On January 8, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will begin a two-day visit to the United Kingdom to reinvigorate strategic and security relations between the two nations, perhaps involving cooperation in the development of fighter planes and other military equipment.
Additionally, Rajnath Singh will be visiting the memorials for Dr. B.R. Ambedkar and Mahatma Gandhi in London, as well as having extensive discussions with his counterpart in the UK, Defence Secretary Grant Shapps.
United Kingdom-India relations
India-United Kingdom relations, also known as Indian-British relations or Indo-British relations, are the international relations between India and the United Kingdom. India has a high commission in London and two consulates-general in Birmingham and Edinburgh, while the United Kingdom has a high commission in New Delhi and six deputy high commissions in Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, and Kolkata. Both countries are full members of the Commonwealth of Nations.
The United Kingdom has an Indian population of over 1.5 million, and a 2014 BBC World Service poll showed that 43% of Indian people view the United Kingdom’s influence positively, while 45% of Britons view India positively. Rishi Sunak was appointed Prime Minister of the United Kingdom on 25 October 2022.
Minister of Defence Rajnath Singh visit the UK
Rajnath Singh is set to embark on a three-day visit to the UK, marking a significant milestone in the bilateral partnership in defence and security. The visit, which was previously postponed due to protocol reasons, is expected to be highly anticipated by the Indian side.
Also, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is expected to visit an arms manufacturing site during his visit to the UK, amid concerns over pro-Khalistan violence and legacy issues on UK defence supplies to India. Analysts suggest that the focus should be on operationalizing the Narendra Modi-led government’s Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat agenda in the defence sector, despite ongoing Indian concerns over pro-Khalistan violence in the UK.
India-UK Defense Ties Will Be Boosted by Rajnath Singh’s Visit
In announcing the visit, the defence ministry stated that a variety of topics about defence, security, and industrial cooperation are anticipated to be discussed between Mr Singh and his British counterpart, Grant Shapps. On Sunday, it stated that Mr Singh is anticipated to pay visits to Foreign Minister David Cameron and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.
Singh, the UK’s defence minister, is set to meet with Defence Secretary Shapps in India. Singh will be accompanied by a high-level delegation from the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Department of Defence Production. The talks will focus on sharing critical technology and expanding bilateral industrial defence cooperation. The two sides are expected to discuss collaboration in the joint development of fighter aircraft and other military platforms. Singh and Shapps will also discuss the situation in the Indo-Pacific, West Asia, and Ukraine. In April 2022, Prime Minister Modi and British counterpart Boris Johnson agreed on a new and expanded India-UK defence partnership. The UK is creating an Open General Export Licence (OGEL) for India to reduce bureaucracy and shorten delivery times for defence procurement.
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