UK-India partnership ‘brings security and prosperity for our people’: UK PM Boris Johnson
The UK is set to offer India the know-how to build its own fighter jets and a licence for faster deliveries of defence equipment when the prime ministers of the two countries meet on Friday.
In his first visit to New Delhi as prime minister, Boris Johnson will discuss with PM Narendra Modi boosting trade and security ties with the South Asian country that buys more than half of its military hardware from Russia.
UK PM Boris Johnson will reiterate the vital importance of the UK-India partnership for global peace and security. In meetings with PM Modi on Friday, Johnson is expected to discuss next-generation defence and security collaboration across the five domains – land, sea, air, space, and cyber.
This includes support for new Indian-designed and built fighter jets, offering the best of British know-how on building battle-winning aircraft. The UK will also seek to support India’s requirements for new technology to identify and respond to threats in the Indian Ocean.
Johnson will also discuss new cooperation on clean and renewable energy in his meetings in New Delhi today, aimed at supporting India’s energy transition away from imported oil and increasing its resilience through secure and sustainable energy, and addressing climate change in both the UK and India.
The UK and India are launching a virtual Hydrogen Science and Innovation hub to accelerate affordable green hydrogen, as well as new funding for the Green Grids Initiative announced at COP26, and collaboration on joint work on the electrification of public transport across India.
Johnson said in a statement after visiting PM Modi’s home state of Gujarat on Thursday, “The world faces growing threats from autocratic states which seek to undermine democracy, choke off free and fair trade and trample on sovereignty.”
He said, “The UK’s partnership with India is a beacon in these stormy seas. Our collaboration on the issues that matter to both our countries, from climate change to energy security and defence, is of vital importance as we look to the future.”
“I look forward to discussing these issues with Prime Minister Modi in New Delhi today and working together to deliver a more secure and prosperous future for both our peoples,” he added.
To support greater defence and security collaboration with India over the coming decade, the UK will issue an Open General Export Licence (OGEL) to India, reducing bureaucracy and shortening delivery times for defence procurement. This is our first OGEL in the Indo-Pacific region.
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Too much said & too much signed & too much expectations. Be realistic, there is NOT a single defese company worth its name on which India can benefit from them (except Rolls Royce). UK has nothing to offer than simple paper value
If that is true why are India NOT building their own 5th generation fighter aircraft instead of buying from Russia.