Rajnath Singh Marks First Indian Defence Minister UK Visit in 22 Years
Defense Minister Rajnath Singh is scheduled for a three-day visit to the UK, marking a significant development in bilateral defense and security cooperation, as the last ministerial-level visit occurred 22 years ago. The previously planned visit in June 2022 was canceled by the Indian side for "protocol reasons," heightening anticipation for the upcoming tour. In addition to extensive discussions with his UK counterpart, Defense Secretary Grant Shapps, Singh is anticipated to review a ceremonial Guard of Honour and pay visits to the Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar memorials in London.
A community interaction with members of the Indian diaspora in the UK is also expected to be part of his three-day itinerary. "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).
As a defense analyst who has consistently advocated for such a visit in his high-level discussions over the years, Roy-Chaudhury suggests that Singh's upcoming visit next week signals an enhancement in India's political ties and the cultivation of trust with the UK. This positive development follows British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's visit to India for the G20 Summit in September of the previous 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)", he said. "Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is likely to visit one of these arms manufacturing sites during his visit to the UK", he noted.
It will be a keenly watched visit, taking place against the backdrop of ongoing Indian concerns over pro-Khalistan violence in the UK as well as some contentious legacy issues on UK defence supplies to India. However, analysts believe with this opportunity for a dialogue at the ministerial level, the focus should be on the operationalization of the Narendra Modi-led government's Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat agenda in the defence sector.
The strengthened defense collaboration between India and the UK traces its origins to the April 2022 visit of former Prime Minister Boris Johnson to India. During this visit, Johnson declared the establishment of an Open General Export Licence (OGEL) for India, a move endorsed by the UK government to streamline processes and expedite defense procurement by minimizing bureaucratic hurdles. With both India and the UK gearing up for general elections this year, every facet of the relationship is under close scrutiny, including the accelerated talks for a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) that is anticipated to substantially augment the existing GBP 36-billion bilateral partnership.
