by Staff Correspondent
IADB: UK Foreign Secretary Liz Truss visited HMS Queen Elizabeth in Mumbai, India on 23rd of October 2021. In an official statement, from the British High Commission it has been conveyed that the objective for the Foreign Secretary was to establish stronger UK security and defence links with India on her visit to the country.
The ships she visited have been spearheading the Carrier Strike Group (CSG), a symbol of the UK’s world-leading defence capability, whose visit to Mumbai is a clear sign of the growing defence and maritime co-operation between both the nations.
While in India the CSG was taking part in the most demanding exercise ever undertaken between the UK and India, involving all the three military services. During her visit the Foreign Secretary also intended to progress talks to ramp up defence and security ties and boost strategic co-operation in the Indo-Pacific region.
The idea was to take forward the joint work agreed by the Prime Minister and Indian Prime Minister Modi in the landmark 2030 Roadmap on maritime security, cyber security and counter terrorism signed earlier this year.
She also discussed developing innovative security and defence tech with the Indian government to tackle common threats and will talk through strengthening defence-related trade between the two countries.
The Foreign Secretary sees developing this security and defence relationship with India, the world’s largest democracy, as a key part of the UK’s Indo-Pacific tilt. She intends to strengthen such links with fast-growing economies and like-minded partners in the region and build “a network of liberty” around the globe. The Foreign Secretary sees India as essential in ensuring a free, open, inclusive, and prosperous Indo-Pacific.
The Foreign Secretary said “Closer defence and security partnerships between the UK and India underpin deeper economic ties and make both countries, as well as the wider region, safer. We need to protect our sea and trade routes and, operating from a position of strength, be hard-headed in defending our interests and challenging unfair practices”
Chief of Defence Staff Sir. Nick Carter also visited Mumbai to see the Carrier Strike Group in action. He joined his Indian counterpart General. Bipin Rawat in Delhi to discuss regional security and laid a commemorative wreath at the National War Museum, as well.
“The arrival of the Carrier Strike Group in India this weekend represents the UK’s Indo-Pacific tilt in action. This is a true symbol of Global Britain, working closely with like-minded partners like India.” further added, Foreign Secretary Ms.Truss.
The Foreign Secretary also joined the Queen Elizabeth Carrier at sea to tour the vessel and observe live exercises involving UK and US F-35B fighter jets. On the purpose of the visit Defence Secretary Ben Wallace, said “A strengthened partnership with India is a key pillar of the UK’s tilt to the Indo-Pacific. Our Carrier Strike group visit represents an important step towards our goal of establishing a maritime partnership with India in support of mutual security objectives in the Indian Ocean.”
Later, the Foreign Secretary was scheduled to visit the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel in Mumbai to lay a wreath at the memorial for those who lost their lives in the 2008 terror attacks.
