Independent but not alone (INDIA-UK)

Independent but not alone

Context:

The article authored by Ben Wallace, the United Kingdom’s Secretary of State for Defence discusses the historic as well as contemporary defence relations between India and the United Kingdom.

Background:

India played a big role in the Second World War. Indian soldiers were involved in British operations in Asia, Africa, the Mediterranean as well as the Pacific region.
Indians formed the largest all-volunteer force in the world, with over 2.5 million fighting in Europe, North Africa, Singapore, Hong Kong and, Burma.
India also provided material resources for the war effort in the form of coal, iron ore and steel.
Indian non-combatants secured the supply lines for the British war efforts.

Present ties:

India and the U.K. Armed Forces exercise together biannually.
The joint army Ajeya Warrior biennial exercises have been held since 2005 at battalion-level strength.
The joint navy Konkan annual exercises being held since 2004, include destroyers/frigates in ship-to-ship passage exercises.
The joint air Indradhanush exercises, run since 2006 and include modern combat aircraft.
There is Defence and International Security Partnership in the form of collaboration in jet engine technology and cyber technology.
Seven Royal Navy vessels operate in the Western Indian Ocean.
The Atmanirbhar Bharat vision of India can be supplemented by the Global Britain vision to ensure collaboration in the area of defence modernization and maritime technology.
Contemporary shared challenges include the current COVID-19 pandemic, piracy, extremism and sub-conventional warfare.