Foreign Secretary discussed innovative security and defence tech with the Indian government
Foreign Secretary Liz Truss has forged stronger UK security and defence links with India on her trip to the country, and visited on 23 Oct 2021 HMS Queen Elizabeth docked in Mumbai while spearheading the Carrier Strike Group (CSG), a symbol of the UK’s world-leading defence capability.
“The ship’s visit to Mumbai is a clear sign of our growing defence and maritime co-operation with India,” the British High Commission said on 23 Oct 2021.
While in India the CSG is taking part in the most demanding exercise ever between undertaken between the UK and India, involving all three military services.
The Foreign Secretary discussed and ramped up defence and security ties, boosting strategic cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region. The objective is to forward joint work agreed by the UK and Indian Prime Ministers and the 2030 Roadmap on maritime security, cyber security and counter terrorism signed earlier this year.
She discussed developing innovative security and defence tech with the Indian Government to tackle common threats and talked about strengthening defence-related trade between the two countries.
The Foreign Secretary sees developing this security and defence relationship with India, the world’s largest democracy, as a key part of the UK’s Indo-Pacific tilt. She wants to strengthen such links with fast-growing economies and like-minded partners in the region and build “a network of liberty” around the globe.
She sees India as essential in ensuring a free, open, inclusive and prosperous Indo-Pacific.
Truss said during the India visit, “Closer defence and security partnerships between the UK and India underpin deeper economic ties and make both countries, as well as the wider region, safer. We need to protect our sea and trade routes and, operating from a position of strength, be hard-headed in defending our interests and challenging unfair practices.
“The arrival of the Carrier Strike Group in India this weekend represents the UK’s Indo-Pacific tilt in action. This is a true symbol of Global Britain, working closely with like-minded partners like India.”
The Foreign Secretary toured the Queen Elizabeth Carrier at sea and observed live exercises involving UK and US F35B fighter jets.
Chief of Defence Staff Sir Nick Carter also visited Mumbai to see the Carrier Strike Group in action. He discussed with his Indian counterpart General Bipin Rawat in Delhi regional security and laid a commemorative wreath at the National War Museum.
Defence Secretary Ben Wallace underlined, “A strengthened partnership with India is a key pillar of the UK’s tilt to the Indo-Pacific. Our Carrier Strike group visit represented an important step towards our goal of establishing a maritime partnership with India in support of mutual security objectives in the Indian Ocean.” #investment #defence /fiinews.com
