Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh to Lead Indian Delegation at Crucial SCO Defence Ministers’ Meet in Bishkek Tomorrow
Raksha Mantri is likely to hold a series of bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the summit with his counterparts from participating nations
In a significant diplomatic outreach amid rising global security tensions and continuing instability in West Asia, Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh will lead a high-level Indian delegation to the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Defence Ministers’ Meeting scheduled to be held in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan on April 28. The Ministry of Defence said the meeting assumes added importance at a time when regional security architecture is under strain and major Eurasian powers are seeking coordinated responses to terrorism, extremism and geopolitical conflict.
The high-profile gathering will bring together Defence Ministers of SCO member nations to deliberate on pressing issues concerning defence and security in the Eurasian region. Key agenda items are expected to include international peace, collective counter-terrorism measures, military confidence-building and enhanced defence cooperation among member states.
This year’s summit is being held against the backdrop of heightened geopolitical turmoil, particularly due to the evolving situation in West Asia. Diplomatic observers believe the SCO — one of the largest regional political, economic and strategic blocs — may discuss coordinated mechanisms to reduce the fallout of ongoing conflicts and strengthen regional stability.
During the meeting, Rajnath Singh is expected to strongly articulate India’s commitment to global peace and strategic stability while reiterating New Delhi’s uncompromising policy of zero tolerance against terrorism and extremism. India is also likely to push for stronger collective action against cross-border terror networks and radicalisation, themes that have consistently figured in its interventions at SCO security forums.
Sources said the Raksha Mantri is also likely to hold a series of bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the summit with his counterparts from participating nations to further deepen defence partnerships, military exchanges and strategic cooperation.
The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, established on June 15, 2001 in Shanghai, has emerged as one of the most influential inter-governmental organisations spanning Eurasia. Its current members include India, Russia, China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Iran and Belarus. India joined the grouping as a full member in 2017 and has since used the SCO platform to strengthen its outreach towards Central Asia while simultaneously advancing its security concerns relating to terrorism and regional peace.
Given the present churn in the global security environment, India’s participation at Bishkek is being seen as an important strategic intervention aimed at reinforcing its voice on multilateral security cooperation and anti-terror diplomacy.
