New Delhi, 4 December (H.S.): Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and his Russian counterpart Andrei Belousov co-chaired the 22nd India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Military and Military Technical Cooperation (IRIGC-M&MTC) ministerial meeting in New Delhi today, reviewing bilateral defence ties amid global geopolitical shifts.
The two leaders began proceedings by jointly laying wreaths at the National War Memorial, honoring fallen Indian soldiers. Singh emphasized Russia's enduring role as India's strategic partner in technology and defence, noting sustained high-level contacts between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Vladimir Putin, including their June 2025 SCO Summit interactions.
The discussions covered ongoing projects like major contracts, licensed production, technology transfers, and joint developments such as the BrahMos missile system.
Belousov, received at Palam Air Force Station by Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth, inspected a Tri-Service Guard of Honour before the talks at Manekshaw Centre. He highlighted the solid, time-proven friendship binding the nations, with the meeting addressing regional and global security issues of mutual concern ahead of Putin's two-day state visit—his first to India since 2021.
The government firmly refuted circulating social media claims of a fresh $2 billion submarine deal with Russia, labeling them fake news from fraudulent sources. PIB's Fact Check Unit clarified no such agreement was clinched, countering misleading reports ahead of Putin's African African .
This engagement reaffirms the 2021-2031 military-technical cooperation pact, focusing on co-production and exports, as India bolsters its defence capabilities.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar
