India and the United Kingdom on Friday reviewed ongoing defence industrial cooperation and discussed ways to further strengthen bilateral military ties at the 25th India-UK Defence Consultative Group (DCG) meeting held in New Delhi.
Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh and UK Permanent Under Secretary for Defence Jeremy Pocklington co-chaired the meeting, during which both sides reviewed progress in defence industrial cooperation, with a particular focus on research and development under the India-UK Vision 2035 and the Ten-Year Defence Industrial Roadmap.
The two countries agreed to expand exchanges between their armed forces through joint exercises, training and capacity-building initiatives.
The officials also discussed maritime security cooperation in the Indo-Pacific and took note of ongoing collaboration in the region, including the establishment of the Regional Maritime Security Centre of Excellence (RMSCE) under the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI).
The two sides exchanged views on regional peace and security and reaffirmed their commitment to mutual security and strategic autonomy. They reiterated that the India-UK Strategic Partnership is anchored in shared values of peace, stability, freedom and mutual respect.
The meeting marked Pocklington’s first visit to India in his capacity as the UK Permanent Under Secretary for Defence. During his visit, he laid a wreath at the National War Memorial and paid homage to Indian soldiers who made the supreme sacrifice in the service of the nation.
Pocklington also visited Gandhi Smriti and the National Defence College in New Delhi and held bilateral discussions with Chief of Defence Staff General NS Raja Subramani.
The visit underscored the longstanding defence partnership between India and the UK and the importance of regular high-level exchanges on defence, security and strategic issues of mutual interest.
