India, UK NSAs discuss regional security, cooperation in Indo-Pacific

• Image Credit: Internet

• Jul 21, 2022 | Sourav Boruah

 Digital Desk: On
Thursday, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and his British counterpart
Stephen Lovegrove discussed ways to further their bilateral collaboration in
areas including cyber-security and the Indo-Pacific as well as the security
situation in the region.

People with
knowledge of the situation claimed that Lovegrove, who is in New Delhi, met
Doval and spoke about a variety of topics that were important on both a
bilateral and international level. According to someone, "the emphasis was
on clear and significant objectives to move the cooperation forward in keeping
with the ambition of the India-UK Roadmap 2030."

The main topics
discussed, according to the sources, included regional security, combating
violent extremism, cooperation in cyber-security, maritime challenges, and the
Indo-Pacific.

The NSAs also
discussed future-focused collaboration in the technology and defence sectors
with a focus on important goals of the Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India)
agenda, carrying further conversations between Prime Ministers Narendra and
Boris Johnson.

The NSAs
discussed regional security and reaffirmed their commitment to transforming
defence and security cooperation as part of the India-UK comprehensive
strategic relationship, according to a tweet from the British high commission.

One of the five
pillars of the India-UK Roadmap 2030, which the two countries published in May
of last year, is collaboration in the areas of defence and security. According
to the strategy, India and the UK would cooperate to combat cyber, space,
criminal, and terrorist threats as well as to create a free, open, and safe
Indo-Pacific.

The two parties agreed to strengthen collaboration under the
2015-agreed Defence and International Security Partnership (DISP) and to
contribute to developing international standards for cyber-security and space
travel. Additionally, in order to strengthen security relations and promote
effective cooperation between the armed forces, they will sign agreements on
logistics, training, and information exchange regarding "grey and
dark" shipping.

 Additionally, the two parties will increase their coordination of
efforts to combat terrorists and extremist organisations that are outlawed
internationally.