Singh is set to hold crucial discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin and co-chair the India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Military-Technical Cooperation alongside Russian Defence Minister Andrei Belousov
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh arrived in Moscow on an official visit during which he will witness the commissioning of a stealth warship into the Indian Navy and attend the 21st meeting of India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Military & Military Technical Cooperation.
Singh received a warm welcome on late Sunday night by Indian Ambassador to Russia, Venkatesh Kumar, and Russian Deputy Minister of Defence, Alexander Fomin.
During his visit, Singh will also pay tributes at ‘The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier’ in Moscow to honour the Soviet soldiers killed during the Second World War. He will also interact with the members of the Indian community, a release said.
Singh is set to hold crucial discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin and co-chair the India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Military-Technical Cooperation (IRIGC M&MTC) alongside Russian Defence Minister Andrei Belousov.
Sharing a post on X, the Embassy of India in Russia wrote, “Hon’ble Raksha Mantri Shri @rajnathsingh was received by Ambassador @vkumar1969 and Russian Deputy Minister of Defence Alexander Fomin in Moscow.”
Singh will also engage with the Indian community in Russia.
“During the visit, Hon’ble Raksha Mantri will call on President Putin and co-chair the IRIGC M&MTC meeting with his Russian counterpart, Defence Minister Andrei Belousov. He will also take part in the commissioning ceremony of INS Tushil and interact with the Indian community,” the post added.
This visit aims to further deepen India- Russia defence cooperation in line with the Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership, the Embassy of India in Russia wrote on X.
Earlier on Saturday, Singh shared a post on X about his visit to Russia. He wrote, “Tomorrow, 8th December, I shall be reaching Moscow in Russia to attend the 21st meeting of India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Military & Military Technical Cooperation.”
“Also, I shall be attending the Commissioning ceremony of Indian Navy’s latest multi-role stealth-guided missile frigate ‘INS Tushil’ during my visit. Looking forward to it,” the post added.
It said that Defence Minister Singh and Belousov will co-chair the 21st meeting of the India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Military and Military Technical Cooperation (IRIGC-M&MTC) in Moscow on December 10 (2024).
The Defence Minister’s visit to Russia comes five months after Prime Minister Narendra Modi travelled to Moscow and held summit talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
In the talks, both sides decided to further bolster two-way Defence ties. Defence Minister Singh and Belousov will review the entire range of multi-faceted relations between the two countries in the field of Defence, including Military-to-military and industrial cooperation, the Defence Ministry said in the readout.
“They will also exchange views on contemporary regional and global issues of mutual interest,” it said.
People familiar with Singh’s visit said India-Russia cooperation in the co-production of Military hardware will figure prominently in the talks between the two Defence Ministers.
“As part of the visit, the Defence Minister will also commission the Indian Navy’s latest multi-role stealth guided missile frigate Tushil at Yantra Shipyard, Kaliningrad on December 9 (2024),” the Ministry said.
The warship, billed as one of the most technologically advanced frigates globally, is expected to significantly bolster the Indian Navy’s operational capability in the Indian Ocean, a region that has witnessed increasing Chinese forays.
Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K. Tripathi will accompany Singh to the commissioning ceremony.
It said Defence Minister Singh will also pay tributes at “The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier” in Moscow to honour the Soviet soldiers killed during the Second World War. He is also scheduled to interact with the members of the Indian community in Moscow.
Putin’ India visit
Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin will visit India for the annual summit next year, and the dates for the same will be worked out through diplomatic channels, the Ministry of External Affairs said last week.
“We have with Russia an arrangement of annual summits. The last annual summit was held in Moscow, for which the Prime Minister travelled to Moscow. The next one is scheduled to be held in India next year, that is, and the dates for the same will be worked out through diplomatic channels,” MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in the weekly press briefing.
President Putin has received an invitation to visit India from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the dates for his visit will be set in early 2025, Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov said on December 2.
While addressing a briefing, Ushakov stated that Putin and PM Modi have an agreement to hold meetings once a year and it is Russia’s turn this time, according to Russian Embassy in India.
“Our leaders have an agreement to hold meetings once a year. This time, it’s our turn,” the diplomat stated, adding, “We received Mr. Modi’s invitation and we will certainly consider it positively.”
Notably, this will be Putin’s first visit to India since the beginning of the conflict between Ukraine and Russia in 2022. India has always advocated “peace and diplomacy” for resolving conflict between Ukraine and Russia.
Putin and PM Modi remain in regular contact, holding talks over phone-call once every couple of months, according to Russian Embassy in India. The two leaders also hold in-person meetings. This year, the two leaders met twice as PM Modi in July travelled to Moscow to participate in the 22nd Russia-India summit. (ANI)
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