India, U.K. ink 2 deals during Rajnath’s visit

This is the first visit by an Indian Defence Minister to U.K after over two decades, the last visit was by George Fernandes in 2002

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh interacts with his British counterpart Grant Shapps while being accorded a ceremonial Guard of Honour on his arrival ahead of a bilateral meeting, in London on January 9, 2024. | Photo Credit: ANI

India and U.K. on January 9 signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for bilateral international cadet exchange programme and also a Letter of Arrangement (LoA) on defence collaboration in Research and Development. These were signed after the bilateral talks between Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and his British counterpart Grant Shapps in London.

This is the first visit by an Indian Defence Minister to U.K. after over two decades, the last visit was by George Fernandes in 2002. Multiple attempts in the last few years for Mr. Singh’s official visit to the U.K. did not materialise due to scheduling and other issues.

“Had an excellent meeting with U.K. Defence Minister, Grant Shapps. We reviewed the full range of India-UK defence relations. We had fruitful discussions on a wide range of issues pertaining to defence cooperation, security and also on enhancing defence industrial cooperation,” Mr. Singh said on social media platform ‘X’. He is on a two-day visit to U.K.

Both Ministers discussed a range of defence, security and cooperation matters with particular emphasis on enhancing defence industrial collaboration, a Defence Ministry statement said. Mr Grant Shapps stressed that the relationship between UK and India is not transactional, instead both countries are natural partners with many commonalities and shared goals, it stated.

The LoA on R&D was signed between India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and UK’s Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL). “These documents will provide impetus to the people-to-people exchanges particularly among the youth, and larger area of defence research collaboration between the two countries,” the Ministry said on the two agreements.

Earlier on the day, Mr. Singh began his London engagements by paying floral tributes to father of the nation Mahatma Gandhi at his statue at Tavistock Square. Mahatma Gandhi had studied law at the nearby University College London from 1888 to 1891. January 09 is a symbolic date from the perspective of Mahatma Gandhi’s return from South Africa to Mumbai in 1915, which is commemorated in the form of Pravasi Bharatiya Divas in India, marking the contribution of the Overseas Indian community towards the development of the country.

Mr. Singh was presented a ceremonial Guard of Honour at the Horse Guards Parade Ground before the bilateral meeting with his UK counterpart.”