India and the UK on Friday reviewed the ongoing defence industrial cooperation with emphasis on Research & Development through the India-UK vision 2035 and the 10-year Defence Industrial Roadmap.
The 25th India-UK Defence Consultative Group meeting was held between Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh with the Permanent Under Secretary (PUS) for Defence of UK Jeremy Pocklington in New Delhi.
In a statement, the Defence Ministry said that both sides agreed to expand bilateral exchanges between the armed forces of India and UK through joint exercises, training and capacity building. They also acknowledged the robust maritime security collaboration in the Indo-Pacific, including establishment of the Regional Maritime Security Centre of Excellence (RMSCE) under the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI).
The statement noted that the Secretaries exchanged views on issues of regional peace and security and reaffirmed their commitment to mutual security and strategic autonomy. “Both sides reiterated that the India-UK Strategic Partnership is based on shared values of peace, stability, freedom, and mutual respect,” it said.
This was Pocklington’s first visit to India in his capacity as Permanent Under Secretary for Defence of UK.
Prior to the meeting, Pocklington laid a wreath at the National War Memorial, visited Gandhi Smriti Museum and National Defence College, New Delhi. He also had a bilateral interaction with General N S Raja Subramani, the Chief of Defence Staff.
The statement noted that the visit underlined the longstanding defence cooperation between the two countries and regular exchange of views on issues of mutual interest.