India, UK To Boost Defence Co-Production; 9 British Universities To Open Campuses In India
India and the United Kingdom are set to deepen their strategic partnership significantly, with major new collaborations in defence co-production and higher education. The landmark announcements were made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday during a joint statement with his British counterpart, Keir Starmer, who is on a two-day visit to India.Following bilateral talks, PM Modi highlighted a major leap in defence ties, stating, “We are moving towards defence co-production.”
He announced that the defence cooperation between the two nations has strengthened, leading to an agreement on military training under which Indian Air Force flying instructors will serve as trainers with the UK’s Royal Air Force. This collaboration, PM Modi noted, would boost interoperability and enhance the strategic relationship between the two “natural partners.”In a game-changing move for the education sector, PM Modi also announced that nine UK universities will be opening campuses in India, with the University of Southampton having already begun operations.
Emphasizing that education has emerged as a key pillar of the India-UK partnership, he said the collaboration combines “India’s dynamism and the UK’s expertise” to create a unique synergy.The announcements come during UK Prime Minister Starmer’s visit, where he is accompanied by a high-level delegation of 125 business leaders and educationists.
The visit aims to build on the momentum of the landmark Free Trade Agreement (FTA) inked by the two countries in July, which is expected to double bilateral trade by 2030. Underscoring the deep people-to-people connections, PM Modi described the Indian diaspora in the UK as a “living bridge between our countries,” reinforcing the strong foundation of the bilateral relationship.
