New Delhi, Aug 21 (PTI) India and the UK on Friday agreed to expand bilateral exchanges between the armed forces of the two countries through joint exercises, training and capacity building, as both sides held a key dialogue in Delhi.
Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh co-chaired the 25th India–UK Defence Consultative Group (DCG) meeting with Permanent Under Secretary for Defence of UK, Jeremy Pocklington, in New Delhi.
This was Pocklington’s first visit to India in his capacity as Permanent Under Secretary for Defence of UK, the defence ministry said.
The visit underlined the longstanding defence cooperation between the two countries and regular exchange of views on issues of mutual interest.
“Both countries reviewed the ongoing defence industrial cooperation with emphasis on research & development through the India–UK Vision 2035 and the ten-year Defence Industrial Roadmap,” it said in a statement.
Both sides agreed to expand bilateral exchanges between the armed forces of India and the UK through joint exercises, training and capacity building. They acknowledged the robust maritime security collaboration in the Indo-Pacific, including establishment of the Regional Maritime Security Centre of Excellence (RMSCE) under the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI), the ministry said.
The secretaries also exchanged views on issues of regional peace and security and reaffirmed their commitment to mutual security and strategic autonomy.
“Both sides reiterated that the India-UK Strategic Partnership is based on shared values of peace, stability, freedom, and mutual respect,” the ministry said.
Prior to the DCG meeting, Pocklington laid a wreath at the National War Memorial and paid homage to the bravehearts who have made the supreme sacrifice in the service of the nation.
He also visited Gandhi Smriti Museum here and the National Defence College, New Delhi. During the visit, he had a bilateral interaction with the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen NS Raja Subramani. PTI KND AMJ AMJ
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