"UK to Deploy Royal Navy Warships to Indian Ocean in Major Boost to UK-India Security Ties"

The UK government has announced plans to deploy Royal Navy warships to the Indian Ocean region later this year to operate and train with Indian forces, in a move that underscores the growing importance of the strategic relationship between the two countries. Defence Secretary Grant Shapps revealed that the Littoral Response Group (LRG) will be deployed this year, and the Carrier Strike Group (CRG) is set to train with Indian forces in 2025. The deployment of the UK's most advanced naval capabilities has been described as a decisive step in bolstering UK-India security ties. Shapps emphasized the need to build on strategic relationships with key partners like India, especially in the face of increasing global contestation. The LRG, consisting of at least two amphibious warfare ships, and the CRG, the aircraft carrier battle group of the Royal Navy, will play a crucial role in strengthening security ties between the UK and India. During a joint India-UK Defence Industry CEOs Roundtable, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh expressed his vision for an enriching partnership with the UK to cooperate, co-create, and co-innovate. The two countries are set to embark on more complex exercises between their respective militaries, culminating in a landmark joint exercise planned before the end of 2030. This partnership is aimed at supporting shared goals of protecting critical trade routes and upholding the international rules-based system. The talks between senior ministers from the UK and India also explored future cooperation in defence, with a focus on joint exercises, knowledge sharing, and instructor exchanges. The two countries are collaborating on electric propulsion systems for future fleets and the development of complex weapons, with new joint initiatives including launches of Defence Partnership-India and a Logistics Exchange Agreement. These measures reflect a stepped-up partnership during the Indian Defence Minister's first visit to the UK, with further initiatives such as instructor exchanges, a Youth Exchange MOU, and a Letter of Arrangement for research and development between the two nations. Singh has held a series of engagements and bilateral talks with his UK counterpart during his visit, culminating with an engagement with the Indian community at a diaspora reception to conclude his official visit on Wednesday evening.