New Delhi: India and the United Kingdom pledged to expand cooperation across defence, terror, security and tech to advance their strategic partnership, at the annual India-UK Strategic Dialogue in the national capital Thursday.
Doval expressed appreciation for the UK’s continued engagement on these issues and “highlighted the need to maintain momentum through further deepening cooperation between the law enforcement agencies of the two sides.”
Both sides held restricted and delegation-level talks covering wide-ranging discussions on advancing the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between India and the UK.
The delegations affirmed that defence cooperation has gained “good momentum,” with both seeking to deepen industrial collaboration under the India–UK Defence Industrial Roadmap.
The roadmap, a decade-long plan aligned with India-UK Vision 2035, seeks to move the bilateral relationship beyond a traditional buyer-seller dynamic towards a deeper strategic partnership based on co-design, co-development and joint production of advanced military technologies focusing on areas such as aerospace, naval propulsion, underwater systems and cybersecurity, while supporting New Delhi’s ‘Make in India’ and ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ initiatives.
Maritime security in the Indo-Pacific region also featured prominently in the talks, with a shared interest in developing specialised naval technologies. India also encouraged greater participation by British defence companies in its domestic industry and supply chains.
India and the UK reaffirmed their commitment to the long-term goals set out in the Vision 2035 framework, with particular emphasis on cooperation in emerging technologies, defence and security.
Launched in July 2025, the framework focuses on increased strategic cooperation in technology, defence, trade and energy alongside the 10-year roadmap for defence industrial collaboration.
The advisers further reviewed progress under the Technology Security Initiative, highlighting advances in telecommunications, critical minerals and artificial intelligence.
Indian officials highlighted a new semiconductor manufacturing facility in Odisha, a joint effort involving British and Indian firms as a milestone in bilateral cooperation. Both countries agreed to expand partnerships in semiconductors, quantum computing, biotechnology and advanced materials, while also strengthening institutional ties in cybersecurity.
Beyond bilateral matters, the advisers exchanged views on pressing global conflicts. Discussions touched on the war in West Asia and its implications for trade routes and maritime stability, as well as the ongoing Russia–Ukraine war. NSA Doval stressed on the need for diplomacy as the primary path to resolving conflicts.