UK Foreign Secretary Pushes India Partnership On Maritime Security, Critical Minerals During Visit

Last Updated:June 05, 2026, 22:21 IST

UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper visits India, launches RMSCE and GSCO with Indian partners, boosting India UK Vision 2035 ties on maritime security, critical minerals and AI.

UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper has concluded a high-level visit to India aimed at deepening cooperation on maritime security, critical mineral supply chains and emerging technologies, with the British government describing the trip as a significant step forward in the India-UK strategic partnership.

During her visit, Cooper met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, with discussions focused on advancing the goals outlined in the India-UK Vision 2035 framework agreed by Modi and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

A key focus of the talks was maritime security, particularly concerns surrounding disruptions to global shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz. According to the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), Cooper stressed the importance of India and the UK working together to safeguard maritime trade and strengthen resilience against global economic shocks.

As part of the visit, Cooper and Indian officials jointly launched the Regional Maritime Security Centre of Excellence (RMSCE), a new initiative aimed at enhancing bilateral cooperation on maritime security and improving responses to emerging threats affecting international trade routes.

Critical minerals also featured prominently in discussions, reflecting growing concerns over the security of global supply chains for resources essential to modern technologies. During a meeting with Union Coal and Mines Minister G. Kishan Reddy, Cooper launched the Critical Minerals Global Supply Chain Observatory (GSCO), an artificial intelligence-driven platform designed to provide real-time information on critical mineral flows and identify vulnerabilities in supply chains.

The observatory forms part of the UK-India Technology Security Initiative and is expected to receive £1.2 million in Indian funding to establish a satellite campus at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Dhanbad in partnership with the University of Cambridge.

“We are strengthening our economic partnerships, and we’re also strengthening our security partnerships; on maritime security and on AI security," Cooper said while outlining the growing scope of cooperation between the two countries.

The India visit followed Cooper’s trip to China, where she held talks with Chinese Vice President Han Zheng and Foreign Minister Wang Yi on global security and economic stability. The UK government said discussions focused on a range of international issues, including the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, concerns over Iran’s nuclear programme, the war in Ukraine and ongoing conflicts in Sudan and other regions.

The British foreign secretary also reiterated London’s call for an immediate ceasefire in Ukraine and urged China to end economic support for Russia’s military campaign.

The visit underscores Britain’s efforts to strengthen ties with major global powers while pursuing cooperation on trade, security and technology amid an increasingly complex geopolitical environment.

News world UK Foreign Secretary Pushes India Partnership On Maritime Security, Critical Minerals During Visit

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