What happened?
On February 4, 2025, India-UK Consultations on Disarmament and Non-Proliferation were held in New Delhi. The Indian delegation was led by Ms Muanpuii Saiawi, Joint Secretary (Disarmament and International Security Affairs), Ministry of External Affairs, while the UK delegation was led by Mr Stephen Lillie, Director for Defence and International Security at the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office.
The two sides discussed developments in the field of disarmament and non-proliferation relating to nuclear, chemical and biological domains, as well as regional non-proliferation issues, outer space security-related matters, conventional weapons, including AI in the military domain and multilateral export control regimes.
Why it matters to India:
The India-UK consultations on disarmament and non-proliferation hold significant importance for India as they build upon the strategic commitments made in April 2022 when both nations reaffirmed their desire to strengthen civil nuclear cooperation. At that time, India and the UK welcomed the UK’s renewed collaboration with the Global Centre for Nuclear Energy Partnership (GCNEP) to jointly promote research and training in nuclear energy studies, radioactive applications, and nuclear security and safety. These consultations provide a platform to advance negotiations on a renewed and strengthened India-UK Nuclear Cooperation Agreement, bolstering India’s nuclear energy capabilities while ensuring adherence to global safety standards. Furthermore, both countries share a vested interest in promoting nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation, aligning with their broader goals of global security.