India and the UK on Tuesday vowed to expand bilateral defence partnership, including through technology collaboration in developing combat aircraft and complex weapons, during a virtual summit between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his British counterpart Boris Johnson.
A 10-year roadmap unveiled at the virtual summit mentioned that the two nations will strengthen partnership to take decisive and concerted actions against globally proscribed terrorists and terror organisations. The two sides also agreed on increasing maritime co-operation while India invited the UK’s liaison officer to the Indian Navy’s information fusion centre.
The 10-year roadmap mentioned broadening dialogue on “combat air collaboration to determine how the UK can support India’s ambitions for their light combat air MK2 programme.
A joint statement on Modi-Johnson talks mentioned, “Both prime ministers agreed to deepen their defence and international security partnership framework and welcomed the finalisation of the new logistics MoU.” The statement also said that such collaborations help in delivering the next generation defence and security capabilities through co-development and co-production.
The 10-year roadmap said India and the UK will work in a strategic partnership to strengthen efforts to tackle cyber, space, crime, and terrorist threats and develop a free, open, and secure Indo-Pacific region.
