Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, UK counterpart review defence tech collaboration

They assessed advancements in Electric Propulsion and jet engine technologies, expressing satisfaction over the recent signing of the Statement of Intent (SoI) on Electric Propulsion.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh held a telephone conversation with the UK Secretary of State for Defence, John Healey, on Thursday.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh held a telephone conversation with the UK Secretary of State for Defence, John Healey, on Thursday. (File Photo)
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NEW DELHI: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh held a telephonic conversation with the UK Secretary of State for Defence, John Healey, on Thursday. The two reviewed the "excellent progress" made in niche defence technology areas, according to the Ministry of Defence (MoD).

The MoD stated, "The two Ministers briefly discussed the ongoing defence cooperation issues and emphasised the need to maintain the momentum in the bilateral relations."

During the conversation, they assessed advancements in Electric Propulsion and jet engine technologies, expressing satisfaction over the recent signing of the Statement of Intent (SoI) on Electric Propulsion.

The MoD added, "Defence Minister and UK Secretary of State for Defence reviewed the excellent progress made between the two countries in niche defence technology areas such as Electric Propulsion and jet engines."

India and the United Kingdom signed a Statement of Intent on 29th November last year to initiate discussions on Electric Propulsion Systems for the Indian Navy. The SoI, signed in Portsmouth, aims to serve as a framework for cooperation in co-designing, co-creating, and co-producing Electric Propulsion capabilities for future naval ships.

The two Ministers also reviewed the ongoing programme involving the exchange of military instructors in each other's training institutes. With the UK’s increased focus on the Indo-Pacific region, both sides will explore joint initiatives and enhanced maritime engagements in 2025, said the MoD.

The year 2024 marked significant progress in bilateral defence and strategic discussions between India and the United Kingdom. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh became the first Indian Defence Minister in 22 years to visit the UK, leading a high-level delegation in January.

This visit focused on discussions regarding defence, security, and industrial cooperation. The last visit by an Indian Defence Minister to the UK was in January 2002, when George Fernandes held the position.

In May 2024, Indian Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra met Sir Philip Barton, Permanent Under-Secretary at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), in London for the annual UK-India Strategic Dialogue. Kwatra also held discussions with the UK Minister of State for Defence Procurement and other senior officials.

Both nations share a strong commitment to maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific. In November 2024, Catherine West, the UK’s Indo-Pacific Minister, reiterated the long-term strategic importance of the region, describing it as a "generational mission" for her government.

Speaking at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, West emphasised the importance of the rules-based international system, stating, "We want a free and open Indo-Pacific, underpinned by the rules-based international system. Because rules matter."

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, addressing the Indo-Pacific Regional Dialogue (IPRD) 2024 in October, highlighted India's advocacy for peaceful resolutions to disputes and its emphasis on ASEAN's centrality in fostering regional dialogue, stability, and growth.

"India has consistently advocated for a peaceful resolution to disputes and has sought to promote cooperation among nations in the Indo-Pacific, with a strong emphasis on the centrality of ASEAN in fostering regional dialogue, stability, and collective growth," Singh said.

The Indo-Pacific region, comprising the Indian Ocean, the Pacific Ocean, and the surrounding landmasses, is a strategic area for both nations.

Building on the 2030 India-UK Roadmap announced in 2021, which outlines commitments across health, climate, trade, education, science and technology, and defence, the two nations have deepened their maritime cooperation. In 2024, the UK's high-readiness Littoral Response Group operated with the Indian Navy in the Indian Ocean region. Furthermore, the UK's Carrier Strike Group is scheduled to visit India this year for joint operations with Indian forces.

West underscored India's critical role in the UK's long-term strategy, stating, "We know that we live in a rapidly changing world where the more closely we work, the stronger we become."

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