General Dhiraj Seth Concludes Official Visit to Russia, Strengthening Defence Ties
General Dhiraj Seth's Visit to Russia
Chief of Army Staff General Dhiraj Seth (left), with Russian military personnel during his visit to the Mikhailovskaya Military Artillery Academy, in St. Petersburg. (Photo:PTI)
Moscow, Sep 19: General Dhiraj Seth, the Chief of Army Staff, has wrapped up a three-day official trip to Russia, where he engaged in discussions with high-ranking Russian military officials and toured significant military establishments, as reported by Indian military sources on Saturday.
The visit, which ended on Friday, revitalized defence collaboration between India and Russia, focusing on areas such as capability enhancement, training exchanges, artillery modernization, and the sharing of operational insights, according to the officials.
In Moscow, Seth met with General Yunus-Bek Yevkurov, the Deputy Minister of Defence of the Russian Federation.
Their discussions encompassed joint capability development, professional military exchanges, and opportunities to enhance military-to-military relations.
At the Russian Land Forces headquarters, Seth shared perspectives on current military advancements and explored ways to strengthen cooperation between the two nations' armies, particularly in training and capability development.
While in St. Petersburg, Seth visited the Mikhailovskaya Military Artillery Academy, where he engaged with faculty members regarding training techniques and artillery modernization.
He was also honored with the opportunity to fire a traditional cannon at the historic Peter and Paul Fortress, as noted by officials.
In Moscow, Seth received a ceremonial Guard of Honour and paid respects at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, a memorial dedicated to Soviet soldiers who lost their lives during World War II.
This visit reinforced the longstanding trust between India and Russia, highlighting their mutual commitment to ongoing military diplomacy, institutional exchanges, and beneficial professional collaboration.
According to data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, Russia constituted 40% of India's arms imports from 2021 to 2025, making it the largest arms supplier to India during that timeframe.
Seth's visit followed a meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin at the recent BRICS summit in New Delhi, where they reviewed bilateral cooperation across various sectors, including political, economic, defence, energy, and space.