New Delhi: The chief of the Army staff, General Dhiraj Seth, concluded his three-day Russia visit, with his final engagement at the Mikhailovskaya Military Artillery Academy in St Petersburg focusing on artillery training and modernization. The visit gave a fresh boost to India-Russia defence cooperation, through engagements with senior Russian military leadership and key military institutions.
The Indian Army said in a post on X that Gen Seth was also accorded the honour of firing the traditional cannon at the Peter and Paul Fortress. The engagement provided an opportunity to exchange views on military training and modernization. It also underscored the importance of institutional exchanges, the sharing of best practices, and strengthening professional military cooperation between India and Russia.
The academy visit marked the concluding phase of Gen Seth’s three-day official visit, which began on September 16. During the visit, he held a series of engagements with senior Russian defence officials and military institutions.
In Moscow, Gen Seth met the Russian deputy defence minister, General Yunus-Bek Yevkurov, at the Russian Ministry of Defence. The two sides discussed joint capability development, professional military exchanges and ways to expand military-to-military engagement between the Indian and Russian armed forces.
Gen Seth also called on India’s ambassador to Russia, Vinay Kumar, and discussed India-Russia bilateral cooperation. The talks also covered measures to further strengthen defence ties between the two countries.
Earlier during the visit, Gen Seth held talks with the Russian forces’ deputy commander-in-chief, Colonel General Alexander Matovnikov, at the main command of the Russian forces. The two sides discussed military cooperation and projects aimed at enhancing the combat readiness of the armed forces of India and Russia, according to RNA Media.
Matovnikov highlighted the strategic partnership between India and Russia, and the two countries’ shared approach towards regional security issues and a multipolar world order. The Russian side also expressed readiness to further deepen defence and military cooperation with India.
Gen Seth’s engagements with Russian military institutions provided further opportunities for professional exchanges and discussions on military developments and training.
The three-day visit gave India opportunities to strengthen military-to-military cooperation through joint capability development, professional exchanges, training and institutional interaction. According to RNA Media, the engagements also reflect continued efforts by India and Russia to strengthen their wider defence relationship.