In a significant diplomatic move, Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh met with the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Mr. Rishi Sunak, at 10 Downing Street in London on January 10, 2024. The meeting, characterized as warm and cordial, underscored the transformation of historic ties into a modern and mutually beneficial partnership between the two nations.
Shri Rajnath Singh highlighted the substantial progress in bilateral defense engagement, covering joint exercises, training, capability building, and increased interoperability, particularly in the maritime domain. He also emphasized the ongoing efforts to enhance defense industrial cooperation, with a focus on technology collaboration. The Raksha Mantri shared positive interactions with the UK defense industry, noting the newfound energy in the bilateral defense relationship.
During the meeting, Shri Rajnath Singh called for collaborative efforts between the UK and other like-minded countries to strengthen a peaceful and stable global rules-based order. He emphasized the importance of partnering with India in its rise and stated Prime Minister Modi’s commitment to transforming India into a developed country by the mid-21st century.
Prime Minister Sunak concurred with the Raksha Mantri on the necessity for collaboration in trade, defense, and technology domains. He expressed hope for a successful conclusion to the ongoing Free Trade Agreement negotiations and highlighted the UK government’s commitment to strengthening defense and security ties, endorsing business and technology partnerships with Indian entities.
As a symbolic gesture, Shri Rajnath Singh presented a Ram Darbar statue to the UK PM during the meeting, attended by UK NSA Sir Tim Barrow. The Raksha Mantri also held discussions with the UK’s Foreign Minister, Lord David Cameron, at the Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office. Both ministers acknowledged the new momentum in the India-UK partnership and discussed the integration of defense industries, supply chain resilience, and bilateral start-up initiatives.
Foreign Secretary Cameron reiterated the UK government’s desire to collaborate with India in defense areas, particularly in defense industrial collaboration. The meeting highlighted the shared commitment to supporting a rule-based international order.
Later, Shri Rajnath Singh engaged with the Indian community at India House, London, with over 160 prominent persons of Indian origin in attendance, including Indian military ex-servicemen and family members of World War II veterans. The engagements reflected the deepening ties between India and the UK across diplomatic, defense, and community interactions.