The Meeting of Defense Ministers of the SCO Member States held in Astana

The Meeting of Defense Ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member states was held on April 26, 2024, in Astana.

The Meeting was attended by Deputy Minister of Defense of the Republic of India Giridhar Aramane, Minister of Defense and Support of the Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran Brigadier General Mohammad-Reza Gharaei Ashtiani, Minister of Defense of the Republic of Kazakhstan Colonel General Ruslan Zhaksylykov, Minister of Defense of the People's Republic of China Admiral Dong Jun, Minister of Defense of the Kyrgyz Republic Lieutenant General Baktybek Bekbolotov, Minister of Defense of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan Khawaja Muhammad Asif, Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation General of the Army Sergey Shoigu, Minister of Defense of the Republic of Tajikistan Colonel General Sherali Mirzo, Minister of Defense of the Republic of Uzbekistan Lieutenant General Bakhodir Kurbanov, SCO Secretary General Zhang Ming, Director of the Executive Committee of the SCO Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure Ruslan Mirzaev, and the Minister of Defense of the Republic of Belarus as an SCO observer state Lieutenant General Viktor Khrenin.

The heads of defense ministries, in a traditionally friendly and constructive spirit, discussed relevant topics of international and regional security, as well as other topics of mutual interest, agreed on the further steps to strengthen cooperation in the military field, and noted the excellent mutual understanding within the SCO.

They noted that interaction in the military field of the SCO member states is an important factor in strengthening mutual trust within the Organization.

They declared their intention to strengthen coordination and interaction in the military sphere in the interests of ensuring stability and peace in the SCO space on the basis of generally accepted principles and norms of international law, with the central coordinating role of the UN.

Confirming that the activities of the SCO are not directed against other countries and international organizations, the ministers spoke in favor of broad cooperation with them in accordance with the goals and principles of the UN Charter, the SCO Charter and international law based on the mutual interests and common approaches to addressing regional issues.

The heads of the defense ministries highly appreciated the efforts of the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Kazakhstan to prepare and successfully hold the Meeting of Defense Ministers of the SCO Member States in 2024 and expressed gratitude for the hospitality and the comfortable working conditions.