Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will embark on a three-day visit to the United Kingdom from Monday, which is seen as significant to the bilateral partnership in view of defence and security as the last ministerial level visit was in 22 years ago. The Minister’s previously planned visit to the UK in June 2022 was called off by the Indian side for “protocol reasons”.
Besides wide-ranging talks with his UK counterpart, Defence Secretary Grant Shapps, Singh is expected to inspect a ceremonial Guard of Honour and visit Mahatma Gandhi and Dr B.R. Ambedkar memorials in London.
"During his visit, the Defence Minister will hold a bilateral meeting with his UK counterpart Secretary of State for Defence Grant Shapps. They are expected to discuss a wide range of defence, security and industrial cooperation issues. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is also expected to call on UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and hold a meeting with Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Affairs David Cameron. He will also interact with the CEOs and industry leaders of UK Defence Industry and meet with the Indian community there," Defence Ministry said.
“This visit is significant in terms of both optics and substance. In terms of the former, this is the first visit of India’s defence minister to the UK in 22 years – the last visit was by then defence minister of a previous BJP-led government, George Fernandes, to London on 22 January 2002,” said Rahul Roy-Chaudhury, Senior Fellow for South and Central Asian Defence, Strategy and Diplomacy at the London-based think tank International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS).
India's improved ties with UK
Roy believed that Rajnath Singh’s proposed visit next week indicates an improvement in India’s political relationship and the building of trust with the UK after British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s visit to India for the G20 Summit in September last year.
“In substantive terms, the visit will seek to deepen military cooperation and defence industrial partnerships with the UK by building on the November 2023 Defence Consultative Group (DCG) meeting in Delhi at the level of Secretaries and the inaugural meeting of the 2+2 Foreign and Defence Dialogue at the level of Joint Secretaries in October 2023,” he said.
“The UK is no longer one of India’s top five strategic partners. However, the resumption of a strong India-UK defence technological and industrial partnership could take place through the delivery of ongoing projects on aero-engines with Rolls-Royce; naval electric propulsion with GE (Naval) UK and Rolls-Royce; and ground-based air defence system with MBDA (UK). Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is likely to visit one of these arms manufacturing sites during his visit to the UK," he added.
Keenly watched visit
The visit is likely to be keenly watched as it is taking place on the backdrop of the ongoing Indian concerns over pro-Khalistan violence in the UK.
However, analysts believe with this opportunity for a dialogue at the ministerial level, the focus should be on the operationalisation of the Narendra Modi-led government’s Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat agenda in the defence sector.
As both India and the UK prepare for a general election this year, all aspects of the relationship are in sharp focus, including sped-up negotiations towards a free trade agreement (FTA) expected to significantly enhance the GBP 36-billion bilateral partnership.
(With PTI inputs)
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