Defence Minister Upreti visiting India today; but why ?

Nepal’s Defence Minister Hari Prasad Upreti is embarking on a five-day visit to India.

Minister Upreti is heading India to attend the Aero India 2023.

The aerospace exhibition will be held at the Air Force Station in Yelahanka, Bengaluru from February 13–17. The biennial airshow would be inaugurated by India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The delegation led by minister Upreti has prepared to leave for India on Sunday.

According to the spokesperson of the Ministry of Defense, Nepal, a team including Minister Upreti is visiting India at the invitation of the India’s Defence Minister, Rajnath Singh.

By organizing the event, India is demonstrating its air defense capability. Defence ministry employees, aviation material production companies, and technologists of various countries are participating in the five-day program starting on Monday.

However, From Nepal Defence Minister Upreti is himself attending the event. It is said that though Chief of Army Staff (CoAS) Parshuram Sharma was also invited, he will not participate in it. The Military Headquarter of Nepal has decided to send the Vice Chief of the Army Staff Saroj Pratap Rana. Rana is the second rank military officer after the COAS.

This event, which is called the largest air exhibition in Asia, has been held since 1996. Since then, this program has been held till the 13th edition. However, the Chief of Army Staff has not yet participated in any of the programs.

The Ministry of Defence said that a side line discussion will also be held between the ministers on the same occasion.

However, it is not clear which defense ministers of other countries will participate in the program.

Aero India 2023 will witness participation by more than 80 countries. Ministers of about 30 countries and 65 CEOs of global and Indian OEMs are likely to participate in Aero India 2023.

Aero India 2023 exhibition will witness the participation of more than 800 Defence companies including around 100 foreign and 700 Indian companies.

During the exhibition, there will be a round table discussion between chief executive officers of aerospace and military equipment manufacturing companies on Monday.