India, UK Pledge Stronger Maritime and Defence Cooperation

13 Oct 2025 CW Team

During the meeting, both sides reviewed ongoing defence engagements and explored new avenues to enhance cooperation between India and the UK. The discussions reflected the growing convergence of the two nations’ strategic interests, particularly in the Indo-Pacific and Indian Ocean Region.

Sanjay Seth expressed satisfaction that the UK Carrier Strike Group, led by HMS Prince of Wales, had successfully completed the sea phase of the bilateral maritime exercise Konkan-25 with the Indian Navy off India’s western coast. The CSG is currently undertaking harbour phase activities in Mumbai and Goa.

He noted that such operational exchanges strengthen mutual understanding, improve interoperability, and deepen strategic trust between the two navies. The ministers also reviewed India’s advances in indigenous manufacturing and defence innovation, underlining the country’s push for Aatmanirbharta (self-reliance) in defence production.

Both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to expanding collaboration across global defence supply chains, enhancing joint research and industrial partnerships, and promoting technology co-development.

They also reiterated the importance of maritime cooperation in maintaining a free, open, and rules-based Indo-Pacific, ensuring freedom of navigation and regional stability.

The meeting concluded with both sides reaffirming their intent to pursue a robust and multifaceted defence partnership, guided by the India–UK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and the ‘India–UK Vision 2035’, adopted during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the United Kingdom in July 2025.

The discussions in Mumbai mark another milestone in the long-standing India–UK defence relationship, building upon a shared commitment to security, innovation, and peace in the broader Indo-Pacific region.

Raksha Rajya Mantri Sanjay Seth held a bilateral meeting with the United Kingdom’s Minister of State for Defence (Minister for the House of Lords), Vernon Coaker, in Mumbai on 10 October 2025, on the sidelines of the UK Carrier Strike Group’s (CSG) visit to India. During the meeting, both sides reviewed ongoing defence engagements and explored new avenues to enhance cooperation between India and the UK. The discussions reflected the growing convergence of the two nations’ strategic interests, particularly in the Indo-Pacific and Indian Ocean Region. Sanjay Seth expressed satisfaction that the UK Carrier Strike Group, led by HMS Prince of Wales, had successfully completed the sea phase of the bilateral maritime exercise Konkan-25 with the Indian Navy off India’s western coast. The CSG is currently undertaking harbour phase activities in Mumbai and Goa. He noted that such operational exchanges strengthen mutual understanding, improve interoperability, and deepen strategic trust between the two navies. The ministers also reviewed India’s advances in indigenous manufacturing and defence innovation, underlining the country’s push for Aatmanirbharta (self-reliance) in defence production. Both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to expanding collaboration across global defence supply chains, enhancing joint research and industrial partnerships, and promoting technology co-development. They also reiterated the importance of maritime cooperation in maintaining a free, open, and rules-based Indo-Pacific, ensuring freedom of navigation and regional stability. The meeting concluded with both sides reaffirming their intent to pursue a robust and multifaceted defence partnership, guided by the India–UK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and the ‘India–UK Vision 2035’, adopted during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the United Kingdom in July 2025. The discussions in Mumbai mark another milestone in the long-standing India–UK defence relationship, building upon a shared commitment to security, innovation, and peace in the broader Indo-Pacific region.

Technology

29 Jul 2026

AI-Enabled Workflows Lift Profitability and Productivity

Organisations modernising frontline workflows with artificial intelligence, automation and real-time data are reporting stronger financial performance, higher productivity and improved employee engagement, according to a global study by Zebra Technologies and Oxford Economics.The research covered 1,000 senior leaders across retail, manufacturing, transportation and logistics in the US, Mexico, the UK, Germany, India, Japan, Australia and New Zealand.In transportation and logistics, 54 per cent of companies that improved picking and packing operations reported faster operational performance, wh..

Real Estate

29 Jul 2026

India Leads Global AI Readiness but Implementation Lags

Indian companies lead global averages across all eight artificial intelligence readiness indicators tracked by JLL, but only 19 per cent have started making changes to their workplaces, according to the JLL 2026 Future of Work Survey.The study found that 77 per cent of Indian business leaders expect AI to change their office requirements, creating a 58-percentage-point gap between awareness and implementation. The survey covered more than 2,200 CEOs, CFOs and real estate leaders across 21 countries during the first quarter of 2026.Despite concerns over automation, 58 per cent of Indian leaders..

Equipment

29 Jul 2026

Three WOLFF Cranes Build Riyadh Cable-Stayed Bridges

Three WOLFF 180 B luffing jib cranes are supporting the construction of two cable-stayed bridges alongside the existing Wadi Laban Bridge in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The project is being developed for the Royal Commission for Riyadh City and executed by the ICRC joint venture comprising IC Ictas and Al Rashid Trading & Contracting Company.The cranes are handling lifting operations including formwork, reinforcement, concrete placement, work platforms, surveying equipment and other construction materials. Each crane is fitted with a 40 m jib, reaches a hook height of 157 m and offers a maximum ..