Close X
Thursday, November 14, 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

Punjab government running away from facing people: Jakhar

Punjab government running away from facing people: Jakhar
The government has divided people by its "unwarranted response on this issue and it is clear the state administration is feeling entangled after inviting people for a debate through an open invitation," Jakhar said. Reminding the state government of the perilous law and order situation, Jakhar said there are daily murders and there is no police presence.

Punjab government running away from facing people: Jakhar

BRS, BJP looted Rs 1 lakh crore in Kaleshwaram project: Rahul Gandhi

BRS, BJP looted Rs 1 lakh crore in Kaleshwaram project: Rahul Gandhi
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday alleged that BRS and BJP looted Rs.1 lakh crore in the Kaleshwaram project in Telangana. Addressing an election rally at Kollapur in undivided Mahabubnagar district, he said the piers of the project were sinking and collapsing. He was referring to the recent incident of sinking of a portion of Mediagadda barrage, a part of Kaleshwaram lift irrigation project.

BRS, BJP looted Rs 1 lakh crore in Kaleshwaram project: Rahul Gandhi

Road crashes in India touch all-time high with 1.68L fatalities; UP tops number of accident deaths

Road crashes in India touch all-time high with 1.68L fatalities; UP tops number of accident deaths
The number of people killed in road crashes in India touched an all time high in 2022 with fatalities crossing 1.68 lakh, which translates to 462 deaths per day or one every three minutes or 19 deaths every hour. According to the annual report released by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways on Tuesday, a total number of 4,61,312 road accidents have been reported by states and Union Territories (UTs) during the calendar year 2022, claiming 1,68,491 lives. 

Road crashes in India touch all-time high with 1.68L fatalities; UP tops number of accident deaths

Air India pee-gate: Delhi HC issues notice to AI on accused Shankar Mishra's plea

Air India pee-gate: Delhi HC issues notice to AI on accused Shankar Mishra's plea
The federal government's priorities for improving Canada's immigration system include better aligning the number of people welcomed to the country with what the labour market needs, as well as services and infrastructure, says a report released Tuesday. The report comes ahead of the federal government's annual immigration levels plan, which Miller is expected to table in the House of Commons on Wednesday.  

Air India pee-gate: Delhi HC issues notice to AI on accused Shankar Mishra's plea

2020 riots: Delhi court sentences convict to 7 years jail for attempt to murder, another to 5 years

2020 riots: Delhi court sentences convict to 7 years jail for attempt to murder, another to 5 years
The case involved Imran alias Model and Imran, who were found guilty of being part of an unlawful assembly that engaged in rioting and used force against police officers by firing gunshots, which resulted in injuries to a constable in Brijpuri on February 25, 2020. The court noted that firing at the police officers demonstrated the convicts' readiness to challenge the authority of the state, describing this attitude as dangerous for society.  

2020 riots: Delhi court sentences convict to 7 years jail for attempt to murder, another to 5 years

Jaishankar meets families of 8 detained Indians, says govt attaches highest importance to case

Jaishankar meets families of 8 detained Indians, says govt attaches highest importance to case
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday met the families of eight former Indian Navy officers who are detained in Qatar and have been given death sentences on allegations of spying. The eight Indian officers have been under detention since August last year by Qatar on allegations of spying for Israel.

Jaishankar meets families of 8 detained Indians, says govt attaches highest importance to case