Rajnath Singh Hails Russia as ‘Time-Tested Strategic Partner’ at India–Russia Defence Commission Meet

By A Staff Reporter

New Delhi: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday reaffirmed the strength and resilience of India–Russia defence ties at the 22nd meeting of the India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Military & Military Technical Cooperation. Addressing the Russian delegation in New Delhi, Singh expressed appreciation for their visit and underscored the continuity of defence engagement between the two nations.

“I thank you very much for coming all the way to India to discuss and promote bilateral defence cooperation between our countries,” he said, emphasising that the partnership has only deepened since the Declaration of the India–Russia Strategic Partnership signed in 2000.

Calling Russia a “time-tested, special privileged, and strategic partner,” the Defence Minister highlighted that bilateral defence cooperation has grown substantially over the past two decades. He noted that despite current geopolitical uncertainty, collaboration between the two countries has remained steady and productive.

“It is good that despite the geopolitical uncertainty, our India–Russia defence cooperation is moving at a healthy pace,” Singh said, adding that regular, outcome-oriented exchanges between armed forces personnel, experts and officials have sustained momentum in the partnership.