Defence Minister’s Russia visit concludes with Putin Meeting
By IAR Desk
New Delhi: 11 December 2024: Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh has concluded an official visit to the Russian Federation from December 08-10, 2024. During the visit, Raksha Mantri and the Defence Minister of Russia Mr Andrey Belousov co-chaired the 21st meeting of India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Military and Military Technical Cooperation (IRIGC-M&MTC) in Moscow on December 10, 2024.
The two leaders reviewed the entire range of multi-faceted relations between the two countries in the field of defence, including military-to-military and industrial cooperation. They also exchanged views on contemporary regional and global issues of mutual interest.
The 21st session of the India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Military & Military Technical Cooperation (IRIGC-M&MTC) was co-chaired by Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh and Russian Defence Minister Mr Andrey Belousov in Moscow on December 10, 2024. Raksha Mantri emphasised that the India-Russia relationship is very strong, and has lived up to the responsibilities of a special and privileged strategic partnership. He added that the ties have further strengthened with the recent exchanges including two visits of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi to Russia during 2024.
In his talks with Russian Defence Minister Andrey Belousov, Rajnath Singh pressed for expediting the supply of the two remaining units of S-400 Triumf surface-to-air missile systems to India.
Shri Rajnath Singh voiced the Government of India’s determination to extend the capabilities of its domestic defence industry across domains and industrial collaboration. He stressed on new opportunities for enhancing participation of Russian industries in the ‘Make in India’ projects. He reiterated India’s commitment towards Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership with Russia.
Rajnath Singh on Tuesday called on Russian President Vladimir Putin after co-chairing the 21st session of the India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Military and Military Cooperation along with Russian Defence Minister Andrey Belousov.
At the meeting, both leaders expressed that the partnership between the countries holds immense potential and combined efforts will pave the way for remarkable outcomes, an Indian readout of the meeting said.
After meeting Putin, Rajnath Singh said ‘friendship between our countries is higher than the highest mountain and deeper than the deepest ocean’.
Mr Singh conveyed to Putin that India has always stood by its Russian friends and will continue to do so in future, it said.
The defence minister also conveyed warm greetings of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to President Putin.
Glad to call on the Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin in Moscow, the defence minister said on ‘X’.
President Putin is set to visit India next year to hold the annual summit talks with PM Modi.
It may be recalled that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has already visited Russia tw8ce this year – first 8n July as a stand alone visit, and then in September for the BRICS summit.
As part of the visit, Raksha Mantri also commissioned the Indian Navy’s latest multi-role stealth guided missile frigate ‘INS Tushil’ at Yantra Shipyard, Kaliningrad on December 09, 2024. Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi also accompanied Shri Rajnath Singh for the commissioning ceremony.
The INS Tushil is the first of two stealth frigates under construction for the Indian Navy in Russia. The INS Tamal, the second frigate expected to be delivered to India early next year. Accordingto reports, this will likely be the last warship that Russia will construct for India. Under *ndias new defence policy all warships will now be manufactured domestically. A nuclear attack submarine (SSN), Chakra-III, leased by India and now under construction could also well be the last submarine that India imports from Russia, given its current modernisation plan.
The Russian Defence Minister emphasised on deepening relationship between both the countries which is based on mutual trust. He congratulated Raksha Mantri on the commissioning of INS Tushil. He further stated that the operationalisation of Military Technical Cooperation agreement for 2021-31 will give necessary impetus to ‘Make in India’. Shri Rajnath Singh invited Minister Belousov to visit India to co-chair the 22nd session of IRIGC-M&MTC in 2025. The invitation was accepted.
At the end, the two Ministers signed the protocol of the 21st IRIGC-M&MTC meeting highlighting the ongoing and prospective areas of cooperation.
Prior to the meeting, Raksha Mantri inspected the Guard of Honour at the Russian Defence Ministry in Central Moscow. Earlier, he laid a wreath at ‘The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier’ in Moscow to honour the memory of the Soviet soldiers killed during the Second World War.
