05 June 2024 – The Indian Express

Relations between India & UK

• Following a 22-year break, India’s defence minister recently travelled to the UK, signalling a dramatic change in diplomatic ties. Over the last twenty years, there have been more opportunities, mostly due to China’s increasing military might and its incursion into the Indian Ocean, which has put India and the UK’s important Sea Lines of Communications (SLOCs) at risk.

What Recent Changes Have Been Made to India’s Relations with the UK?

• The signing of a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2021 serves as evidence that the India-UK relationship has been improving despite the obstacles presented by the Ukraine conflict.
• A 2030 Roadmap for India-UK ties was also established by the agreement, and it mainly describes the plans for partnership in the bilateral relationship.
• Discussions on commerce relating to defence, strengthening cyber security, and enhancing defence cooperation were held by both nations.
• It is planned to announce a new cooperative cyber security initiative to safeguard India’s and the UK’s internet infrastructure.
• The first Strategic Tech Dialogue, a ministerial-level forum on emerging technologies, is also being planned by the UK and India.
• Furthermore, the United Kingdom and India have decided to enhance their maritime collaboration, with the UK becoming a major partner on marine security matters in Southeast Asia and joining India’s Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative.

Why Does the UK-India Partnership Matter?

• The Defence and International Security Partnership between India and the UK was signed in 2015, highlighting India’s importance as a strategic partner for the UK in the Indo-Pacific region, both in terms of market share and defence.
• A successful Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between India and the UK will support the latter’s aspirations to become a “Global Britain,” since the UK has been looking to broaden its market reach outside of Europe ever since Brexit.
• In an attempt to establish itself as a major player on the international scene, Britain has been attempting to take advantage of opportunities in the expanding economies of the Indo-Pacific region.
• Positive bilateral relations between the British and India would make it easier for them to accomplish their goal.
• Because it has naval installations in Oman, Singapore, Bahrain, Kenya, and the British Indian Ocean Territory, the UK is a regional power in the Indo-Pacific.
• Additionally, the UK has announced investment of USD 70 million from British International Investment to help India use renewable energy.
• Funding will support the development of solar power in the area and the construction of infrastructure for renewable energy.
• In addition to requesting duty concessions for labor-intensive exports, India has sought open market access for its pharmaceutical, agricultural, and fisheries products.

What Part Do Other Nations Play in Strengthening India-UK Ties?

• USA: The US is essential to changing India and the UK’s bilateral relations. The UK’s focus on India was redirected by its acknowledgement of India as a rising global force and a crucial partner in the Indo-Pacific region.
• The US was the first to acknowledge India’s quickly increasing relative importance in the global order.
• In order to further its interests in Asia and beyond, the US said at the close of the 20th century that it would support India’s ascent.
• China: The US’s strategic determination to support India’s ascent stemmed from its awareness of the risks associated with an Asia controlled by China.
• The UK and China have had great bilateral relations over the past 20 years; in 2015, the former referred to their relationship with China as a “golden decade.”
• But the US’s conflict with China’s might and its expansionist intentions resulted in the UK announcing its own “Indo-Pacific tilt,” with India once more emerging as a key ally.

How Can Defence Ties With the UK Help the Indian Navy?

• The strategic priorities and capability needs of the Indian Navy
• Comparing the Indian Navy to the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) of China reveals differences in capacity.
• Addressing these deficiencies was the main goal of the Defence Minister’s visit, especially with regard to obtaining vital technology from the UK to close the technological divide with the Chinese military.
• The two countries have had to reevaluate their priorities due to the changing geopolitical environment in the Indian Ocean.

Technology for Electric Propulsion:

• The India-UK Electric Propulsion Capability Partnership was established.
• In February 2023, the “India-UK electric propulsion capability partnership” was formed as a collaborative working group.
• The topics of subsequent talks included exchanging technical expertise and the Royal Navy’s maritime electric propulsion experience.

Collaboration for Aircraft Carriers in EPT:

• The development of aircraft carrier electrical propulsion technology is a major area of India-UK cooperation.
• While the Queen Elizabeth Class carriers of the Royal Navy use electric propulsion, the Indian Navy does not currently have this technology.
• The collaboration intends to improve the Indian Navy’s capabilities in this vital sector by utilising British experience.
• There are signs that this technology is being incorporated into Chinese warships, even if the PLAN is having trouble implementing it.

The importance of electric propulsion strategically:

• Given its benefits, the Indian Navy understands how critical it is to keep up with the acquisition of EPT.
• Warships with this capacity give them a strategic advantage in maritime operations by producing more electrical power and having a reduced acoustic signature.
• Development and Upcoming Goals for the Collaboration:
• In November 2023, the relationship advanced by talking about the incorporation of EPT into the upcoming warships of the Indian Navy.
• The British promised to provide the required infrastructure, including training and equipment, as well as assistance.
• Surface vessels having a displacement of more than 6,000 tonnes are anticipated to undergo testing after the initial testing on landing platform docks.

What Difficulties Arise in UK-India Relations?

Inconsistencies in India-UK Relations’ Past:

• The post-colonial relationship between India and Britain has been characterised by enduring resentment and contradictions.
• The UK’s unjustified demand for a unique role in the Subcontinent has caused ongoing conflict.
• The Cold War and Partition’s aftereffects made attempts to forge a long-term alliance between the two countries even more difficult.

Pakistan’s Impact on bilateral relations between India and the UK:

• In India’s bilateral relations with Britain, Pakistan has become a major impediment.
• India is concerned about the UK’s historical support of Pakistan because it is still ambivalent about its historical ties to Pakistan and its newfound love for India.
• The UK finds it difficult to implement a definite “India first” strategy in South Asia, in contrast to the US and France.

Changing Patterns in the UK-India Relations:

• Recent changes on the regional and global fronts have created a new basis for India and the UK to engage in mutually beneficial ways.
• Britain’s internal dynamics, including historical prejudices and political allegiances, have occasionally led to tensions in its relationship with India.
• These tensions are exacerbated by incidents like the Indian demand for the Kohinoor Diamond and the former British prime minister’s denial of responsibility for the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre.

Indian Economic Offenders’ Extradition:

• The matter at hand concerns the extradition of Indian Economic Offenders who are now residing in Britain and taking advantage of the legal system.
• Certain economic offenders have long taken shelter under the British system despite clear cut Indian cases against them which warrant extradition.

Political Affiliations and Internal Matters:

• Assumptions in Delhi about the Labour Party’s empathy and the Conservative Party’s antipathy towards India have proven to be misguided.
• The Labour Party, traditionally perceived as sympathetic, has displayed hostility towards India, particularly on internal matters such as Kashmir.
• This unexpected shift in political dynamics adds complexity to the overall India-UK relationship.

What Steps can be Taken to Improve the India-UK Relations?

Migration and Mobility Partnership:

• Implementation of the migration and mobility partnership “covering movement of students and professionals as well as irregular migration keeping in view the UK’s new skills based immigration policy” is the need of the hour.
• This should include a young professionals scheme to allow 3,000 young Indian professionals to come to the UK each year.

Cooperation on Climate Change:

• Strengthening bilateral dialogues and partnerships on climate change is required. This includes the ministerial-level energy dialogue and the joint working groups on climate, power and renewables.

India-UK Health Partnership:

• Countries need to expand the “breadth and depth” of the India-UK health partnership to enhance global health security and pandemic resilience and show leadership on antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
• They should also promote healthy societies and strengthen both our health systems through increased collaboration on clinical education, health worker mobility and digital health.

UK-India Science and Innovation Council:

• Starting a biennial ministerial UK-India science and innovation council to set the agenda for the two governments’ science, research and innovation collaborations will improve relations.
• Aligning with wider-shared priorities and delivering in partnership the UK Science and Innovation Network in India is much needed.

Collaboration at WTO:

• Both countries must deepen cooperation at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) on “shared goals, including restoring confidence and trust in the multilateral system”.

India-UK Civil Nuclear Cooperation:

• Reaffirming the desire to strengthen India-UK civil nuclear cooperation, including the UK’s “renewed collaboration” with India’s Global Centre for Nuclear Energy Partnership can promote ties.
• The Defence Minister’s recent visit to the UK signifies a pivotal moment in India-UK relations, highlighting the evolving strategic landscape. The threat posed by China’s military expansion, particularly in the Indian Ocean, has prompted both nations to collaborate on addressing India’s defence technological gaps. The focus on electric propulsion technology, a key area of cooperation, is crucial for India to maintain maritime technological parity with China. Despite historical challenges, including legacy issues and geopolitical complexities, both countries recognise the imperative of forging closer ties in the face of shared security concerns.