SOURCE: AFI
The United Kingdom and India are set to significantly enhance their naval cooperation, with a major exercise planned for the Pacific Ocean in 2025. This development signifies a growing strategic partnership between the two nations.
This announcement follows the UK’s decision to deploy its high-readiness Littoral Response Group (LRG) to the Indian Ocean region in 2024. This initial deployment is seen as a stepping stone towards the larger 2025 exercise, which will involve the deployment of the prestigious UK Carrier Strike Group (CSG) to the Pacific Ocean for a joint exercise with the Indian Navy.
The planned exercise in the Pacific Ocean underscores the growing importance of regional cooperation in maintaining a stable and secure maritime environment. Both the UK and India share concerns about the increasing assertiveness of certain nations in the region. This joint exercise will serve as a powerful display of their combined naval capabilities and commitment to freedom of navigation.