UK: In a significant diplomatic move, Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh met with UK Prime Minister Mr Rishi Sunak at 10 Downing Street, London, on January 10, 2024. Described as warm and cordial, the meeting underscored the transformation of historic ties between India and the UK into a modern, multifaceted partnership.
Rajnath Singh highlighted the substantial progress in bilateral defence engagement, focusing on joint exercises, training, capability building, and enhanced interoperability, particularly in the maritime domain. The discussions also delved into ongoing efforts to boost defence-industrial cooperation, with an emphasis on technology.
The Raksha Mantri emphasized the need for the UK and other like-minded nations to collaborate with India in strengthening a peaceful and stable global rules-based order. He briefed Mr Rishi Sunak on Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s efforts to guide India towards becoming a developed country by the mid-21st century, welcoming international partnerships for this transformative journey.
“Mr Sunak echoed the sentiment, expressing eagerness to strengthen trade, defence, and technology ties between the UK and India. He hoped for a successful conclusion to the ongoing Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations and underscored his government’s commitment to enhancing the defence and security pillar of the bilateral relationship”.
During the meeting, Rajnath Singh presented a Ram Darbar statue to the UK Prime Minister, symbolizing cultural ties and goodwill. The meeting, attended by UK NSA Sir Tim Barrow, further solidified the positive energy in the bilateral defence relationship.
Continuing his engagements, the Raksha Mantri met with the UK’s Foreign Minister Lord David Cameron at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. Both leaders appreciated the evolving momentum of the India-UK partnership, emphasizing collaboration in defence industries, supply chain integration, and joint projects.
In a bid to connect with the Indian community in London, Rajnath Singh interacted with over 160 prominent individuals of Indian origin at India House. The discussion, inclusive of Indian military ex-servicemen and family members of World War II veterans, reflected the diaspora’s integral role in fostering strong India-UK relations.
As Rajnath Singh’s diplomatic initiatives gain momentum, they signify a proactive approach to building enduring partnerships, reflecting the shared commitment of India and the UK towards a collaborative and rule-based global order.
