Rajnath Singh inks pacts on defence research, cadet exchange programme with UK counterpart

Rajnath Singh is the first defence minister to visit the UK since January 2002

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, who embarked on an official visit to the United Kingdom on January 9, inked two agreements with his British counterpart.

The pact includes an MoU on conduct of bilateral international cadet exchange programme, and a Letter of Arrangement between Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and UK's Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL) on defence collaboration in research and development.

These documents will provide impetus to the people-to-people exchanges, particularly among the youth, and larger area of defence research collaboration between the two countries, the Indian defence ministry noted.

Singh is the country's first defence minister to visit the UK in the last 22 years. The previous visit dates back to January 2002.

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Singh met his British counterpart Grant Shapps and held "fruitful discussions" on a wide range of issues related to defence cooperation, security and also on enhancing defence industrial cooperation.

"Had an excellent meeting with UK Defence Minister, Mr. Grant Shapps. We reviewed the full range of India-UK defence relations. We had fruitful discussions on a wide range of issues pertaining to defence cooperation, security and also on enhancing defence industrial cooperation," Singh said in a post on X.

Shapps stressed that the relationship between UK and India is not transactional, instead both countries are natural partners with many commonalities and shared goals, the Indian Ministry of Defence said of the meeting described as "very warm" with a fruitful exchange of ideas.

“India is an equal partner for the UK, and that friendship is highly valued,” the British Ministry of Defence said in a statement.

Both the countries are "committed to a partnership" that is mutually beneficial, it said, adding that the shared vision is for "revitalised and dynamic connections between our people; re-energised trade, investment and technological collaboration that improves the lives and livelihoods of our citizens".

India and the UK also seek "enhanced defence and security cooperation" that brings a "more secure Indian Ocean Region and Indo-Pacific", it added.

The ministry said the countries are working together under the Defence Consultative Group, embarking on a “new, ambitious” Strategic Collaborative Partnership on research, innovation, technology and industry to develop transformational defence and security capabilities to tackle common threats and the operational challenges of the future.

"Visits like this help to increase understanding about our shared military capabilities, objectives and priorities, all of which are vital for a stronger UK-India strategic partnership,” it further added.