This is the first official visit of an Indian CDS to the UK and the fifth senior UK-India military partnership this year, following the visit of UK Air Force Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Harvey Smith to India in March.
“Chief of Defense Staff CDS General Anil Chauhan, on an official visit to the UK, was given a ceremonial step line and welcomed by Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Knighton, UK CDS, underscoring a strong, future-ready India-UK defense partnership. He also interacted with Shri Vikram K Doraiswamy, High Commissioner of India to the UK,” the Integrated Defense Staff (IDS) headquarters posted on .
IDS further said, “This visit will deepen defense cooperation and advance defense industrial and intelligence cooperation, cyber cooperation, strategic communications and joint exercises. The visit strengthens the shared commitment to global security, stability and resilience.”
Representatives of the British defense industry are to meet General Chauhan to take forward talks on greater defense co-production between the two countries.
Lindy Cameron, British High Commissioner to India, said, “General Chauhan’s historic visit reflects the confidence and ambition that drives the UK-India defense partnership. We are enhancing our collaboration to strengthen interoperability, foster innovation and support a free, open and secure Indo-Pacific.” “From joint training and defense industry collaboration to strategic dialogue, we are growing ever closer as India is a major defense partner for the UK. We will continue this momentum in the coming months,” she said.
In February, the UK and India signed an agreement for the Indian Air Force to deploy three qualified flying instructors to Royal Air Force (RAF) Valley in the UK, the training base for British fast-jet pilots. Indian officers serve as instructors in all three service academies of the UK.
The visit comes after India and the UK launched a 10-year defense industrial roadmap under the Vision 2035 agreement to support development, strengthen security and contribute to international stability.
