The picture says it all on Indo-Russian strategic partnership

President Vladimir Putin received Raksha Mantri of India, Shri Rajnath Singh, who is in Russia on a working visit, in the Kremlin. The meeting was also attended by Russia’s Defence Minister Andrei Belousov.

Defense cooperation between Russia and India has vast potential, said the Russian Defense Minister Andrey Belousov.”India is one of Russia’s key partners, with the two countries maintaining privileged strategic relations.

The unprecedented level of trust between our countries can be seen in the extent and closeness of military and military-technical cooperation, which has a vast potential for further growth,” he said at the 21st meeting of the Russian-Indian intergovernmental commission on military and military-technical cooperation.

Welcoming the Indian delegation, Belousov congratulated the Indian Navy on receiving the Tushil frigate. “The flag-raising ceremony was held yesterday in Kaliningrad with your participation,” he said addressing Indian Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh.

According to Belousov, who co-chairs the commission, today’s meeting is expected to sum up the results of joint work in the outgoing year and outline priority tasks for the future.

Shri Rajnath Singh emphasised the deep-rooted friendship between India and Russia. During their discussions, Singh declared that the India-Russia relationship is “higher than the highest mountain and deeper than the deepest ocean,” highlighting the enduring nature of their partnership.

The meeting took place on December 10, 2024, as part of Singh’s three-day visit to Russia, which included co-chairing the 21st session of the India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Military and Military-Technical Cooperation (IRIGC-M&MTC) alongside Russian Defence Minister Andrey Belousov.

Both leaders acknowledged the immense potential for collaboration, particularly in defence sectors, and Singh urged for expedited deliveries of S-400 missile systems and greater involvement of Russian industries in India’s defence manufacturing initiatives.

Singh also conveyed greetings from Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Putin, reaffirming India’s commitment to standing by its Russian allies despite external pressures.

The meeting underscored a shared vision for expanding military cooperation and exploring new avenues for joint production of defence equipment, further solidifying the strategic partnership between the two nations.