Hope Russia Will Remain India’s Major Partner, Help Lead Us Towards Selfreliance, Says Rajnath Singh

TPI Staff December 6, 2021

72 1 minute read

Hope Russia Will Remain India's Major Partner, Help Lead Us Towards Selfreliance, Says Rajnath Singh

Mumbai: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on Monday that we hope that Russia will remain a major partner of India in challenging circumstances and will lead us towards self-reliance.

During the 2+2 Inter-Ministerial Dialogue for the first time, Rajnath Singh said, “We expect Russia to remain a key partner for India in these challenging circumstances. From the Ministry of Defence, we have extended our military-technical cooperation, advanced research, co-development and co-production of defence equipment, so that India can become self-reliant.”

He said the defence ties between India and Russia have progressed in an unprecedented manner in recent times.

Recalling his visit to Moscow, Rajnath said, “I have the honour of participating in the celebration of victory in the Great Patriotic War and attending two rounds of the SCO Defense Ministers’ Meeting twice in Moscow and once in Dushanbe.”

He said, “Our officers and soldiers not only marched shoulder to shoulder with Russian soldiers in honour of those killed in World War II, but also substantially participated in major exercises and activities undertaken at the initiative of Russia. ”

Noting that India is optimistic about Russia’s cooperation in all the domains, Defence Minister further said that “we proposed greater engagements in Central Asia and the Indian Ocean region. India is a continuation of the vast Eurasian landmass and at the same time central in the enormous Indian Ocean region.”