The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Defence Ministers Meet is an important event in the SCO calendar. Defence Secretary Giridhar Aramane is leading the Indian delegation to Astana, Kazakhstan from April 25-26, 2024 for the Annual SCO meeting of defence ministers.
India was holding the rotating Presidency of the SCO last year when the meeting was conducted in New Delhi. Defence Ministers of China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan took part in the meeting. Pakistani Defence Minister Khawaja Asif attended the meeting virtually. In fact, it was for the first time since the Galwan incident that State Councillor and Minister of National Defence of China General Li Shangfu, or any such equivalent Chinese leadership, visited India.
India’s year-long Presidency of the organisation had witnessed a spate of activities. The meeting at Astana will review the regional security issues within the SCO, including the defence cooperation initiatives.
The Defence Minister is scheduled to also meet the defence ministers of friendly nations, during his stay in Astana.
Team Bharatshakti
