India, U.K. review defence ties, focus on R&D and industrial cooperation
India, U.K. Review defence ties, focus on R&D and industrial cooperation Both countries agree to expand exchanges between their armed forces through joint exercises, training and capacity building initiatives.
India, U.K. Review defence ties, focus on R&D and industrial cooperation Both countries agree to expand exchanges between their armed forces through joint exercises, training and capacity building initiatives.
Article outline
- What happened
- The key numbers
- The details
- The bottom line
Key points
- Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh and the Permanent Under Secretary for Defence of the United Kingdom, Jeremy Pocklington, on Friday (August 21, 2026) co-chaired the 25th India-U.K.
- Pocklington additionally visited Gandhi Smriti Museum and the National Defence College in New Delhi.
- Pocklington's first visit to India in his capacity as the U.K.'s Permanent Under Secretary for Defence.
- According to the Ministry of Defence, the two sides reviewed ongoing defence industrial cooperation, with particular emphasis on research and development under the India-U.K.
- He held a bilateral interaction with Chief of Defence Staff General N.S.
Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh, left, co-chaired the India and United Kingdom Defence Consultative Group (DCG) Session with Permanent Under Secretary for Defence of UK Mr Jeremy Pocklington, in New Delhi. Photo Credit: PTI.
Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh and the Permanent Under Secretary for Defence of the United Kingdom, Jeremy Pocklington, on Friday (August 21, 2026) co-chaired the 25th India-U.K. Defence Consultative Group (DCG) session in New Delhi, reviewing bilateral defence cooperation with a focus on defence industry and research and development.
According to the Ministry of Defence, the two sides reviewed ongoing defence industrial cooperation, with particular emphasis on research and development under the India-U.K. Vision 2035 and the 10-year Defence Industrial Road map.
It remarked India and the U.K. Additionally agreed to expand exchanges between their armed forces through joint exercises, training and capacity building initiatives. They acknowledged the robust maritime security cooperation between the two countries in the Indo-Pacific, including the establishment of the Regional Maritime Security Centre of Excellence under the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative.
Meanwhile, the two sides exchanged views on regional peace and security and reaffirmed their commitment to mutual security and strategic autonomy. They reiterated that the India-U.K. Strategic Partnership is anchored in shared values of peace, stability, freedom and mutual respect.
For context, the session marked Mr. Pocklington's first visit to India in his capacity as the U.K.'s Permanent Under Secretary for Defence. During his visit, he laid a wreath at the National War Memorial and paid homage to soldiers who created the supreme sacrifice in the service of the nation.
Mr. Pocklington additionally visited Gandhi Smriti Museum and the National Defence College in New Delhi.
He held a bilateral interaction with Chief of Defence Staff General N.S. Raja Subramani.
Meanwhile, the visit underscored the longstanding defence cooperation between India and the U.K. And the regular exchange of views on problems of mutual interest.
Taken together, the developments around india, U.K. Review defence ties, focus on R& D and industrial cooperation point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.
