Defence Minister Rajnath Singh held a bilateral meeting with Russian Defence Minister Andrey Belousov on the sidelines of the SCO Defence Ministers’ Meeting in Qingdao, China, on June 26, 2025.
The discussions between the two leaders focused on strengthening India-Russia defence ties. Key topics included the timely supply of S-400 air defence systems, upgrades to the Su-30 MKI fighter aircraft, and the expedited procurement of other critical military hardware.
The meeting was held in the backdrop of Operation Sindoor, underlining the need for enhanced defence production and cooperation, especially in high-priority areas like air defence, air-to-air missiles, and modernisation of air platforms.
Russia reiterated its strong relationship with India and expressed solidarity over the April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir.
The Indian Ministry of Defence described the talks as one of the most significant recent engagements between the two nations, aiming to deepen strategic and military collaboration.
India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh refused to endorse the joint statement, citing the exclusion of the Pahalgam terror attack as the reason.
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