Rajnath Singh to co-chair 19th India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will co-chair the India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Military and Military-Technical Cooperation (IRIGC-M&MTC) in Moscow, Russia. He is on a visit to Russian Federation from 5-7 November 2019.

19th India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission

At the India-Russia IGC on Military and Military-Technical Cooperation, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will discuss Agreement on Reciprocal Logistics Support (ARLS) with his Russian counterpart Defence Minister of Russian Federation General Sergei Shoigu. The ARLS is an arrangement that will allow access to both India and Russia to each other’s military facilities for expanding logistics support, supplies and fuel and operational turnaround of Indian military.

The ARLS will be especially beneficial for Indian Navy as it has a large number of Russian origin ships that will get access to Russian ports for supplies and refueling. This will also be crucial for joint exercises. Besides Navy, the air force too will benefit by finding it easier to deploy aircraft for same purpose. This access will also be for ports in Russian part of Arctic, thus allowing access to energy resources there. Even Russia, will also be able to access Indian ports and air bases.

Key Highlights of Visit

During his visit, Indian Defence Minister is scheduled to inaugurate India-Russia Defence Industry Cooperation Conference, along with Russian Minister of Industry and Trade Denis kiManturov. At the Conference discussion will be held on ways to promote defence industrial cooperation between India and Russia as well as technology transfer and investment in India in defence industry under ‘Make in India’ programme.

He will also hold extensive discussions with his Russian counterpart General Sergei Shoigu on all areas of military-to-military cooperation as well as defence industrial cooperation.

He is also scheduled to visit St Petersburg where he will place wreath at Piskarevsky Memorial Cemetery honouring soldiers and civilians who lost their lives during World War-II.

Month: Current Affairs - November, 2019