Rajnath & Russian Counterpart hold 21st Military-Technical Cooperation Dialogue

New Delhi: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and his Russian counterpart Andrei Belousov co-chaired the 21st session of the India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Military and Military Technical Cooperation (IRIGC-M&MTC) in Moscow.

The meeting underscored the enduring strength of the India-Russia partnership, which both sides hailed as a “Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership.”

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh highlighted the robust nature of India-Russia relations, emphasizing that the partnership has stood the test of time. He noted that recent high-level interactions, including two visits by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Russia in 2024, have further deepened these ties.

Singh also reiterated India’s commitment to strengthening its domestic defence industry and invited greater participation from Russian industries in ‘Make in India’ initiatives aimed at fostering joint defence production.

“We are determined to expand the capabilities of our domestic defence sector and see immense potential for collaboration with Russian industries,” Singh said, reaffirming India’s strategic priorities. He also praised the successful cooperation between the two countries on multilateral platforms, including BRICS, G20, and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO).

Russian Defence Minister Andrei Belousov described India as a trusted and long-standing partner. “Our relationship is built on mutual respect and trust, strengthened by the close rapport between our leaders,” he remarked.

Belousov referred to key bilateral meetings earlier this year, including those between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which contributed significantly to advancing the defence partnership.

He also lauded the strong military collaboration between the two nations within multilateral frameworks like the SCO and ADMM Plus. “I am confident that today’s discussions will further solidify our defence and security cooperation,” Belousov added.

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