General Dhiraj Seth Visits Russia to Deepen Defense Ties

Chief of the Army Staff General Dhiraj Seth conducted a three-day official visit to Russia from September 16 to September 18, 2026, to strengthen the bilateral defense partnership. The visit followed a September 11 meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Vladimir Putin at the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi.

In Moscow, General Seth met with Russian Land Forces Commander-in-Chief Colonel General Andrei Nikolayevich Mordvichev and Deputy Minister of Defence Vasily Sergeyevich Osmakov. Discussions focused on professional military cooperation, training, and the critical availability of spare parts and technical support for Russian-origin equipment, such as T-90 Bhishma tanks. General Seth also met with Deputy Minister of Defence General Yunus-Bek Yevkurov to discuss joint capability development and military exchanges. His itinerary included visits to the National Defence Control Centre and the Russian Land Forces Headquarters, as well as paying tribute at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

In Saint Petersburg, General Seth visited the Mikhailovskaya Military Artillery Academy to discuss artillery modernization and training methodologies, and fired a traditional cannon at the Peter and Paul Fortress.

The engagements signal a strategic shift from a buyer-seller model toward joint research, development, and production under the Make in India program. This includes the modernization of the BrahMos missile system and potential technology transfers for Su-57 stealth fighter jets. While Russia remains a primary arms supplier, providing roughly 40 percent of India's imports from 2021 to 2025, India continues to diversify its defense ties with the United States, France, and Israel.