In News:

India and the United Kingdom held the 25th India–U.K. Defence Consultative Group (DCG) meeting in New Delhi, reviewing defence-industrial cooperation, military exchanges and maritime security. The two sides placed particular emphasis on R&D, co-development and defence-industrial collaboration under India–U.K. Vision 2035 and the 10-year Defence Industrial Roadmap.

Key Areas of Cooperation

1. Defence-industrial and R&D cooperation:The Vision 2035 framework seeks to move India–U.K. defence ties beyond a buyer–seller relationship towards technology development, innovation and co-development. Priority areas include advanced technologies, complex weapons, underwater systems and emerging defence capabilities.

2. Maritime Security:Both countries are cooperating to establish the Regional Maritime Security Centre of Excellence (RMSCE) under India’s Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI). It aims to build regional capacity and resilience against non-traditional maritime security threats.

3. Military cooperation:India and the U.K. agreed to expand joint exercises, training and capacity-building across the armed forces. Existing cooperation includes Exercise Ajeya Warrior (Army), Exercise Konkan (Navy) and Exercise Cobra Warrior (Air Force).

Broader India–U.K. Relationship

• The Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, established in 2021, is guided by the long-term roadmap and covers defence, trade, technology, health and other sectors. Defence cooperation also includes a Foreign and Defence 2 2 dialogue.
• The relationship is increasingly important for India's defence diversification and technological self-reliance, while the U.K. benefits from India's growing defence-industrial capabilities and strategic position in the Indo-Pacific. The two sides are also working on advanced projects such as electric propulsion and jet-engine technologies.

Challenges

Key concerns include pro-Khalistan extremist activities in the U.K., extradition delays involving fugitives, immigration/mobility-related political friction and differences over certain geopolitical issues.

Way Forward

India and the U.K. should prioritisejoint R&D, technology transfer, co-development and co-production, particularly in AI, autonomous systems, drones, cyber security, space, advanced propulsion and maritime technologies. Strengthening Maritime Domain Awareness, information-sharing and Indo-Pacific capacity-building can further deepen the partnership.