New Delhi: Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh called on the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Rishi Sunak, at 10 Downing Street, London, on January 10, 2024. The meeting was warm and cordial. The Raksha Mantri highlighted that both nations have made significant strides in molding and recrafting their historic ties into a modern, multifaceted, and mutually beneficial partnership, under the direction of the leaders of both countries.
Rajnath Singh recalled the recent enhancement in bilateral defense engagement, spanning joint exercises, training, capability building, increased interoperability, and military-to-military ties, especially in the maritime domain. He emphasized the ongoing efforts to enhance defense-industrial cooperation, including in the technology domain. He briefed Rishi Sunak about his positive interactions with the UK defense industry and the new positive energy in the bilateral defense relationship.
The Raksha Mantri stated that the UK and other like-minded countries should work with India to strengthen a peaceful and stable global rules-based order, including partnering with India in its inexorable rise, which can be strengthened, reinforced, and sped up with friendly collaboration.
Rajnath Singh further stated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is leading the quest of 1.4 billion Indians towards the national objective of becoming a developed country by the mid-21st century. Prime Minister Modi’s efforts have borne remarkable fruits; growth is sustainably on the upswing, poverty has been reduced drastically, and a business-friendly architecture has been put in place. At the international level, the Government of India is ready to partner with friends like the UK to strengthen the rule-based world order.
Prime Minister Sunak fully agreed with the Raksha Mantri on the need for the UK and India to work in the domains of trade, defense, and technology. In particular, he expressed hope that the ongoing Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations could be brought to a successful conclusion soon. He also underlined his keenness and that of his Government to strengthen the defense and security pillar of the bilateral relationship, including through Government backing for stronger business and technology partnerships with Indian counterpart entities.
Rajnath Singh gifted a Ram Darbar statue to the UK PM during the meeting, which was also attended by UK NSA Sir Tim Barrow.
The Raksha Mantri also met with the UK’s Foreign Minister David Cameron at the Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office. The Ministers appreciated the new momentum and direction of the India-UK partnership, symbolized by intense engagements at various levels.
Rajnath Singh outlined his goal of integrating the defense industries of both countries, including through supply chain integration to build resilience. He also emphasized the importance of bilateral start-up level interaction, and identification and discussion of joint projects which India and the UK could implement together.
Foreign Secretary Cameron reiterated the UK government’s desire to collaborate with India in the defense areas, particularly in the field of defense industrial collaboration, as one of the means by which the UK hopes to strengthen the support for a rule-based international order.
Later, the Raksha Mantri interacted with the Indian community at India House, London. Over 160 prominent persons of Indian origin attended the interaction. A number of Indian military ex-servicemen, including a few family members of World War II veterans, were also present..