Rajnath leaves for Russia amid China row, likely to press for S-400 delivery
New Delhi, June 22: In the midst of India’s escalating border row with China, defence minister Rajnath Singh on Monday left for Russia on a threeday visit during which he is likely to press for the timely delivery of the S400 missile defence systems and discuss ways to further expand bilateral military ties.
Mr Singh is primarily visiting Russia to attend a grand military parade in Moscow on June 24 to mark the 75th anniversary of the Soviet victory over Germany in the Second World War. However, it is learnt that the minister will also discuss with Russian leaders regional security scenario and bolstering of overall defence cooperation.
It is the first visit abroad by a senior Union minister in four months as foreign travels were restricted in view of the coronavirus pandemic.
Mr Singh travelled by an Indian Air Force aircraft, while strictly following all laid precautions against the coronavirus infection, officials said. The last foreign trip abroad by a senior member of the union Cabinet was by finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman when she visited Riyadh from Feb 22-24 to attend a meeting of G-20 finance ministers. Days before Sitharaman’s trip, external affairs minister S Jaishankar visited Germany from February 18 to 19. The defence minister’s visit to Russia comes in the midst of the escalating border standoff between India and China, particularly after the killing of 20 Indian Army personnel by Chinese troops in eastern Ladakh’s Galwan Valley on June 15. Russia has been in touch with both India and China following their border row.