Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Russian Defence Minister Andrei Belousov on Thursday co-chaired the 22nd meeting of the India–Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Military and Military Technical Cooperation (IRIGC-M&MTC) at the Manekshaw Centre in the national capital.
The meeting comes a day ahead of the 23rd India–Russia Annual Summit between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Both sides reaffirmed that the India–Russia partnership is anchored in deep trust, shared principles and long-standing mutual respect.
Rajnath Singh emphasised the government’s commitment to strengthening India’s indigenous defence manufacturing under the vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat. He highlighted new opportunities to expand bilateral cooperation in advanced and niche defence technologies, including co-development and co-production.
Belousov underlined the strategic depth of the relationship, stating that India and Russia are united by years of friendship and close defence cooperation. He said Russian defence industries stand ready to support India’s goal of becoming self-reliant in defence production, and invited Rajnath Singh to Russia for the 23rd Commission meeting in 2026.
At the conclusion of the meeting, both ministers signed the protocol outlining ongoing and future areas of defence collaboration.
Earlier in the day, the two leaders paid tributes at the National War Memorial, where they laid a wreath and honoured the soldiers who sacrificed their lives in the service of the nation. The Russian Defence Minister also inspected a tri-service Guard of Honour.
