Shillong, January 11: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh met British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak at 10 Downing Street, London, to discuss the strengthening of defense ties between the two nations.
As per IANS, the meeting, held on Wednesday, focused on recent developments in bilateral defense engagement, encompassing joint exercises, training, capability building, increased interoperability, and military-to-military collaboration, especially in the maritime domain.
Both leaders emphasized the importance of collaboration in trade, defense, and technology. Sunak expressed optimism about the ongoing Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations and highlighted the need to enhance the defense and security aspect of India-UK relations. Singh underscored efforts to boost defense industrial cooperation, particularly in the technology domain.
The discussions were characterized as warm and cordial, with Singh highlighting the significant progress in transforming historical ties into a modern, multifaceted, and mutually beneficial partnership. The Defence Minister shared positive interactions with the UK defense industry and advocated for international collaboration to strengthen a peaceful and stable global rules-based order.
During the meeting, Singh presented a Ram Darbar statue to the UK PM, and the engagement also included UK National Security Adviser Sir Tim Barrow. Further discussions took place with UK Foreign Minister Lord David Cameron at the Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office, focusing on the integration of defense industries, startup-level interactions, and joint projects.
The day concluded with Singh interacting with the Indian community at India House, London, attended by over 160 prominent individuals of Indian origin, including military ex-servicemen and family members of World War II veterans.
