The 21st session of the India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Military & Military Technical Cooperation (IRIGC-M&MTC) was held in Moscow on Tuesday, with Russian Defence Minister Andrey Belousova saying that operationalisation of MTC agreement for 2021-31 will give necessary impetus to Make in India initiative.

The Russian Defence Minister also emphasised during the meeting on deepening relationship between both the countries which is based on mutual trust, a statement issued by the Ministry of Defence said.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, on the other hand, voiced the Government of India’s determination to extend the capabilities of its domestic defence industry across domains and industrial collaboration.

Singh stressed on new opportunities for enhancing participation of Russian industries in the ‘Make in India’ projects. He reiterated India’s commitment towards Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership with Russia.

The Defence Minister was also of the view that India-Russia relationship is very strong, and has lived up to the responsibilities of a special and privileged strategic partnership.

• Also read: INS Tushil commissioned into Indian Navy at Russian shipyard

He added that the ties have further strengthened with the recent exchanges including two visits of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Russia during 2024.

Andrey Belousova, however, accepted Singh’s invitation to visit India to co-chair the 22nd session of IRIGC-M&MTC in 2025.

At the end, the two Ministers signed the protocol of the 21st IRIGC-M&MTC meeting highlighting the ongoing and prospective areas of cooperation.

Prior to the meeting, Singh inspected the Guard of Honour at the Russian Defence Ministry in Central Moscow. Prior to that engagement, the Minister laid a wreath at ‘The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier’ in Moscow to honour the memory of the Soviet soldiers killed during the Second World War.