Defense Minister Rajnath Singh will lead a high -level Indian delegation at a meeting of the Defense Ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in Kingdao, China on 25 and 26 June, the Ministry of Defense said on Tuesday.
According to the ministry, Singh will also hold bilateral meetings with his counterparts from some other participating countries including China, which since October 2024, Chinese Defense Minister Admiral Dong is making his second engagement with June, when the two sides agreed to disintegrate in eastern Ladakh after being in military deadlock for more than four years.
Since 2020, Singh has held three bilateral meetings with Chinese Defense Ministers so far, in Moscow in September 2020 and in April 2023, on the occasion of meeting of SCO Defense Ministers in New Delhi in New Delhi-and on the Symphlains of the 11th, 11th SC in Vienian, Laos in November 2024, on the Sydlles of the 11th, 11th SC, Plus.
Sources said both sides are likely to discuss progress in disintegration by Indian and Chinese soldiers with real control (LAC) and the remaining border disputes. Regional security related issues are also likely to be part of the discussions.
Sources said that they would probably be a bilateral meeting with Russian Defense Minister Andre Belwsov, where both sides are likely to discuss defense cooperation between the two countries. Since 2022, when the conflict between Russia and Ukraine began, Singh held meetings with the Russian Defense Minister at a meeting of SCO Defense Ministers in New Delhi in April 2023. He co-chair the 21st India-Russia Inter-Government Commission on military and military technical cooperation with Belusov in December 2024.
Singh was scheduled to visit Moscow last month to represent India at the Russian Victory Day Parade, but left it due to adjacent operation vermilion launched in India against terrorist goals in Pakistan in May. Most of India’s military platforms and equipment are of Russian origin and requires regular additional supply and maintenance from Russia.
In a statement, the Ministry of Defense said that the SCO Meat is expected to discuss those issues in the Meet, such as regional and international peace and security, anti-terrorism efforts and cooperation between member states.
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It states that Singh “expects to highlight India’s principles and continuous commitment to the SCO’s principles and mandate, which outlines India’s vision for maximum international peace and security, calls for joint and constant efforts to eliminate terrorism and extremism in the region, and emphasizes more business, economic cooperation and connectivity needs within the SCO.”
The Ministry of Defense said that India gives special importance to SCO in promoting multilateralism, political, security, economic and people’s interactions in the region.
“SCO pursues his policy based on the principles of sovereignty, regional integrity of nations, non-interference in internal affairs, mutual respect, understanding and equality of all member states,” it said.
Established in 2001, India became a full member of the inter-governmental organization in 2017 and assumed the rotation chairmanship in 2023.
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Apart from India, SCO membership includes Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Iran and Belarus. China has received the SCO chair for 2025 under the theme ‘Shanghai Spirit: SCO on the Move’.
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