Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to Attend SCO Defence Ministers’ Meet in Qingdao, China; Bilateral Talks with China, Russia on the Agenda
India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is set to lead a high-level Indian delegation to Qingdao, China, for the upcoming Defence Ministers’ Meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) scheduled to take place on June 25 and 26, the Ministry of Defence announced on Tuesday.
This key multilateral forum will serve as a platform for defence ministers of member countries to deliberate on a wide range of regional and international issues related to peace, security, and military cooperation.
As per the official statement, Defence Minister Singh will also hold a series of bilateral discussions on the sidelines of the summit, making it an important diplomatic and strategic outreach effort on behalf of India.
Meeting with Chinese Defence Minister to Discuss LAC and Border Disputes
One of the most closely watched developments will be Singh’s expected bilateral meeting with Chinese Defence Minister Admiral Dong Jun.
This would be the second meeting between the two leaders since October 2024, when they last met during the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus in Vientiane, Laos, and agreed to pursue disengagement along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh.
That meeting had been hailed as a thaw in the prolonged standoff that began in 2020, following a violent confrontation in the Galwan Valley.
Singh has previously met with Chinese defence leaders on three major occasions: once in September 2020 during a Defence Ministers’ gathering in Moscow, then in April 2023 in New Delhi, and most recently in November 2024.
All of these meetings were held on the sidelines of multilateral summits and were aimed at addressing border tensions and de-escalation between the two Asian neighbours.
According to defence sources, the upcoming bilateral engagement is expected to focus on reviewing progress made in the disengagement of troops at the LAC and exploring ways to resolve outstanding boundary issues.
In addition to the border dispute, broader regional security concerns, especially with regard to the Indo-Pacific and the SCO region, are also likely to be on the agenda.
Meeting with the Russian Defence Minister on Military Cooperation
Defence Minister Singh is also expected to hold a bilateral meeting with his Russian counterpart, Andrey Belousov, where discussions will likely centre around India-Russia defence cooperation.
The relationship between the two nations in the defence sector remains robust and longstanding, with India continuing to rely on Russian-origin platforms for a significant part of its military capabilities.
Since the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine conflict in 2022, Singh and Belousov have met at least twice—once in April 2023 during the SCO meeting in New Delhi, and again in December 2024, when they co-chaired the 21st India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Military and Military Technical Cooperation.
Their latest interaction comes at a time when India is keen to ensure the continued supply of spares, maintenance, and support for its Russian-built platforms amidst the shifting geopolitical scenario and Western sanctions on Moscow.
Singh was earlier scheduled to visit Moscow in May 2025 to attend the Victory Day parade, but had to cancel his trip due to India’s launch of Operation Sindoor, a major military operation targeting terror camps across the border in Pakistan.
India’s Stand at SCO: Multilateralism, Counter-Terrorism & Connectivity
In a detailed statement, the Ministry of Defence said that the SCO Defence Ministers’ Meeting will focus on several key issues, including the promotion of international and regional peace, efforts to combat terrorism and extremism, and military cooperation between member states.
Rajnath Singh is expected to underscore India’s unwavering commitment to the principles of the SCO and reiterate the country’s vision for a peaceful, secure, and interconnected regional order.
During his address at the SCO summit, Singh will likely call for joint and coordinated counter-terrorism efforts, express concerns over growing threats from extremism, and advocate for enhanced economic and trade cooperation, particularly in improving connectivity among member states.
The Ministry added, “India continues to attach special importance to its participation in the SCO, viewing it as a crucial platform to foster multilateralism, promote political dialogue, enhance economic engagement, and strengthen people-to-people ties across the region.”
It also reaffirmed that the SCO operates on a foundational policy that respects the sovereignty and territorial integrity of its member nations, and is based on principles of non-interference in internal affairs, mutual understanding, and equality among states.
Background and Strategic Context
Founded in 2001, the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation has evolved into a major regional grouping with a growing geopolitical footprint. India became a full member in 2017 and held the rotating chairmanship of the group in 2023.
The SCO has increasingly become a forum for addressing security challenges, fostering regional stability, and deepening cooperation among its members.
Current SCO members include India, China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Pakistan, Iran, and Belarus. Under China’s chairmanship for 2025, the group is operating under the theme “Upholding the Shanghai Spirit: SCO on the Move.”
As the global security landscape continues to evolve rapidly, India’s participation in forums like the SCO remains critical—n, not only to engage with neighbours and regional powers but also to assert its strategic interests in a multipolar world.
The Qingdao meet is thus expected to serve as a significant diplomatic opportunity for India to reinforce its stance on key defence and security matters while seeking clarity and cooperation on persistent bilateral concerns, particularly with China and Russia.
