India and UK Hold 25th Defence Consultative Group Meeting in New Delhi

NEW DELHI — India and the United Kingdom held the 25th edition of the India–UK Defence Consultative Group (DCG) meeting in New Delhi on Friday, focusing on expanding bilateral military ties and industrial cooperation.

The meeting was co-chaired by Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh and the UK's Permanent Under Secretary for Defence, Jeremy Pocklington. According to the defence ministry, this marked Pocklington's first visit to India in his current capacity, underscoring ongoing defence cooperation and regular strategic dialogues between the two nations.

During the talks, both sides reviewed current defence industrial cooperation. Discussions placed specific emphasis on research and development initiatives outlined in the India–UK Vision 2035 and the ten-year Defence Industrial Roadmap.

The delegations agreed to broaden bilateral exchanges between their armed forces through joint exercises, specialized training, and capacity-building programs. Officials also acknowledged ongoing maritime security collaboration in the Indo-Pacific region, noting the establishment of the Regional Maritime Security Centre of Excellence (RMSCE) under the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI).

In addition to industrial and operational ties, the secretaries exchanged perspectives on regional peace and security, reaffirming their shared commitment to mutual security and strategic autonomy. The ministry noted that both sides reiterated that the India-UK Strategic Partnership is founded on shared values of peace, stability, freedom, and mutual respect.

Ahead of the DCG meeting, Pocklington participated in commemorative events in the capital. He laid a wreath at the National War Memorial to honor soldiers who died in the line of duty, and visited the Gandhi Smriti Museum and the National Defence College in New Delhi. He also held a bilateral meeting with the Chief of Defence Staff, General N.S. Raja Subramani.

"The formalization of long-term frameworks like the ten-year Defence Industrial Roadmap and the India–UK Vision 2035 provides a stable environment for cross-border collaboration in research, development, and advanced manufacturing. For businesses operating in the aerospace and defence sectors, consistent intergovernmental engagement signals potential opportunities in joint ventures, technology transfer, and supply chain integration within the Indo-Pacific region." — Dr. Shishir Gupta, Founder & CEO, StartupLanes