Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will lead a high-level Indian delegation to the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Defence Ministers’ Meeting, which begins tomorrow in Qingdao, China.
During the two-day meeting, Defence Ministers of SCO member states are expected to discuss key issues, including regional and international security, counter-terrorism efforts, and enhanced cooperation among their defence ministries.
Rajnath Singh is expected to underscore India’s steadfast commitment to the principles and mandate of the SCO. He is also expected to outline India’s vision for promoting international peace and security, and call for joint, consistent efforts to eliminate terrorism and extremism in the region.
On the sidelines of the meeting, the Defence Minister will also hold bilateral discussions with his counterparts from several participating countries, including China and Russia.
The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation is an intergovernmental body established in 2001. India became a full member in 2017. Current SCO members include Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Iran, Belarus, and India.
China holds the Chair of the SCO for 2025 under the theme “Upholding the Shanghai Spirit: SCO on the Move.” India continues to attach high importance to the SCO as a platform for strengthening multilateralism, regional security, economic cooperation, and people-to-people engagement.
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