Royal Navy deployments to Indian Ocean mark unprecedented levels of UK-India defence co-operation

The Royal Navy’s high-readiness Littoral Response Group (LRG) and Carrier Strike Group (CSG) are both set to deploy to the Indian Ocean where they will operate in coordination with Indian forces.

The deployment of the LRG to the region in 2024, followed by the CSG in 2025, aims to boost security in the Indo-Pacific and represents unprecedented levels of UK-India defence cooperation.   

The announcement came as Defence Secretary Grant Shapps hosted his Indian counterpart Rajnath Singh, who is the first Indian defence minister in more than 20 years to visit the UK.

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Mr Shapps said the increasingly important strategic relationship between the UK and India was "going from strength to strength".

He added: "We must continue to work hand-in-hand to uphold global security in light of threats and challenges that seek to destabilise and damage us."

The UK and India have outlined plans to embark on more complex military exercises together, building on the 2030 Roadmap which was agreed in 2021, committing to enhanced defence co-operation between the two countries.

The deployment of the LRG is also significant at a time when the future of HMS Albion and HMS Bulwark, the Royal Navy's Landing Platform Docks, hangs in the balance.