Defence Minister Rajnath Singh set to hold bilateral talks in London

New Delhi, Jan 7: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is scheduled to embark on a two-day visit to London, United Kingdom, starting on January 8. Accompanying him will be a high-level delegation from the Ministry of Defence, featuring senior officials from DRDO, Service Headquarters, Department of Defence, and Department of Defence Production.

The primary focus of the visit is a bilateral meeting between Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and his UK counterpart, Secretary of State for Defence Mr Grant Shapps. The discussions are anticipated to cover a broad spectrum of topics, including defence, security, and industrial cooperation.

Apart from the bilateral meeting, Rajnath Singh is expected to engage with UK Prime Minister Mr Rishi Sunak and conduct a meeting with Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Affairs Mr David Cameron.

Additionally, he plans to interact with CEOs and industry leaders of the UK Defence Industry and meet with the Indian community residing in the UK.

The strategic partnership between India and the UK aims to strengthen collaborative efforts in addressing cyber threats, space security, crime, and terrorism. The nations are working together to foster a free, open, and secure Indo-Pacific Region, emphasizing multilateral cooperation on international cyber security and space, considering the respective interests of both countries.

India and the UK are also actively promoting freedom of navigation and open access, enhancing maritime cooperation through a partnership in the Western Indian Ocean. The collaboration includes a new Maritime Dialogue, as well as mechanisms for sharing information on Grey and Dark Shipping, and operational coordination.

Joint exercises and strengthened cooperation are integral elements of their commitment to taking decisive and concerted actions against globally proscribed terrorists and terror entities.