Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, UK's Chief of Naval Staff is on three-day visit to India

Seeking to intensify bilateral cooperation, Naval Chiefs of India and the UK have emphasised on collaborative mechanisms towards ensuring peace and security in the region.

The issue was discussed when First Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Staff Royal Navy Admiral Sir Tony Radakin interacted with India’s Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Karambir Singh on Friday.

Admiral Radakin, who is on a three-day visit to India, is also scheduled to visit Indian Navy’s Western Naval Command (at Mumbai) wherein he would interact with Vice Admiral R Hari Kumar, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Naval Command, India's Ministry of Defence informed.

Adm Radakin would also embark HMS Queen Elizabeth, Flagship of UK CSG 21.

Sharing a modern partnership bound by strong ties, the bilateral relationship between India and the UK was upgraded to a ‘Strategic Partnership’ in 2004 and further strengthened through reciprocal visits by the Prime Ministers, the defence ministry noted.

Subsequently, during the Virtual Summit between the Prime Ministers of both the countries on May 4, adopted ‘Roadmap 2030’ towards elevating the bilateral ties to a ‘Comprehensive Strategic Partnership’.

As per the roadmap, the two countries are committed to revitalizing their enhanced defence and security cooperation that brings a more secure Indian Ocean Region and Indo-Pacific.

They also look to enhance India-UK engagement within the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) framework as UK is a Dialogue Partner in IORA.

The roadmap seeks to enhance convergences and work together on the broader Indo-Pacific Agenda to maintain peace, stability, safety and security in the Indo-Pacific region, and explore the potential for cooperation under the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI).

According to the defence ministry’s statement, the Indian Navy cooperates with the Royal Navy on numerous issues, which include operational interactions such as the KONKAN and Maritime Partnership Exercise, training exchanges, exchange of White Shipping Information and Subject Matter Experts in various fields.

All the aforementioned activities are coordinated through the medium of Executive Steering Group (ESG) meetings conducted annually, it added.

In addition, warships from both Navies regularly make port calls at each other’s ports.