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Key Points

Rajnath Singh met Russian Defence Minister Andrey Belousov at the SCO summit in Qingdao, focusing on speeding up S-400 deliveries and Su-30 MKI upgrades. Both leaders reaffirmed strong Indo-Russian defence ties while addressing cross-border terrorism concerns. India notably refused to sign the SCO joint declaration due to its omission of the Pahalgam terror attack. The meeting highlights ongoing strategic cooperation amid geopolitical tensions.

Key Points: Rajnath Singh Meets Russia's Belousov on S-400 Supply and Su-30 Upgrades

  • Rajnath Singh discusses expedited S-400 supply with Russia
  • Talks include Su-30 MKI upgrades and critical arms procurement
  • SCO meeting held amid Operation Sindoor defence push
  • India refuses SCO declaration over Pahalgam terror omission
3 min read

Rajnath Singh discusses supply of S-400 systems, Su-30 MKI upgrades with Russian counterpart Belousov

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh discusses S-400 deliveries, Su-30 MKI upgrades, and military procurement with Russia's Andrey Belousov at SCO meet.

"Happy to have met the Defence Minister of Russia, Andrey Belousov... We had insightful deliberations on boosting India-Russia defence ties. – Rajnath Singh"

Qingdao, June 27

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh held a meeting with his Russian counterpart Andrey Belousov on the sidelines of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Defence Ministers' Meeting in China's Qingdao and discussed supply of S-400 systems, Su-30 MKI upgrades, and procurement of critical military hardware in expeditious timeframes.

During the meeting on Thursday, the two leaders held discussions on several subjects, covering current geopolitical situations, cross-border terrorism and defence cooperation between the two nations, according to the Ministry of Defence press release.

Andrey Belousov highlighted the long-standing Indo-Russian relations which have stood the test of time and expressed solidarity with India on the "horrendous and cowardly terrorist act of 22nd April in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam.

In a press release, Ministry of Defence stated, "It was one of the most important recent meetings between the leaders of the two nations, being held in the backdrop of Operation Sindoor and the consequent necessity of augmenting defence production, especially in critical items such as air defence, air-to-air missiles, modern capabilities, and upgrades of air platforms.

"Supply of S-400 systems, Su-30 MKI upgrades, and procurement of critical military hardware in expeditious timeframes were some of the key takeaways of the meeting," it added.

Rajnath Singh stated that he and Belousov discussed boosting defence ties between two nations.

"Happy to have met the Defence Minister of Russia, Andrey Belousov on the sidelines of SCO Defence Ministers' Meeting in Qingdao. We had insightful deliberations on boosting India-Russia defence ties," Singh posted on X.

https://x.com/rajnathsingh/status/1938101376007213449

Rajnath Singh arrived in China's Qingdaon on Thursday to attend SCO Defence Ministers Meeting. Upon his arrival, Rajnath Singh was welcomed by the Chinese Defence Minister, Admiral Dong Jun. Singh. Singh, along with Admiral Dong Jun and other leaders, also posed for a group photograph ahead of the Defence Ministers' meeting.

India declined to sign the joint declaration at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation meeting in China on Thursday, which, according to sources, did not have any mention of the dastardly April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam but mentioned incidents in Pakistan.

According to government sources, Rajnath Singh did not sign the SCO document as India is not satisfied with the language of the joint document, as there was no mention of the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, there was mention of the incidents that happened in Pakistan, so India refused to sign the joint declaration, and there is no joint communique either.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

A
Arjun P.
Good to see India standing firm on terrorism issue at SCO. No compromise when it comes to national security! The S-400 deal and Su-30 upgrades are crucial for our defense preparedness. Russia has been a reliable partner, but we should also diversify our defense suppliers. 🇮🇳
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Priya M.
While defense deals are important, I hope we're also focusing on indigenous manufacturing under Make in India. We can't always depend on imports. The recent BrahMos success shows what we're capable of when we invest in our own R&D. More budget for DRDO please!
R
Rahul K.
Interesting that this meeting happened in China despite tensions. Shows how complex geopolitics is! The S-400 will be game changer against threats from both western and northern borders. But delivery timelines must be honored this time - no more delays like last time.
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Sunita T.
Proud of India for not signing that biased SCO declaration! Why should we accept documents that ignore terrorism against us? 👏 The Russian support on Pahalgam attack is appreciated, but actions speak louder than words. Hope the defense deals materialize quickly.
V
Vikram S.
Su-30 upgrades are long overdue! These are workhorses of our air force but need modern avionics and weapons to match Chinese J-16s. Hope the deal includes transfer of technology so HAL can do future upgrades locally. Atmanirbhar Bharat should be the ultimate goal.
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Neha R.
While defense is important, I wish our leaders would also discuss economic cooperation with same urgency. Rising defense spending is necessary but common people are struggling with inflation. Need balanced approach between security and development. Just my two rupees!

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