25 January 2024 – The Hindu

Improving India UK Relations

• 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?

Regarding the UK:

• 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.

Regarding India:

• 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?

• 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 animosity and inconsistencies.
• 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 much 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 since it is still ambivalent about its historical links to Pakistan and its newfound love for India.
• The UK finds it difficult to implement a definite “India first” approach 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 fresh basis for India and the UK to collaborate in mutually beneficial ways.
• Britain’s internal dynamics, including historical prejudices and political allegiances, have occasionally led to problems 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.
• Even though there are strong Indian charges against certain economic offenders that call for their extradition, these offenders have long sought sanctuary under the British system.

Relationships with Politics and Internal Affairs:

• Preconceived notions in Delhi regarding the Labour Party’s compassion and the Conservative Party’s dislike for India have turned out to be incorrect.
• Historically seen as a kind party, the Labour Party has shown animosity towards India, especially when it comes to internal issues like Kashmir.
• The overall relationship between India and the UK is made more complex by this unanticipated change in political dynamics.

How may the relationship between India and the UK be improved?

Partnership for Migration and Mobility:

• The migration and mobility partnership must be implemented as soon as possible, with the goal of “covering movement of students and professionals as well as irregular migration keeping in view the UK’s new skills based immigration policy.”
• A young professionals programme that permits 3,000 young Indian professionals to visit the UK annually ought to be a part of this.

Collaboration Regarding Climate Change:

• It is necessary to fortify bilateral discussions and collaborations about climate change. This covers the joint working groups on climate, power, and renewables as well as the energy conversation at the ministerial level.

India-UK Health Cooperation:

• Expanding the “breadth and depth” of the India-UK health collaboration is imperative in order to improve global health security, pandemic resilience, and leadership in the fight against antibiotic resistance (AMR).
• Additionally, they ought to fortify our healthcare systems and encourage wholesome communities by working together more closely on clinical education, health professional mobility, and digital health.

Science and Innovation Council UK-India:

• Relations will be improved by establishing a biannual ministerial UK-India scientific and innovation council to set the agenda for the two governments’ collaborations in science, research, and innovation.
• It is imperative that the UK Science and Innovation Network in India be delivered in partnership and in line with broader agreed priorities.

Working together in the WTO:

• At the World Trade Organisation (WTO), both nations must work more closely together to achieve “shared goals, including restoring confidence and trust in the multilateral system.”
• Linkages can be strengthened by restating the intention to fortify civil nuclear cooperation between India and the UK, particularly the UK’s “renewed collaboration” with India’s Global Centre for Nuclear Energy Partnership.
• The recent visit of the Defence Minister to the UK highlights the changing geopolitical situation and marks a turning point in India-UK relations. China’s military build-up, especially in the Indian Ocean, has created a threat, which is why both countries are working together to close India’s defence technology gaps. To keep up marine technological parity with China, India must concentrate on electric propulsion technology, a major area of collaboration. Notwithstanding past obstacles, such as legacy problems and geopolitical intricacies, both nations acknowledge the necessity of developing stronger connections in light of common security worries.