India-Russia Defence Ties Reach New Heights: 22nd IRIGC-M&MTC Concludes in New Delhi

Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh and Russian First Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Andrei Belousov today co-chaired the 22nd session of the India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Military and Military-Technical Cooperation (IRIGC-M&MTC) at Manekshaw Centre, Delhi Cantt.

The high-level meeting, held two days before the 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Vladimir Putin, reaffirmed the “special and privileged strategic partnership” between the two nations, rooted in decades of deep trust, shared principles, and mutual respect.

Speaking at the session, Rajnath Singh underlined India’s resolute push towards Aatmanirbhar Bharat in defence and highlighted fresh opportunities for joint development and co-production in cutting-edge niche technologies. He reiterated India’s goal of meeting domestic requirements and emerging as a reliable global exporter of military hardware.

In a strong gesture of support to India’s self-reliance drive, Russian Defence Minister Andrei Belousov declared that the Russian defence industry stands fully ready to partner with India in achieving complete independence in defence production. “Our cooperation is built on many years of friendship and strategic trust,” Belousov said, while formally inviting Rajnath Singh to co-chair the 23rd IRIGC-M&MTC session in Russia in 2026.

At the conclusion of the day-long deliberations, the two Ministers signed the official protocol, identifying ongoing projects and new areas of military and military-technical collaboration for the coming year.

Earlier in the day, the Russian dignitary paid tributes to India’s fallen heroes by laying a wreath at the National War Memorial and inspected a Tri-Service Guard of Honour.

With both sides describing the talks as “extremely productive and forward-looking”, the 22nd IRIGC-M&MTC has laid a robust foundation for even deeper defence industrial and technological cooperation between the two strategic partners.