Rajnath Singh to lead Indian delegation at SCO Defence Ministers’ meeting in Bishkek

During the meeting, Defence Ministers of member countries will deliberate on a range of issues concerning regional defence and security, according to an official statement.

Matters related to international peace, counter-terrorism, and defence cooperation among SCO member states are also expected to figure prominently in the discussions.

This year’s SCO meeting is taking place against the backdrop of geopolitical turbulence arising from the ongoing situation in West Asia.

The organisation, one of the largest political and economic groupings in the region, is likely to consider measures to mitigate the impact of the conflict.

Rajnath Singh is expected to reiterate India’s commitment to global peace amid prevailing security challenges and reaffirm New Delhi’s consistent position of zero tolerance towards terrorism and extremism.

On the sidelines of the meeting, the Defence Minister is also likely to hold bilateral talks with counterparts from several participating countries.

The SCO is an intergovernmental organisation established on June 15, 2001, in Shanghai, China. Its current members include India, Russia, China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Iran, and Belarus. India became a full member in 2017 and assumed the rotating chairmanship in 2023.