Next steps for UK–India defence and technology cooperation

Rahul Roy-Chaudhury & Simran Brookes

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For over a decade, the British and Indian governments have been talking about ‘realising the potential’ of their relationship. Now appears the opportune time to do so. The UK’s new Labour government led by Sir Keir Starmer seeks to enhance its ties with India, having included establishing a new strategic partnership with New Delhi as a manifesto commitment. India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi, at the start of his third five-year term, also remains committed to elevating bilateral ties. But doing so, especially in both the defence and technology spheres, will require partnership with industry, research and innovation centres and academia.

Growing political and military tiesEven before the UK election, there have been positive developments in the bilateral relationship in 2024. India’s defence minister and external intelligence chief visited the UK after a gap of 22 and six years, respectively. Both foreign ministers and national security advisors have also been meeting regularly. Within three weeks of his appointment as foreign secretary, David Lammy visited New Delhi on 24 July during his first trip to the Indo-Pacific. While it is not yet clear if Starmer’s government will continue the UK’s ‘tilt’ towards the Indo-Pacific, his administration does seek to maintain its commitment to the region, in which the UK has significant economic interests.