Rajnath to attend SCO meeting in Kyrgyzstan

In the backdrop of the ongoing West Asia conflict, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will lead a high-level Indian delegation to the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Defence Ministers’ Meeting to be held in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, on Tuesday, the defence ministry said on Monday.

The SCO is an intergovernmental organization established on June 15, 2001, in Shanghai, China.

Its membership includes 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.

Giving details about the schedule, officials said during the meeting, the Defence Ministers of various member countries will deliberate upon a number of issues concerning the defence and security of the region.

Issues related to international peace, counter-terrorism and defence cooperation among SCO member states will also be discussed.

This year’s SCO meeting is taking place against the backdrop of geopolitical turmoil being witnessed due to the situation in West Asia.

The SCO, one of the largest political and economic organizations of the region, may discuss measures to reduce the impact of the ongoing conflict.

Rajnath Singh will highlight India’s commitment towards global peace, amidst the prevailing global security.