Beyond Malabar: The Deep Naval Game Between India and the UK

Manoj Ambat
Oct 12, 2025
3 min read

When the world talks about India’s naval diplomacy, the conversation almost always begins with Malabar — the high-profile maritime exercise between India, the United States, Japan, and Australia.

But behind the headlines lies another story — one far less visible, yet strategically deeper.It is the story of India’s growing maritime partnerships with the United Kingdom and France.

These engagements are not loud or theatrical. Instead, they are quiet, professional, and enduring. And they tell us much more about India’s true naval strategy than Malabar ever could.

India and the UK: A Legacy That Evolved into Partnership

The Indian and British navies share a long history. The Royal Indian Navy, before independence, was built under British doctrine. Yet after independence, India transformed its navy into an autonomous, blue-water force — while still retaining a silent professional compatibility with the Royal Navy.

This common heritage has matured into respect and equality. The UK no longer dominates the Indian Ocean as it once did; today, India commands it on its own terms. This parity is what allows carrier group drills between India and the UK to be so effective.

Carrier Group Diplomacy: Vikramaditya Meets Queen Elizabeth

When HMS Queen Elizabeth and later HMS Prince of Wales sailed into the Indian Ocean, it wasn’t just symbolism.It was a chance for both navies to test carrier interoperability — from cross-deck helicopter operations to anti-submarine warfare drills.

For India, operating INS Vikramaditya and now the indigenously-built INS Vikrant alongside British carriers proved that its doctrines were not only regional but global standard.

For the UK, India provided legitimacy to its post-Brexit Indo-Pacific tilt, ensuring that London’s naval presence wasn’t just rhetoric but backed by meaningful partnerships.

Why India Keeps It Quiet

Unlike Malabar, these bilateral drills are not broadcast widely. And that’s intentional.

India’s naval diplomacy works on three layers:

Visibility: Multilateral shows like Malabar, for global signaling.
Depth: Bilateral engagements with the UK and France, for capability building.
Core: Indigenous modernization and doctrinal autonomy.

This multi-layered approach ensures India gains operational depth without compromising its strategic autonomy.

France Joins the Equation

While the UK gets attention, France has also become a critical maritime partner.With territories in the Indian Ocean and strong defense ties with India, French patrols, logistics agreements, and intelligence-sharing make the Indo-French naval bond one of the most trusted in Asia.

Together, India, the UK, and France form a European–Indian maritime triangle — one that quietly balances power in the Indo-Pacific.

The Bigger Picture

INS Vikrant with HMS Prince Of Wales carriers

Every carrier drill and joint exercise is part of a deeper strategy:India is ensuring that it can cooperate with multiple partners while remaining free of binding alliances.

It’s a grand strategy of flexibility, capability, and autonomy.And that’s why the Indo–UK carrier group exercises matter — not because they make headlines, but because they quietly strengthen India’s role as a central naval power in the Indo-Pacific.