India and UK Deepen Defence Industrial and Maritime Cooperation at 25th Consultative Group Meeting

India and the United Kingdom have agreed to expand defence industrial cooperation, military exchanges and maritime security collaboration following the 25th India-UK Defence Consultative Group meeting held in New Delhi on August 21, 2026.

Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh co-chaired the meeting with Jeremy Pocklington, Permanent Secretary at the UK Ministry of Defence. The discussions covered ongoing bilateral defence initiatives, emerging areas of industrial collaboration and the broader security environment.

The meeting comes as New Delhi and London work to translate their expanding strategic relationship into deeper cooperation between their armed forces, defence industries and research establishments.

Defence Industrial Cooperation Takes Centre Stage

A major focus of the talks was the growing defence industrial relationship between India and the UK.

Both sides reviewed cooperation in research and development under the India-UK Vision 2035 and the Ten-Year Defence Industrial Roadmap, which provide the long-term framework for expanding collaboration between companies, research organisations and defence institutions in the two countries.

The roadmap is intended to move the relationship beyond a traditional buyer-seller model by encouraging joint development, technological collaboration, industrial partnerships and greater interaction between the defence manufacturing ecosystems of India and the UK.

For India, such partnerships also complement the country’s wider effort to strengthen indigenous defence manufacturing and secure access to advanced technologies while retaining strategic autonomy.

More Joint Exercises and Military Training

India and the UK agreed to increase exchanges between their armed forces through joint exercises, professional training and capacity-building programmes.

The two militaries already maintain regular interactions across the land, air and maritime domains. Expanding these engagements could improve interoperability while allowing personnel from both countries to exchange operational experience and training practices.

Professional military education and institutional exchanges are also becoming an increasingly important component of the bilateral relationship.

Maritime Security Cooperation Expands in Indo-Pacific

The two sides highlighted their strong cooperation on maritime security in the Indo-Pacific.

A key initiative is the establishment of the Regional Maritime Security Centre of Excellence (RMSCE) under the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative. The centre is expected to support greater cooperation in maritime security, capacity building and the exchange of expertise across the region.

India’s geographical position in the Indian Ocean and the UK’s continuing maritime presence in the Indo-Pacific create several areas for cooperation, including maritime domain awareness, protection of sea lanes, training and regional security engagement.

The growing importance of the Indian Ocean to global energy flows and trade has made maritime security an increasingly significant component of the India-UK strategic partnership.

Strategic Autonomy and Regional Security Discussed

Singh and Pocklington also exchanged assessments of regional and international security developments.

Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to peace and stability while emphasising mutual security and strategic autonomy. They described the India-UK Strategic Partnership as being based on principles including stability, freedom, mutual respect and a shared interest in maintaining a secure international environment.

The reference to strategic autonomy is particularly significant for India, which continues to expand defence partnerships with major powers while maintaining independent decision-making on security and foreign policy.

Pocklington Meets India’s Chief of Defence Staff

The visit marked Jeremy Pocklington’s first trip to India in his current role as the senior civil servant in the UK Ministry of Defence. UK government records confirm that he took over as the ministry’s Permanent Secretary in December 2025.

During his visit, Pocklington held discussions with India’s Chief of Defence Staff General N.S. Raja Subramani. General Raja Subramani assumed office as India’s third CDS on May 31, 2026, and also serves as Secretary of the Department of Military Affairs.

Pocklington also visited the National War Memorial in New Delhi and paid tribute to Indian military personnel who made the supreme sacrifice. His programme included visits to Gandhi Smriti and the National Defence College.

India-UK Defence Partnership Moves Towards Long-Term Industrial Collaboration

The 25th Defence Consultative Group meeting underscores the gradual transformation of India-UK defence ties from primarily military exchanges and equipment discussions into a broader strategic and industrial partnership.

Research and development, defence manufacturing, maritime security, military training and emerging technologies are increasingly forming interconnected parts of the relationship.

The India-UK Vision 2035 and the Ten-Year Defence Industrial Roadmap provide the two countries with mechanisms to pursue longer-term projects rather than relying solely on individual procurement programmes.

As India expands domestic defence production and the UK seeks stronger industrial partnerships in the Indo-Pacific, joint research, co-development and technology collaboration could become increasingly important pillars of bilateral defence ties.

The latest meeting therefore strengthens an institutional framework that now encompasses not only dialogue between the two governments, but also cooperation between their armed forces, defence industries and research ecosystems.

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Source: Ministry of Defence, Press Information Bureau, Government of India, August 21, 2026.

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