In order to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Defense Ministers’ Meeting, which is set for June 25–26, 2025, Defense Minister Rajnath Singh is expected to leave for Qingdao, China, today.
Defense ministers from SCO member nations will convene at this high-level meeting to discuss urgent matters pertaining to regional and global peace, security, and counterterrorism. Singh said in a social media message that he was looking forward to sharing India’s vision for world peace and security and emphasized the importance of coordinated, long-term efforts to eradicate terrorism.
He emphasized how crucial it is to use this platform to interact with colleagues from other nations, such as China and Russia, in order to promote communication and collaboration on a variety of defense and security-related issues.
In a formal press statement, the Ministry of Defence stated that Rajnath Singh is anticipated to reaffirm India’s steadfast adherence to the SCO’s ideals and goals. In addition to supporting coordinated and coordinated efforts to counter terrorism and extremism in the area, he will highlight India’s proactive role in advancing global peace, security, and stability.
Singh will also probably emphasize the need for increased connectivity, trade, and economic cooperation among SCO members, acknowledging the organization’s critical role in promoting multilateralism and regional integration.
On the sidelines of the major event, Singh will also hold bilateral talks with the defense ministers of a number of participating nations, most notably China and Russia. It is expected that these exchanges will improve mutual understanding and defense ties between India and its allies.
India places a high value on the SCO as a forum for promoting regional people-to-people interactions, political discourse, security cooperation, and multilateral cooperation, the Ministry of Defence reaffirmed. Since its founding in 2001, the SCO has grown into a significant intergovernmental organization. India most recently served as its rotating chairman in 2023 and became a full member in 2017.
Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Iran, Belarus, and India are among the current members of the SCO. This year’s summit, which China will host in 2025 with the subject “Upholding the Shanghai Spirit: SCO on the Move,” is anticipated to reaffirm the organization’s core values of equality among member nations, sovereignty, territorial integrity, non-interference, and respect for one another.
