Britain hopes its offer of closer security ties with the West will encourage India to cut its defence reliance on Russia following the invasion of Ukraine, which Moscow calls a"special military operation".
"We had wonderful talks that have strengthened our relationship in every way," Mr Johnson told a joint news briefing with Mr Modi on the final day of his two-day trip."We have agreed a new and expanded defence and security partnership, a decades-long commitment that will not only forge tighter bonds between us, but support your goal of Make in India," he said, referring to Mr Modi's domestic manufacturing push.
Britain's efforts to bolster security ties follow an attempt last month by the United States to move India away from Russia, with its own offer of more defence and energy sales, after President Joe Biden called India "somewhat shaky" in acting against Russia.
Mr Johnson said Britain was also creating an India-specific open general export licence to slash delivery times for defence items. Only the European Union and the United States currently have such licences.While Britain’s offer of greater security cooperation was welcome, India would remain reliant on Russian military equipment, partly because it is cheaper, said Mohan Guruswamy, a director of the Centre for Policy Alternatives in New Delhi.
Britain... encouraging division on American coattails wherever it goes 🤣
Boris representing.
I am looking for a guy to communicate and not only 😘 Who is brave write)