Close X
Sunday, November 10, 2024
ADVT 
India

Rajnath calls on Sunak during UK visit, discuss enhancing defence ties

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 11 Jan, 2024 02:06 PM
  • Rajnath calls on Sunak during UK visit, discuss enhancing defence ties

New Delhi, Jan 11 (IANS) Defence Minister Rajnath Singh called on British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak at 10 Downing Street, London, said officials on Thursday, adding that both discussed enhancing defence ties between the two countries.

The meeting took place on Wednesday during which Singh recalled the recent enhancement in bilateral defence engagement, spanning joint exercises, training, capability building, increased interoperability and military-to-military ties especially in the maritime domain.

Sunak fully agreed with Rajnath Singh on the need for UK and India to work in the domains of trade, defence and technology. In particular, he expressed hope that the ongoing Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations could be brought to a successful conclusion soon. He was keen to bloster defence and security pillar of India-UK ties, officials said.

Sunak also underlined his keenness, and that of his government, to strengthen the defence and security pillar of the bilateral relationship, including through government backing for stronger business and technology partnerships with Indian counterpart entities, a Ministry of Defence (MoD) official added.

The Ministry of Defence said that Singh emphasised the ongoing efforts to enhance defence industrial cooperation, including in the technology domain.

The meeting was warm and cordial, said the official, adding that the Defence Minister highlighted that both nations have made significant strides in moulding and recrafting the historic ties into a modern, multifaceted and mutually beneficial partnership, under the direction of the leaders of both the countries.

According to the MoD, Rajnath Singh briefed Sunak about his positive interactions with the UK defence industry and the new positive energy in the bilateral defence relationship.

The Defence Minister stated that the UK and other like-minded countries should work with India for strengthening a peaceful and stable global rules-based order, including through partnering India in its inexorable rise, which can be strengthened, reinforced and speeded up with friendly collaboration.

Rajnath Singh further stated that at the international level, the Government of India is ready to partner with friends like the UK to strengthen the rule-based world order.

Singh gifted a Ram Darbar statue to the UK PM during the meeting, which was also attended by UK National Security Adviser (NSA) Sir Tim Barrow.

Singh also met with the UK's Foreign Minister Lord David Cameron at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. The Ministers appreciated the new momentum and direction of the India-UK partnership, symbolised by intense engagements at various levels, the official said.

The India Defence Minister outlined his goal of integrating defence industries of both countries, including through supply chain integration to build resilience. He also emphasised the importance of bilateral startup level interaction, and identification and discussion of joint projects which India and UK could implement together.

Foreign Secretary Cameron reiterated the UK government's desire to collaborate with India in the defence areas, particularly in the field of defence industrial collaboration, as one of the means by which the UK hopes to strengthen the support for a rule-based international order, official added.

Later, Singh interacted with the Indian community at India House, London. Over 160 prominent persons of Indian origin attended the interaction. A number of Indian military ex-servicemen, including few family members of World War II veterans, were also present.

MORE India ARTICLES

Gold smuggling into India through Indo-Myanmar border: ED searches 7 locations in Punjab

Gold smuggling into India through Indo-Myanmar border: ED searches 7 locations in Punjab
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday said that it carried out searches at seven locations on December 12 in Punjab’s Patiala city in connection with a gold smuggling operation. The ED said that the case is based on a criminal complaint filed by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), under provisions of the Customs Act, 1962 against Lucky Satija, Surinder Kumar, Manjodh Singh Cheema and others for smuggling gold from foreign nations into India.  

Gold smuggling into India through Indo-Myanmar border: ED searches 7 locations in Punjab

Eight years after sacrilege, Sukhbir Badal apologises for failing to arrest culprits

Eight years after sacrilege, Sukhbir Badal apologises for failing to arrest culprits
Eight years after the sacrilege of Guru Granth Sahib during the helm of the Shiromani Akali Dal-BJP government in Punjab, Akali Dal President Sukhbir Badal on Thursday unconditionally sought forgiveness of the Khalsa Panth (community) for failing to arrest the culprits. Speaking at the 103rd foundation day of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) with folded hands, Badal expressed his regrets.

Eight years after sacrilege, Sukhbir Badal apologises for failing to arrest culprits

Lawrence Bishnoi-Goldy Brar gang sharpshooter nabbed after encounter, involved in firing at ex-MLA's Delhi house

Lawrence Bishnoi-Goldy Brar gang sharpshooter nabbed after encounter, involved in firing at ex-MLA's Delhi house
The accused was identified as Sombir a.k.a Totala, 23, a resident of Haryana's Sonipat. Last week, two sharpshooters of the gang were arrested for firing seven to eight rounds in front of the residence of the ex-MLA. According to a Crime Branch officer, the sharpshooters were identified as Aakash a.k.a Kassa (23) and Nitesh alias Sinti (19), both residents of Haryana.  

Lawrence Bishnoi-Goldy Brar gang sharpshooter nabbed after encounter, involved in firing at ex-MLA's Delhi house

CBI chargesheets 7 for exporting gold jewellery from India under guise of fake exhibition

CBI chargesheets 7 for exporting gold jewellery from India under guise of fake exhibition
The Central Bureau of Investigation on Thursday filed a chargesheet against seven accused including a Delhi based private company and its director, the then superintendent of customs and private persons for exporting gold jewellery from India under the guise of a fake exhibition organized by a UAE based firm. 

CBI chargesheets 7 for exporting gold jewellery from India under guise of fake exhibition

Out of 678 winning candidates in 5 states, 253 have criminal cases; maximum 114 from Congress

Out of 678 winning candidates in 5 states, 253 have criminal cases; maximum 114 from Congress
Out of 678 winning candidates analysed from the five states of Rajasthan, Telangana, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Mizoram that went to the polls recently, 253 have declared criminal cases against themselves in their affidavits, with the maximum from the Congress which has 114 winning members facing criminal cases, a report said on Thursday. The report also revealed that in Telangana 69 per cent of the winning candidates have criminal cases against them.  

Out of 678 winning candidates in 5 states, 253 have criminal cases; maximum 114 from Congress

Parliament security breach: Accused Lalit Jha arrested

Parliament security breach: Accused Lalit Jha arrested
The fifth accused and alleged mastermind of the Parliament security breach incident, Lalit Jha, was arrested from the national capital on Thursday, police said. As per police sources, Jha had allegedly organised a clandestine meeting in Gurugram on Tuesday, a day before the incident.  

Parliament security breach: Accused Lalit Jha arrested