Rajnath Singh to Lead India’s Defence Diplomacy at SCO Ministers’ Meet in China

TIT Correspondent
info@impressivetimes.com

New Delhi, June 24 : Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Defence Ministers’ meeting in Qingdao, China, from June 25 to 26, where he is expected to champion global peace, security, and collaborative efforts to counter terrorism and extremism.

According to a statement issued by the Ministry of Defence, Rajnath Singh will lead a high-level Indian delegation for the two-day event. The meetings will witness the participation of Defence Ministers from SCO member nations to review and discuss a range of pressing issues, including regional and international peace, security, counter-terrorism cooperation, and ways to deepen defence collaboration across the SCO.

Rajnath Singh is expected to highlight India’s strong and ongoing commitment to the principles and objectives of the SCO. He will outline India’s vision for achieving long-lasting international peace and stability, emphasising the urgent need for joint, sustained efforts to eradicate terrorism and extremism in the region. He will also underscore the necessity for greater economic cooperation, connectivity, and mutual trust within the SCO framework.

On the sidelines of the main conference, the Defence Minister is scheduled to hold bilateral meetings with his counterparts from participating nations, including those from China and Russia, focusing on strengthening defence ties and expanding cooperation across a range of sectors.

India, which became a full member of the SCO in 2017, has placed special emphasis on the role and significance of the SCO in fostering multi-lateralism, mutual understanding, economic and security cooperation across the Eurasian region. New Delhi also led the SCO as its rotating Chair in 2023, further reinforcing its role within the organization.

The SCO, established in 2001, operates on the core principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity, mutual respect, understanding, and equality of all its member nations. The coalition comprises Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Iran, Belarus, and India.

With its growing role in global and regional dynamics, the SCO has become an important platform for dialogue and cooperation on security, counter-terrorism, economic connectivity, and people-to-people interactions. In line with this, China, which has assumed the Chair of the SCO for 2025, will host the upcoming meeting under the theme ‘Upholding the Shanghai Spirit: SCO on the Move’.

Through this meeting, Rajnath Singh aims to deepen the collaborative efforts of SCO nations, reinforcing a collective approach towards ensuring peace, stability, and security across the region while tackling common threats posed by terrorism and extremism. The Defence Minister’s participation underlines India’s enduring commitment to making the SCO an effective instrument for fostering mutual trust and global peace.