New Delhi: In a significant diplomatic engagement, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh departed for Qingdao, China on Wednesday to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Defence Ministers’ Meeting, scheduled from June 25 to 26. The high-level conclave, hosted by China as the current SCO chair, is expected to deliberate on pressing regional security issues, with a strong focus on combating terrorism.
Ahead of his visit, Singh took to X (formerly Twitter) and said, “Looking forward to presenting India’s vision for global peace and security and calling for joint and consistent efforts to eliminate terrorism.” He also highlighted the opportunity to engage with Defence Ministers from other SCO nations on a wide range of security-related topics.
Singh’s visit comes at a critical time, just weeks after Operation Sindoor, in which India launched precision airstrikes targeting nine high-value terrorist installations in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) in retaliation for the Pahalgam terror attack. His participation at the SCO meet is expected to reinforce India’s position against Pakistan-backed cross-border terrorism, with a renewed call for intensified multilateral action to curb the threat.
This trip also marks a diplomatic thaw, as it is the first visit by an Indian Union Minister to China since relations deteriorated sharply following the LAC standoff in eastern Ladakh in 2020. Tensions had peaked with the violent Galwan Valley clash, but recent disengagement agreements and diplomatic engagements have opened a cautious window for dialogue.
National Security Advisor Ajit Doval is also currently in Beijing for the SCO National Security Advisers’ meeting, further underscoring India’s strategic outreach within the SCO framework.
According to an official statement, Defence Minister Singh will reaffirm India’s commitment to SCO’s core principles—including respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity, non-interference in internal affairs, and equality among member states. He will advocate for joint, coordinated, and consistent actions to neutralize threats to regional peace and stability, particularly those posed by terrorism and radical extremism.
Besides addressing the plenary session, Singh is expected to hold bilateral meetings with his counterparts from several SCO member nations, including Russia and China, focusing on defence cooperation, strategic interests, and regional stability. The Indian side is also expected to push for greater trade connectivity, economic collaboration, and infrastructure development under the SCO banner.
“India attaches special importance to the SCO as a platform to promote multilateralism and strengthen political, economic, and people-to-people engagement in the region,” the Ministry of Defence stated.
India’s active participation in this year’s SCO meetings is part of a broader effort to reclaim strategic space in regional multilateral diplomacy and reassert its stance on issues like terrorism, border integrity, and sovereignty. The Defence Minister’s visit is being viewed as a crucial step in shaping India’s role in the evolving regional security architecture.
The SCO, which includes China, Russia, India, Pakistan, and several Central Asian nations, remains a key forum for dialogue on Eurasian stability. Singh’s presence and remarks are expected to strike a firm note on India’s zero-tolerance stance on terrorism, while also signalling a willingness to cooperate for regional peace—provided that sovereignty and territorial respect remain uncompromised.
This visit builds on previous diplomatic efforts, including NSA Doval’s interactions with Chinese officials under the Special Representatives (SR) framework, which was revived during a meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping in Kazan in October 2023. The recent disengagement at Demchok and Depsang and a softening of rhetoric suggest cautious optimism ahead.
As regional and global eyes remain fixed on Qingdao, Singh’s engagements at the SCO meet will likely reflect India’s dual approach—resolute on security, open to dialogue—as it navigates complex regional equations in a shifting geopolitical landscape.
