Admiral Sir Tony Radakin and General Anil Chauhan reviewed progress on various pillars of the UK-India defence partnership and exchanged views to further expand ties in all the domains.
India and the UK are natural partners in a world that is becoming more contested and volatile, UK’s Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS), Admiral Tony Radakin told his Indian counterpart General Anil Chauhan in New Delhi.
Admiral Radakin, is taking part in a series of high-level meetings in India this week, continuing momentum in building strategic ties between the two countries.
The CDS began his three-day visit by paying homage to the fallen soldiers at the National War Memorial on Monday, ahead of his meeting with General Chauhan.
The two Chiefs reviewed progress on various pillars of the UK-India defence partnership and exchanged views to further expand ties in all the domains.
Following the signing of an updated Memorandum of Understanding in 2019, discussions around industrial collaboration in the aerospace sector have been progressing, with the UK’s Minister for Defence Procurement visiting in February and the First Sea Lord visiting in March.
“My visit to India reflects the United Kingdom’s belief that our security is indivisible from that of the wider world,” Admiral Radakin said. “As a global trading nation it matters to the UK that the Indo-Pacific is open and free, which is why the British Armed Forces is establishing the broadest and most integrated presence in the region of any European nation.”
He said India and the UK share many of the same democratic instincts and values and are both committed to the rule of law.
“We are respected military powers, both undergoing significant investment and modernisation, and exercising together across, land, sea and air. But we can do more. I value the opportunity to meet with General Anil Chauhan to discuss how we can develop our partnership in a way that benefits our mutual security and prosperity,” he added.
Admiral Radakin subsequently held discussions with the Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral Hari Kumar, Chief of the Army Staff, General Manoj Pande, Defence Secretary, Giridhar Aramane, and Additional Secretary Defence Production, T Natarajan.
Over the next two days, Admiral Radakin will be hosted by various establishments of the Indian Armed Forces across the country, with a view to boost military-to-military engagement and explore opportunities around the co-creation of future technologies.
UK’s Defence Secretary Ben Wallace stated that India is a “valued defence partner for the UK” and the relationship with New Delhi continues to flourish across research and industrial sectors.
“Both our nations are committed to the stability and prosperity of the Indo-Pacific and we continue to train and operate alongside our Indian partners to promote security in the region,” Wallace said.
The Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force are all carrying out exercises with their Indian equivalents this year, developing interoperability and joint tactics.
In recent weeks, HMS Lancaster visited Kochi to train alongside the Indian Navy as part of Exercise Konkan, while five Mirage 2000 fighters were flown by Indian Air Force pilots in the Royal Air Force’s largest aerial exercise in the UK – Exercise Cobra Warrior.
Later this month, soldiers from the Indian Army will deploy to the UK to take part in Exercise Ajeya Warrior, training alongside the British Army.
The visit of CDS also coincides with the visit of the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS) of the Royal Air Force, Air Chief Marshal Sir Mike Wigston.
The visit of two of the senior-most officers of the UK’s armed forces exemplifies the importance with which the UK holds its defence and security partnership with India, British High Commission said in a statement.