Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s UK visit set to give a boost to bilateral defence & security cooperation
| 2024-01-08
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is visiting the United Kingdom from January 8-10, 2024. (File photo)
Defence Minister Singh is also slated to call on UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak
In a move aimed at giving a major boost to India-UK defence and security ties, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is visiting London from January 8-10, 2024. This is the first by an Indian Defence Minister to the United Kingdom in 22 years.
He is accompanied by a high-level delegation, including senior officials from the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), Service Headquarters, and the Departments of Defence and Defence Production.
Defence Minister Singh's agenda in London is comprehensive, featuring a key bilateral meeting with his UK counterpart, Secretary of State for Defence Grant Shapps. Their talks will cover a variety of crucial issues spanning defence, security, and industrial cooperation, marking a significant stride in collaborative efforts.
Defence Minister Singh’s visit comes less than two months after External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar concluded a productive five-day official visit to the United Kingdom, marking a significant phase in enhancing India-UK relations.
These visits are a continuation of the diplomatic groundwork laid during the discussions between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, focusing on an enhanced India-UK defence partnership, during the latter’s visit to India in April 2022.
During his visit, Defence Minister Singh is also slated to call on UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and meet with Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Affairs David Cameron. These high-level interactions are poised to fortify political trust and deepen the strategic alliance between India and the UK.
Furthermore, Defence Minister Singh will engage with prominent figures in the UK Defence industry and members of the Indian community, aligning with India's strategic 'Make in India' and 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' initiatives in defence. His engagements are poised to foster deeper industrial partnerships, particularly with leading UK defence corporations such as Rolls-Royce, GE (Naval) UK, and MBDA (UK).
The visit will also feature ceremonial elements, including an inspection of the Guard of Honour and visits to the memorials of Mahatma Gandhi and Dr BR Ambedkar in London, symbolizing the rich historical and cultural ties between India and the UK.
The India-UK defence partnership includes the establishment of an Open General Export Licence (OGEL) to streamline defence procurement. This initiative aims at reducing bureaucracy and accelerating delivery times, indicative of the strengthening strategic partnership.
As both nations navigate through the complexities of parliamentary elections and the ongoing negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement (FTA), Defence Minister Singh’s visit is expected to significantly elevate the current GBP 36-billion bilateral partnership, heralding a new chapter in India-UK relations.
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