NEW DELHI: In the backdrop of the rapid geopolitical turmoil, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his British counterpart Boris Johnson agreed on a new and expanded India-UK defence partnership during their meeting on Friday.
According to officials, PM Johnson discussed next-generation defence and security collaboration with his Indian counterpart, including support for building indigenous fighter jets.
Officials had earlier said that Johnson was likely to help move India away from its dependence on Russia by expanding economic and defence ties.
India relies heavily on Russia for its arms imports, with Moscow accounting for nearly 50% of foreign weapons supplied to New Delhi between 2016-2020.
Live updates: UK PM Boris Johnson’s visit to India

After his talks with PM Modi in the national capital on Day 2 of his visit, Johnson asserted that both the countries have agreed to a “new and expanded” defence and security partnership.
Johnson’s effort follows an attempt last month by the United States to move India away from Russia, with its own offer of more defence and energy sales. This came after President Joe Biden called India “somewhat shaky” in acting against Russia.
Britain hopes its offer of closer security ties with the West will encourage India to distance itself from Russia following the invasion of Ukraine, which Moscow calls a special military operation.
UK is offering India next-generation defence and security collaboration across five domains — land, sea, air, space and cyber — to face complex new threats.

Johnson said Britain would also support India’s goal of building its own fighter jets, to reduce expensive imports of military equipment. India now has a mix of Russian, British and French fighter jets.

The offer of closer security ties would also bring more joint military exercises and officer exchanges.
While Britain’s offer of greater security cooperation was welcome, India will remain reliant on Russian military equipment, partly because it is cheaper, Mohan Guruswamy, a director of the Centre for Policy Alternatives in New Delhi, told Reuters.
“Russia’s offer to India is always that ‘Our cupboard is open’, (but) Britain doesn’t offer India everything it wants and what it does make available is usually more expensive,” he said.
(With inputs from agencies)