Defense ministers of SCO member nations will deliberate on regional security challenges like terrorism and extremism

Defense minister Rajnath Singh has visited Russia to participate in the meeting of defense ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).

He is in Moscow till September 5 and will attend the combined meeting of defense ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO), and Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) member States in commemoration of the 75th Anniversary of victory in the World War II, the government said in a statement.

“I shall also be meeting Russia’s Defence Minister, General Shoigu to discuss bilateral cooperation and issues of mutual interest. India and Russia are privileged Strategic Partners. Looking forward to further this partnership during my visit,” the defense minister had said in a tweet before heading to Russia.

Asked about the possibility of a bilateral meeting between Singh and the Chinese defense minister Gen Wei Fenghe, officials said that there is no such plan as per a Hindustan Times report.

It is the defense minister’s second visit to Moscow since June. Singh is also likely to hold crucial talks with his Russian counterpart Sergey Shoigu on further boosting bilateral defense cooperation, said the report.

The SCO comprises eight member states -- India, Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. The aim of the SCO is to maintain peace, stability, and security of the region.

The defense ministers of all eight SCO member nations are expected to deliberate on regional security challenges like terrorism and extremism and ways to deal with them collectively as per the officials quoted in the report.

Earlier in June, Singh had represented India at the Victory Day Parade in Moscow on June 24 that commemorated the 75th anniversary of the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in the Second World War.