The Indian Air Force (IAF) is set to deploy three Qualified Flying Instructors (QFIs) to the Royal Air Force Valley in Wales. This marks a historic moment as it is the first time IAF instructors will provide training to Royal Air Force pilots on UK soil. The deployment highlights a growing collaboration between India and the UK in military training and aviation.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar also held discussions with Powell on regional and global security issues. Separately, Powell and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval discussed the annual India-UK Strategic Dialogue. Modi also welcomed the port call of the UK’s Carrier Strike Group and the Royal Navy’s KONKAN exercise with the Indian Navy. Both sides committed to strengthening maritime security cooperation in the Indo-Pacific, including the establishment of the Regional Maritime Security Centre of Excellence (RMSCE) under the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI).
The two leaders agreed to expand bilateral exchanges between the Indian and UK armed forces through joint exercises, training and capacity building, according to the joint statement issued after their meeting.
In October last year, then UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer visited India on an official trip at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
