance to SCO in promoting multi-lateralism, political, security, economic and people-to-people interactions in the region,” an official statement prior to the defence minister’s departure said.Army has signed contracts worth ₹2,000 crore to boost its operational readiness for counterterrorism operations, officials said on Tuesday. A total of 13 contracts have been signed that aim to enhance situational awareness, lethality, mobility, and protection for troops deployed in counter terror environments. Key acquisitions include integrated drone detection and interdiction systems, low-level lightweight radars, very short-range air defence systems and loitering munitions, including vertical take-off and landing systems as reported.
Rajnath Singh to lead India delegation at SCO defence ministers’ meeting in China
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will lead a high-level Indian delegation at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Defence Ministers’ Meeting to be held at Qingdao, China from June 25 to 26, 2025. Defence Ministers are expected to discuss a number of issues, including regional and international peace and security, counter-terrorism efforts and cooperation among the Ministries of Defence of SCO member states.
During the meeting, the Defence Ministers are expected to discuss a number of issues, including regional and international peace and security, counter-terrorism efforts and cooperation among the Ministries of Defence of SCO member states.
As per the release, the Defence Minister is expected to highlight India’s continued commitment to the principles and mandate of the SCO, outline India’s vision for achieving greater international peace and security, call for joint and consistent efforts to eliminate terrorism and extremism in the region, and stress on the need for greater trade, economic cooperation and connectivity within SCO.
He will also hold bilateral meetings with the Defence Ministers of some participating countries, including China and Russia, on the sidelines of the meeting.
India attaches special importance to SCO in promoting multi-lateralism, political, security, economic and people-to-people interactions in the region. SCO pursues its policy based on the principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity of nations, non-interference in internal affairs, mutual respect, understanding and equality of all member states.
SCO is an inter-governmental organisation established in 2001. India became a full member in 2017 and assumed the rotating Chairmanship in 2023.
The SCO member countries include Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Iran and Belarus, besides India. China has assumed the Chair of the SCO for 2025 under the theme ‘Upholding the Shanghai Spirit: SCO on the Move’.