Europe, UK (Commonwealth Union) – The UK’s Littoral Response Group (LRG) reached Chennai on March 26, marking the initial phase of its deployment to the Indian Pacific area.
During their passage through the Arabian Sea, the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) Argus and RFA Lyme Bay engaged in maritime drills with the Indian Navy. Presently, they are scheduled for necessary maintenance at Larsen & Toubro shipyard near Chennai, a significant milestone as it marks the first instance of a Royal Navy vessel undergoing maintenance at an Indian shipyard. This development is a direct outcome of the logistics-sharing agreement that was set up between the UK and India in 2022.
Brigadier Nick Sawyer, Defence Advisor at the British High Commission, pointed out that the presence of the Littoral Response Group underscores the UK’s capability and dedication to the Indo-Pacific region. Moreover, the image of Royal Navy vessels undergoing essential maintenance at an Indian shipyard exemplifies the practical implementation of the India-UK Logistic Exchange Memorandum of Agreement.
“It also signals the continued growing importance of the strategic defence partnership between the UK and India as we build towards achieving the ambition set out in the India-UK 2030 Roadmap.”
After its maintenance in India, the LRG will proceed to operate in the Indo-Pacific region. Its activities will include training, exercises, and broader engagement with allies and partners.
It was further indicated in a statement that during the visit of Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to the UK in January of this year, both the UK and India reaffirmed their dedication to enhancing ties. In January 2024, the UK inaugurated the Defence Partnership-India, a specialized office aimed at fostering greater collaboration in defense between the two nations. This encompasses deploying the UK’s Littoral Response Group (South) to India for collaborative exercises and utilizing the Indian dockyard at Chennai for carrying out vital maintenance.
