Source · Select Committees · Defence Committee
Recommendation 8
8
Accepted
Establish UK as a top-tier defence partner to India through strategic industrial partnerships
Recommendation
We welcome the recent actions taken to enhance UK–India defence cooperation through the 2030 UK-India Roadmap. This relationship is critical not only because of the breadth and depth of our existing and potential cooperation, but also due to India’s unique position as a peer to China (in economic terms), whilst also bordering China, and its non-aligned status. The UK must be a reliable partner to India and continue co-operation on defence initiatives and capability building. The Government should work to establish the UK as a top tier defence partner to India through greater government-to-government coordination, and by creating strategic industrial partnerships to provide greater opportunities for the UK defence industry. This should include supporting efforts by India to reduce its dependency on Russian military equipment. (Paragraph 74) Regional Cooperation
Government Response Summary
The government agrees with the recommendations and has established Defence Partnership-India (DP-I) to facilitate greater government-to-government coordination and create strategic industrial partnerships, including supporting India in reducing reliance on Russian equipment. They also commit to improving interoperability and the return of the UK Carrier Strike Group in 2025.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
The Government welcomes the Committee’s recognition of the steps taken to deepen the UK’s relationship with India and agrees with its recommendations. India is and will continue to be a key partner in the Indo-Pacific and on the global stage. The UK’s relationship with India is a core pillar of our approach to the region. The Defence Command Paper Refresh made a clear acknowledgement of the mutual benefit of collaborating with India including on defence capability. We have committed to working jointly with India in the Western Indian Ocean, through our defence industries and in shared threat domains, such as counterterrorism, building on the bedrock provided by the UK-India Roadmap. The UK seeks to pursue “best of class” capability collaboration with India, driven by a robust industrial base and ambitious Research & Development (R&D). To this end MOD has established Defence Partnership-India (DP-I), a bespoke programme office that brings together HMG and industry resource. Its mission is to remove the barriers to India’s choosing British partners on its journey to establish a more resilient and self-sufficient defence industry and to provide specialist support for UK defence companies seeking to expand their presence in India. It will provide the Government of India with a single point of access to the UK’s industry, R&D, academic enterprise, and a consistent legal framework for government to government (G2G) contracting, where appropriate. The MOD is also committed to improving its interoperability with the Indian armed forces, with the aim of achieving a shared strong and enduring defence and security partnership. We have committed to the return of the UK Carrier Strike Group to the Indo-Pacific in 2025. Whilst planning continues, this will allow for invaluable engagement with India to conduct more complex Carrier Strike exercises than previously.