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Editorial of the Day (19th Jan): Crafting a New Phase in India-U.K. Defence Ties

Context: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s visit to the U.K. reflects growing Indo-U.K. collaboration which is driven by concerns over China’s military expansion in the Indian Ocean and its impact on global maritime routes.

Key Highlight Of The Recent Visit

  • Addressing Capability Gaps in the Indian Navy: The visit focused on addressing the technological shortfalls the Indian Navy faces compared to the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) of China.
  • Securing Key Technologies: The visit aimed at securing advanced technologies, particularly in naval capabilities, to enhance India’s defensive posture.
  • Cooperation in Electric Propulsion for Aircraft Carriers: A significant aspect of the visit was to collaborate on electric propulsion technology for aircraft carriers, a field which the U.K. has expertise.
    • To strengthen the “India-UK electric propulsion capability partnership” formed in February 2023 for technology transfer and expertise sharing.
      • The partnership includes British support in training, equipping, and infrastructure development for integrating electric propulsion systems in Indian Navy warships.
    • Joint Military Exercises and Defense Cooperation: The visit aimed to enhance defence cooperation through joint military exercises and increased interoperability between the two countries’ navies.
    • Addressing Regional Geopolitical Concerns: The visit was part of a broader strategy to forge closer defence ties in response to China’s growing naval presence in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
    • Reaffirming U.K.’s Military Presence in the Region: The U.K.’s commitment to deploy military groups for training and interoperability with the Indian Navy reaffirms its military involvement in the region, reviving its presence East of Suez.

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Challenges In Collaboration

  • Dual Arms Supply to India and Pakistan: The U.K.’s practice of supplying weapons to both India and Pakistan, sometimes even restricting arms exports, casts doubt on its strategic intentions and objectives in South Asia.
  • Sikh Separatism Concerns: The ongoing issues related to Khalistan, particularly accusations of the U.K. providing refuge to separatists, continue to pose a challenge in bilateral relations.

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