The United Kingdom and India will cooperate more and more closely in the military field. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi signed an agreement on this in New Delhi.
“We have shared interests in the Indian and Pacific Oceans that must remain open and free,” Johnson said. The Prime Minister praised the long relationship between the UK and the former colony of India and said these agreements are for decades to come.
The United Kingdom will help India, among other things, to build its own combat aircraft. The countries are also expected to sign a free trade agreement by the end of the year.
India is seen as one of four countries, along with Japan, Australia and the United States, to stand up to an increasingly aggressive China. However, the country is also a staunch ally of Russia, where most Indian military equipment comes from.
Johnson’s visit is seen by British media as an attempt to push India further away from Russia. “The threat from autocratic powers is growing, so it’s important that we deepen our cooperation,” Johnson said.
