Lord Rami Ranger Urges Stronger UK-India Defence Ties via Historic Trade Deal

By A Staff Reporter : In a compelling letter to Defence Secretary John Healey, Lord Rami Ranger FRSA, Conservative Party peer and Baron of Mayfair, has called for the UK to deepen its strategic defence cooperation with India, leveraging the recently finalised UK-India Free Trade Agreement (FTA).

Calling the FTA a “golden opportunity,” Lord Ranger stressed that both nations — long-standing secular democracies — are well-positioned to collaborate on defence, innovation, and economic growth. “Without security, everything else has no meaning,” he wrote.

In his letter, Lord Ranger outlined five key pillars for UK-India defence cooperation:

1. Strategic Security: Emphasising shared threats from terrorism and cyber warfare, he advocated for joint intelligence and military operations to stabilise the Indo-Pacific.

2. Defence Innovation: He urged joint R&D in AI, drones, space, and cyber technologies, aligning with India’s Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative through tech transfers and co-manufacturing.

3. Defence Trade: He highlighted market potential for UK companies such as BAE and Rolls-Royce, proposing joint ventures to lower costs and boost job creation in both nations.

4. Training and Exercises: Regular drills like Ajeya Warrior (Army) and Konkan (Navy) were cited as models to enhance military readiness and interoperability.

5. Geopolitical Leverage: Lord Ranger noted that stronger UK-India defence ties could uphold global rules, contribute to peacekeeping, and deter regional aggression.

Drawing from his own business success with Sun Mark Ltd — a company that has exported to over 130 countries and won five Queen’s Awards — Lord Ranger underscored the benefits of shared profits and overheads, saying, “When we share our profits, we double our strength.”

Citing India’s rapid economic rise and the UK’s strength in finance and innovation, Lord Ranger concluded that a robust UK-India defence partnership is not just timely but essential in today’s fractured world.

He signed off by encouraging the UK Government to act with “ambition, courage, and mutual trust” to lead globally in next-generation defence technologies and international stability.