In a significant step towards strengthening strategic cooperation, India and Russia reaffirmed their deep-rooted trust and commitment to joint defence collaboration during the 22nd session of the India-Russia Inter‑Governmental Commission on Military & Military Technical Cooperation (IRIGC-M&MTC) held in New Delhi. Co-chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and his Russian counterpart Andrei Belousov, the meeting underlined shared principles and a renewed push toward indigenous defence capabilities and technology transfer.
A meeting marked by mutual respect and strategic vision
The 22nd IRIGC-M&MTC brought together top defence leadership from both nations at the Manekshaw Centre, where both sides emphasized the historic foundation of their bilateral ties. Through decades of cooperation, India and Russia have forged a relationship built on mutual respect, common interests, and strategic alignment a bond that continues to evolve in times of changing global dynamics.
Push for Aatmanirbhar Bharat, local production & export ambitions
During the meeting, Rajnath Singh reiterated India’s commitment to building a self-reliant defence industry under the banner of Aatmanirbhar Bharat. He emphasized the government’s ambition not just for domestic production, but for scaling defence exports as well. This shift signals a move away from import dependence toward technological sovereignty.
Russia offers full support for India’s defence goals
Minister Andrei Belousov affirmed that the Russian defence industry is “ready to support India towards becoming self-reliant” in defence production. With decades of military-technical cooperation behind them, Russia’s commitment to support niche technologies and transfer capabilities could fast-track India’s emergence as a global defence supplier.
A step ahead of the 23rd India-Russia Summit
This defence-cooperation meeting comes just before the upcoming 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit between Narendra Modi and Vladimir Putin. The outcome of the IRIGC-M&MTC talks lays a robust groundwork for broader strategic, technological, and diplomatic engagements in 2026 and beyond.
With renewed vigour and shared intent, India and Russia have once again demonstrated that long-standing partnerships, mutual trust, and forward-looking vision, remain key to shaping a secure and self-reliant defence future for India.