New Delhi (NVI): Defence Minister Rajnath Singh today left for Moscow, Russia, on a three-day visit to attend a crucial meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO).
The Defence Ministers of all eight SCO member nations are expected to deliberate on regional security challenges like terrorism and extremism and ways to deal with them “collectively” in Moscow on Friday, according to officials.
Besides attending the SCO defence ministers’ meeting, Singh will hold talks with his Russian counterpart Sergey Shoigu and several other top military officials with an aim to expedite the implementation of several defence procurement programmes and further boosting bilateral defence cooperation.
Singh took to twitter in this regard and wrote, “Heading to Moscow. During this visit, I shall be attending the combined meeting of Defence Ministers of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO) & CIS members in commemoration of the 75th Anniversary of victory in the World War II.”
Heading to Moscow. During this visit, I shall be attending the combined meeting of Defence Ministers of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO) & CIS members in commemoration of the 75th Anniversary of victory in the World War II.
— Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) September 2, 2020
“India and Russia are privileged Strategic Partners. Looking forward to further this partnership during my visit,” Rajnath Singh added.
I shall also be meeting Russia’s Defence Minister, General Shoigu to discuss bilateral cooperation and issues of mutual interest. India and Russia are privileged Strategic Partners. Looking forward to further this partnership during my visit.
— Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) September 2, 2020
In addition to this, during the talks, both sides are expected to officially finalise a long-pending proposal to produce AK 203 rifles in India.
Singh is also likely to request the Russian side to ensure timely delivery of the S-400 missile defence systems to India.
The delivery of the first batch of S-400 surface-to-air missile systems to India is scheduled by the end of 2021.
The SCO defence ministers’ meeting is taking place at a time when two of its member countries, India and China, are locked in a bitter border standoff in eastern Ladakh.
Chinese Defence Minister Gen Wei Fenghe is expected to attend the SCO meeting.
-CHK
