Defense Minister Rajnath Singh concluded his visit to the UK with a productive meeting with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, further enhancing bilateral defense and economic ties. Singh's discussions at 10 Downing Street covered various issues, and he presented Sunak, Britain’s first Hindu Prime Minister, with a Ram Darbar statue.
The two leaders explored avenues for collaboration in defense, economic cooperation, and efforts to strengthen a peaceful global rules-based order. Sunak expressed optimism about the ongoing free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations between India and the UK, aiming for a successful conclusion to enhance the existing GBP 36-billion bilateral partnership.
Singh also highlighted the positive developments in the defense relationship, citing his interactions with the UK defense industry and the new energy in bilateral ties. In a meeting with UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron, Singh outlined his vision of integrating defense industries through supply chain integration and emphasized the importance of joint projects and startup-level interactions.
The UK government reiterated its commitment to collaborating with India, particularly in defense industrial collaboration, as a means to support a rule-based international order. Singh's visit included a community reception, where he addressed nearly 200 individuals of Indian origin, military ex-servicemen, and family members of World War II veterans. He shared insights on India's rapid growth and development, projecting it as the future leading economic power by 2075-2080. Singh also highlighted international recognition, even from China, of India's growing influence on the global stage. The three-day visit included bilateral talks and co-chairing a UK-India Defense Industry CEOs Roundtable with UK Defense Secretary Grant Shapps.
(With Agency Inputs)
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