Rajnath Singh arrives in Bishkek for SCO Defence Ministers’ Meeting

New Delhi: Marking a key multilateral engagement focused on regional security and defence cooperation, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh arrived in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, on Monday to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Defence Ministers’ Meeting.

The visit underscores India’s continued engagement with the SCO on security and defence issues, even as New Delhi balances its wider strategic partnerships across the region. The SCO Defence Ministers’ Meeting is expected to deliberate on counter‑terrorism, border security, military‑to‑military cooperation, and other shared challenges facing member states.

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Upon his arrival, Rajnath Singh was warmly welcomed by members of the Indian diaspora. By travelling to Bishkek, Rajnath Singh is set to reaffirm India’s commitment to cooperative frameworks that promote stability in Central Asia and beyond, while also leveraging the platform to outline New Delhi’s perspectives on emerging security threats and multilateral defence coordination.

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The meeting is likely to review progress on existing SCO defence initiatives, including joint exercises, information‑sharing mechanisms, and confidence‑building measures, and could also address emerging flashpoints that affect multiple member states. As a founding member of the SCO, India views the forum as an important pillar of its “Act Central Asia” strategy, aimed at deepening defence, connectivity, and economic ties with the region.

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