India and UK are 'natural partners' - a UK Defence chief claims during India visit

New Delhi/London – Major countries worldwide have been aware that there was no option but to increase cooperation with India to protect their interests in the Indo-Pacific region. Hence, major countries worldwide have been taking the initiative to cooperate with India for the Indo-Pacific. In addition, the United Kingdom has also taken steps to ensure it will not be left behind in this competition. British Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Admiral Sir Antony Radakin has visited India and claimed that India and UK were natural partners. Besides, British Defence Minister Ben Wallace said India was their country’s valued defence partner.

Moreover, Admiral Radakin claimed that India and the UK were natural partners in times of intense competition and uncertainty. He made this statement after meeting India’s CDS, General Anil Chauhan, in New Delhi. Additionally, the defence forces of India and the UK have been undergoing a modernisation process. Admiral Radakin claimed that both countries had made huge investments for this purpose and could greatly assist each other. The CDS of the UK informed that very important meetings would be held between India and the UK to enhance this defence cooperation.

While the British CDS was in India, there have been reports of the British Air Force Chief’s visit to India. The Chief of the British Air Staff (CAS), Air Chief Marshal Sir Mike Wigston, met Indian Army Chief General Manoj Pandey. This explains that the UK has been making special efforts to broaden its defence cooperation with India. Furthermore, the UK seems to feel the need to expand the scope of cooperation with India to protect its interests, particularly in the Indo-Pacific region. The British Defence Minister had publicly raised this matter.

As an advocate of international trade, the UK expects the Indo-Pacific region to be open, free and independent. Defence Minister Wallace claimed the UK took more initiatives in this area. These statements of the British Defence Minister were presented more prominently in the media on the occasion of the talks between the Chief of Defence Forces, Admiral Sir Antony Radakin, and the Chief of Defence Forces of India.

Meanwhile, France and Germany have also already announced that they will increase cooperation with India for the Indo-Pacific. On the other hand, the US has consistently said that it was committed to an open, free, and independent Indo-Pacific and would increase cooperation with India. Not just this but countries like Canada have also announced increased cooperation with India, with a special mention of the Indo-Pacific in their policy. Meanwhile, Japan and other countries have been preparing to challenge China’s dominance in the Indo-Pacific region by strengthening their friendship with India.

Moreover, it has been clear from this visit of Admiral Sir Antony Radakin that the UK has further increased its efforts to enhance cooperation with India in such a situation.

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