Say it is his passage to India, and you‘d be right again and again! If this is how you see it, then Vigilance can confirm that fact that the UK Secretary of State for Defence, Dr Liam Fox, returned to Delhi on 8 July 2011 just seven months since his previous visit in late November 2010.
But why is Fox returning to the land of the Taj Mahal today? Well, if you are on this Planet, you ‘d for long be aware that India is now the Beautiful Bride of the world, moving from the ignominious position of being the Orphan of the world to her present enviable one to be wooed by (‘suitors’) from the West, and in and around the world!
But jokes apart, sources at the MoD say Dr. Fox’s return to India underlines the commitment at the highest levels of the British and Indian defence establishments to ensure that defence co-operation is a fundamental pillar of the enhanced partnership between the UK and India as set out by Prime Ministers Singh and Cameron last July.
Now hear from the horse’s mouth: Dr. Fox said: “In today’s world of multi-layered security and economic interdependence the UK and India are looking for relationships that are built on partnership and respect, not one-off transactions.”
Vigilance learnt that while in Delhi, Dr Fox will meet Union Defence Minister Shri A K Antony and National Security Adviser Shri Shiv Shankar Menon to discuss how the UK and India could best take forward defence industrial co-operation. It is said Dr Fox set out his strong support for the Eurofighter Typhoon’s bid to meet the Indian Air Force’s requirement for a medium multi-role combat aircraft.
Following his discussions, Dr. Fox said: “The Eurofighter Typhoon not only provides India with cutting-edge operational capability, but also unmatched potential for an enduring strategic partnership in developing future defence technology.”
Our Defence Team gathered the past year has seen a step-change in the frequency of contact between the senior civilian and military leadership of the two countries. Alongside four visits by the Ministerial team in the UK’s Ministry of Defence, the Chiefs of the British Army, Royal Navy and Royal Air Force have each travelled to India to deepen strategic and operational ties with their counterparts.
An MoD source revealed that in addition to defence industrial issues, the ministers discussed a wide range of strategic security challenges, including countering piracy in the Indian Ocean and long-term stability in Afghanistan. They also welcomed the forthcoming bilateral Army exercise in the UK during July and August which will see Indian and British troops conduct combined Counter Insurgency training, using the latest British Army training facilities, on Salisbury Plain Training Area.
About Dr Liam Fox CV
As a Defence Minister, Dr Liam Fox has a range of responsibilities such as: Operations, The Strategic Defence and Security Review, Defence planning, programme and resource allocation, Defence policy, International Relations, Nuclear programme, Acquisition, Parliamentary business and communications.
Dr Fox has been the Member of Parliament for 18 years and was appointed as Shadow Secretary of State for Defence in December 2005. He has visited the UK's Armed Forces in Iraq and Afghanistan.
He was born and raised in East Kilbride, Scotland. He attended the local comprehensive school, St Bride's High School, and then went on to study medicine at the University of Glasgow.
In June 1993, Dr Fox was appointed Parliamentary Private Secretary to Michael Howard, then Home Secretary. In July 1994, he was appointed an Assistant Government Whip, and promoted to the position of Senior Government Whip the following year. He was a Minister at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office from 1996 until the 1997 General Election. In June 1997, Dr Fox was appointed Opposition Front Bench Spokesman on Constitutional Affairs. For four years from May 1999 to November 2003 he served as Shadow Secretary of State for Heath before being appointed Co-Chairman of the Party in 2003. Subsequently, from May 2005 to December 2005, he served as Shadow Foreign Secretary. He then served as Shadow Secretary of State for Defence from December 2005 to May 2010.
Dr Fox was appointed Secretary of State for Defence by Prime Minister David Cameron on 12th May 2010.
Biog source: MoD.