Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh engaged in crucial discussions with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak during a meeting at 10 Downing Street on Wednesday. The talks, as outlined by senior officials familiar with the discussions, covered a spectrum of bilateral issues, including defense, trade, regional matters, and the ongoing free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations.
In addition to the meeting with Prime Minister Sunak, Singh was hosted by UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron at the Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO). Singh expressed the significance of these discussions, emphasizing the insightful deliberations aimed at bolstering ties between India and the UK.
Preceding these high-profile meetings, Minister Singh co-chaired a UK-India Defence Industry CEOs Roundtable alongside UK counterpart Grant Shapps. The roundtable saw participation from chief executives of major defense companies, officials from the UK Ministry of Defence, and representatives from the UK India Business Council and Confederation of Indian Industry.
Prominent defense companies such as BAE Systems, GE Vernova, James Fisher Defence, Leonardo SpA, Martin-Baker Aircraft Company Ltd, SAAB UK, Thales UK, Ultra-Maritime Rolls-Royce, ADS Group, and MBDA UK were represented at the roundtable. Minister Singh expressed his satisfaction with the interaction, highlighting India's vision for a collaborative partnership with the UK, focusing on cooperation, co-creation, and co-innovation.
Thematic discussions during the roundtable, attended by UK Minister of State for Defence Procurement James Cartildge, focused on enhancing the India-UK defense industrial relationship. The Indian Ministry of Defence conveyed its appreciation for investment and technology collaboration from the UK, underscoring India's readiness with a skilled human resource base, a favorable pro-FDI and pro-business ecosystem, and a substantial domestic market.
Minister Singh's three-day visit to the UK, the first by an Indian Defence Minister in 22 years, is scheduled to conclude with an interaction with the diaspora at a community reception on Wednesday evening. The visit underscores the commitment to strengthening diplomatic and defense ties between India and the UK.
(With Agency Inputs)
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