Andrew MacAskill, Krishna N. Das

NEW DELHI, (Reuters) – Britain will increase its defence cooperation with India. This includes help in building fighter jets, and quicker delivery of defense equipment. The talks took place between the prime ministers Friday as part of an attempt by the West to lure India from Russia.

Boris Johnson’s first trip to New Delhi will be as prime minister. He will talk to Narendra Modi about ways to increase trade and security ties to South Asian countries that purchase more than half their military hardware from Russia.

Johnson declared, “This is an auspicious time in a friendship and relationship between two democracies,” Johnson after Modi received Johnson briefly at the presidential Palace ahead of the discussions on the last day of their two-day trip.

“I think that the relationship has never been more wonderful.”

This effort comes after the United States attempted to push India away from Russia last month, offering its own defense and energy sales.

Britain hopes that India’s offer to have closer security ties will convince it not to support Russia after its invasion of Ukraine. Moscow called the operation a special military action.

India abstained in a United Nations vote condemning invasion. It has also not placed sanctions on Moscow. This stance has triggered a recent frenzy of diplomatic activity such as visits by foreign ministers from Russia and China.

Britain said it plans to support India’s long-held goal of building its own fighter jets, to reduce expensive imports of military equipment. India currently has a mixture of French, British and Russian fighter jets.

To speed up delivery of defense products, Britain’s former colonial ruler will issue an open general export license to India. Johnson’s spokesperson confirmed that such licenses are only available to the United States or the European Union.

In addition to facilitating closer security relations, there would be more officer exchanges and joint military exercises.

RUSSIAN EQUIPMENT

While Britain’s offer of greater security cooperation was welcome, India will 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.

“Russia’s offer to India is always that ‘Our cupboard is open’, (but) Britain doesn’t offer India everything it wants and what it does make available is usually more expensive,” he said.

Johnson and Modi also will discuss trade in their efforts to reach a comprehensive deal ahead of the 2024 general elections.

British trade in India with India, worth 23 billion Pounds ($29.93 Billion), was the value of 2019, British data shows. It is a figure that dwarfs trade with Ireland (a country with approximately 4,000,000 people).

India is home to nearly 1.4 million people, making it the 2nd largest nation in terms of population.

A trade agreement will depend on the relaxation of rules for Indian professionals and students going to Britain and lowering fees.

Johnson indicated that he would be open to more understanding on the matter, saying that he had spoken on an airplane heading to India. He also stated that Britain was facing a shortage of many thousands of workers in certain sectors, such as IT.

($1=0.7685 pounds)