UK Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs David Lammy met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday, marking a significant step in strengthening bilateral ties between the two nations. This visit, the first high-level engagement by the newly elected Labour government in the UK under Prime Minister Keir Starmer, signals a renewed focus on the UK-India partnership.
Prime Minister Modi expressed his appreciation for the priority given by PM Starmer to broaden and deepen the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two countries. The leaders affirmed their commitment to elevating ties, with particular emphasis on the bilateral Technology Security Initiative and the desire to conclude a mutually beneficial Free Trade Agreement (FTA).
Earlier in the day, Lammy also met with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, further underlining the importance of this diplomatic mission. The 51-year-old Lammy, who replaced Conservative David Cameron as Britain’s top diplomat, has been vocal about pushing for a reset of the UK-India partnership.
During his two-day tour, Lammy is set to meet with Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal and engage with climate and business leaders to unlock the full potential of the UK-India relationship. He has emphasized India’s role as an emerging superpower of the 21st century and highlighted shared interests in green transition, new technologies, and global security.
The visit also aims to underscore the importance of the ‘Living Bridge’ between the UK and India, representing the 1.7 million people of Indian heritage who have made significant contributions to British life. Lammy plans to highlight the extraordinary impact of British Indians on the UK’s social and economic landscape.
This diplomatic engagement comes at a crucial time as both countries seek to strengthen economic ties and cooperation on global issues. The push for an FTA is seen as a key component of this renewed partnership, with both sides expressing optimism about its potential to drive growth and mutual prosperity.
On this visit, Lammy will also highlight the extraordinary contribution of British Indians to enriching the UK’s social and economic landscape, it added.
The UK Foreign Secretary is scheduled to travel from India to the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ meeting in Laos, where he will advance UK economic partnerships and unveil new cooperation on climate and health.
(Inputs from ANI)