Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is scheduled to fly to the United Kingdom on a two-day visit today (January 8, 2024). This visit aims to foster bilateral discussions on various fronts with his counterpart, Secretary of State for Defence Grant Shapps.
Accompanying Rajnath will be a high-level delegation from the Ministry of Defence, comprising senior officials from DRDO, Service Headquarters, the Department of Defence, and the Department of Defence Production.
Interestingly, the last time an Indian Defence Minister visited the United Kingdom was 22 years back.
The agenda for the meeting encompasses a broad spectrum, including discussions on defense, security, and industrial cooperation between the two nations.
Additionally, Rajnath is scheduled to meet UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs David Cameron, along with interactions with CEOs and leaders from the UK defense industry. His itinerary also includes engaging with the Indian community residing in the UK.
This visit follows a previous telephonic conversation between Rajnath Singh and Grant Shapps, where they deliberated on strengthening defense relations and addressed security concerns in the Indo-Pacific region. The conversation emphasized various ongoing engagements and potential cooperation in new domains. Furthermore, Shapps extended an invitation for Rajnath Singh to visit the UK, which is now being realized.
India and the UK have been in discussions for a Free Trade Agreement (FTA), with negotiations starting in 2022 and the 12th round taking place from August 8th to 31st this year.
The launch of the India-UK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2021, coupled with the India-UK Roadmap 2030, signifies a commitment to a mutually beneficial partnership.