Inks MoU over defence collaboration
London: Defence Minister, Rajnath Singh, engaged in a productive bilateral meeting with UK Defence Minister Mr Grant Shapps in London on Tuesday.
The discussions centered on strengthening defence ties, with a particular emphasis on enhancing collaboration in the defence industrial sector.
Both ministers underscored the depth of the India-UK relationship, emphasizing shared values and common goals beyond mere transactional engagements.
Grant Shapps highlighted the natural partnership between the two countries, while Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh commended the growing strategic convergence, especially in the Indo-Pacific region.
As a tangible outcome of the meeting, India and the UK signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to conduct a bilateral international cadet exchange program.
Additionally, a Letter of Arrangement was inked between India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the UK’s Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL), focusing on collaborative research and development in the defence sector.
These agreements aim to foster people-to-people exchanges, particularly among the youth, and promote broader collaboration in defence research.
Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh, who arrived in London on January 8, initiated his engagements by paying tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at Tavistock Square.
The choice of the date, January 9, holds significance as it commemorates Mahatma Gandhi’s return from South Africa to Mumbai in 1915, marked as Pravasi Bharatiya Divas in India, celebrating the contributions of the Overseas Indian community to the country’s development.
During his visit, Rajnath Singh was accorded a ceremonial Guard of Honour at the Horse Guards Parade Ground, reinforcing the diplomatic and strategic significance of the discussions held with his UK counterpart.
