Rajnath Singh Addresses SCO Defence Ministers Meeting in China
Key Highlights from the SCO Defence Ministers’ Meeting
SCO Defence Ministers’ Meeting: On June 26, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh attended the SCO Defence Ministers' meeting held in Qingdao, China. In his speech, Singh emphasized the significant global changes currently taking place, noting that the decline of multilateral systems complicates the resolution of pressing issues, from maintaining peace and security to economic recovery post-pandemic. While he did not explicitly name Pakistan, Singh remarked that certain nations exploit cross-border terrorism as a strategic tool and provide refuge to terrorists.
Opening his address, he expressed gratitude to the hosts for their warm welcome and congratulated Belarus on its recent accession to the SCO.
Singh stated, “It is a privilege to be in Qingdao for the SCO Defence Ministers meeting. I appreciate the hospitality extended by our hosts and congratulate Belarus on becoming a new member of the SCO. The world is undergoing a significant transformation, and globalization, which once united us, is now losing its momentum.”
He further articulated India's perspective on global challenges, asserting that no nation, regardless of its size or power, can navigate these issues in isolation. Singh advocated for reformed multilateralism to foster cooperation and prevent conflicts through dialogue and collaboration, quoting a Sanskrit phrase, ‘Sarve Jana Sukhino Bhavantu’ to reinforce his message.
Singh underscored that one of the primary challenges facing the region is the deficit in peace, security, and trust. He identified radicalization, extremism, and terrorism as the root causes of these issues, calling for collective action and unity to combat these threats for the betterment of humanity.
#WATCH | Qingdao, China | “I believe that the biggest challenges that we are facing in our region are related to peace, security and trust-deficit. The root cause of these problems is increasing radicalisation, extremism and terrorism. Peace and prosperity cannot co-exist with… pic.twitter.com/7PxVOPRur1
— Media Channel (@MediaChannel) June 26, 2025
“Terrorism and the spread of Weapons of Mass Destruction among non-state actors and terrorist organizations cannot coexist with peace and prosperity. Addressing these challenges demands decisive action, and we must unite in our efforts against these threats for our collective safety and security,” Singh added.
He reiterated that the policies of certain nations involve providing sanctuary to terrorists, which should be condemned by the SCO. Singh emphasized that there should be no tolerance for hypocrisy regarding terrorism. Although he did not directly mention Pakistan, he made it clear that India stands firmly against countries that harbor terrorists and engage in cross-border terrorism.
“Some nations utilize cross-border terrorism as a policy tool and offer refuge to terrorists. Such double standards must not be tolerated. The SCO should openly criticize these countries,” Singh asserted.
In his remarks, he referenced the Pahalgam terror attack, explaining how India exercised its right to defend itself against terrorism and deter further cross-border attacks through ‘Operation Sindoor.’ He stated, “The pattern of the Pahalgam terror attack aligns with previous attacks by LeT in India. On May 7, 2025, India successfully launched Operation Sindoor to dismantle cross-border terrorist infrastructure in response to these threats.”
#WATCH | Qingdao, China | “Some countries use cross-border terrorism as an instrument of policy and provide shelter to terrorists. There should be no place for such double standards. SCO should not hesitate to criticise such nations,” says Defence Minister Rajnath Singh at… pic.twitter.com/08Y8vHcv1x
— Media Channel (@MediaChannel) June 26, 2025