Why the UK-India Konkan Naval Exercise Signals a Shift in European Maritime Strategy

Summary – The UK’s Carrier Strike Group has begun Exercise Konkan with the Indian Navy, underscoring new maritime security dynamics with potential implications for Europe.,

Article –

The recent commencement of Exercise Konkan, involving the UK’s Carrier Strike Group led by HMS Prince of Wales and the Indian Navy in the Western Indian Ocean, highlights a significant shift in maritime security dynamics with substantial implications for Europe.

Background

Exercise Konkan, a long-standing naval drill between the UK and India, traditionally aimed at improving interoperability and regional maritime security, has taken on new importance in 2024. This iteration features the UK’s advanced Carrier Strike Group, underscoring a strategic pivot towards Indo-Pacific engagement following Brexit. The location of the exercise in the Western Indian Ocean—a vital corridor for global trade and energy—emphasizes its strategic significance amid rising geopolitical competition and concerns about freedom of navigation.

Key Players

• United Kingdom: Represented by the Royal Navy and the Ministry of Defence, with HMS Prince of Wales symbolizing the UK’s commitment to projecting maritime power globally beyond Europe.
• India: The Indian Navy, backed by India’s Ministry of Defence, contributes destroyers, frigates, and maritime patrol aircraft, reflecting its aspirations as a regional security provider.
• Political Leadership: UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak emphasizes Indo-Pacific engagement within the Global Britain vision, while Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi pursues an “Act East” policy enhancing maritime collaboration.
• NATO and EU: Both organizations monitor the exercise closely, given its indirect influence on broader Indo-European security architectures.

European Impact

Despite occurring outside European waters, Exercise Konkan has multiple ramifications for European security and economic interests:

1. Shift in Naval Roles: The UK’s expanded naval presence in the Indo-Pacific may ease NATO members’ naval commitments in the North Atlantic and Mediterranean, enabling refocused efforts on regional challenges like Baltic and Mediterranean stability.
2. Influence on EU Indo-Pacific Policy: The evolving UK-India partnership could serve as a model or pose challenges to the EU’s own Indo-Pacific strategy, which emphasizes multilateral maritime security cooperation.
3. Enhancement of EU Defense Cooperation: Lessons from Exercise Konkan may contribute to EU maritime surveillance, joint crisis responses, and naval doctrines through initiatives like the European Defence Fund.

Wider Reactions

European officials have expressed cautious interest, with Josep Borrell recognizing the importance of stable Indo-Pacific maritime routes and underscoring multilateral approaches. Major European naval powers Germany and France view UK-India cooperation positively but remain focused on their bilateral ties with India, reflecting a balance of collaboration and competition. Meanwhile, non-NATO EU states such as Finland and Sweden monitor these shifts as part of a broader security environment aligning with North Atlantic policies.

Expert analysis suggests Exercise Konkan symbolizes the UK’s intent to sustain global maritime influence post-Brexit and affirms India’s role as a pivotal Indo-Pacific security actor, indirectly shaping European defense interests.

What Comes Next?

The UK-India naval exercises are expected to grow in scope, focusing on:

• Anti-submarine warfare
• Maritime cyber defence
• Integrated amphibious operations

For Europe, this evolving dynamic could lead to:

• Integration of insights from UK-India naval cooperation into European maritime policies to address transcontinental security threats
• Potential trilateral or multilateral collaborations including EU member states, balancing EU strategic autonomy with NATO frameworks
• Increased EU naval funding and partnerships with Indo-Pacific nations, leveraging the UK’s example of independent naval deployments

Ultimately, Exercise Konkan represents a strategic realignment where Europe must navigate new maritime cooperation opportunities and rivalries within a globalised security environment, raising critical questions on the future of European defence policy, maritime strategy integration, and the roles of strategic partners like the UK and India.

About The Author