In a significant bilateral meeting, Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Russian Defence Minister Andrei Belousov co-chaired the 22nd session of the India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Military and Military Technical Cooperation in New Delhi, emphasizing the enduring friendship and strategic partnership between the two nations. Both ministers affirmed their commitment to enhancing cooperation in niche defence technologies and reaffirmed Russia’s support for India’s goal of self-reliance in defence production under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative. Belousov highlighted the importance of their military collaboration, which encompasses training, technology sharing, and strategic planning, while Singh expressed confidence in the resilience of their defence ties amid shifting geopolitical dynamics. The meeting concluded with the signing of a protocol to outline ongoing and prospective areas of cooperation, setting the stage for further discussions ahead of the upcoming summit between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Vladimir Putin. This partnership is viewed as crucial not only for regional stability in South Asia but also for global security, reinforcing India’s strategic autonomy in military modernization efforts.