New Delhi : India and the United Kingdom reviewed ongoing defence cooperation and discussed ways to further strengthen bilateral military and industrial ties during the 25th India-UK Defence Consultative Group (DCG) Meeting held in New Delhi on August 21.
Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh co-chaired the meeting with Jeremy Pocklington, Permanent Under Secretary for Defence of the UK. The discussions focused on ongoing defence industrial cooperation, with particular emphasis on Research & Development (R&D) under the India-UK Vision 2035 and the Ten-Year Defence Industrial Roadmap. Both sides agreed to expand exchanges between the armed forces of India and the UK through joint exercises, training and capacity-building initiatives.
The two countries also acknowledged their robust cooperation on maritime security in the Indo-Pacific, including the establishment of the Regional Maritime Security Centre of Excellence (RMSCE) under the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI). During the meeting, the two sides exchanged views on issues concerning regional peace and security and reaffirmed their commitment to mutual security and strategic autonomy. They also reiterated that the India-UK Strategic Partnership is founded on shared values of peace, stability, freedom and mutual respect.
The meeting marked Jeremy Pocklington’s first visit to India in his capacity as Permanent Under Secretary for Defence of the UK. Prior to the DCG meeting, the UK Defence Secretary laid a wreath at the National War Memorial and paid homage to Indian armed forces personnel who made the supreme sacrifice in service to the nation.
During his visit, Pocklington also visited Gandhi Smriti Museum and the National Defence College in New Delhi. He further held a bilateral interaction with General NS Raja Subramani, Chief of Defence Staff. The visit underlined the longstanding defence cooperation between India and the UK, while providing an opportunity for both countries to maintain regular dialogue on strategic, defence and security issues of mutual interest.