UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on July 24 on his first official visit to India after assuming office. After meeting him, PM Modi said that India remains committed to elevating bilateral ties with the UK. He also welcomed the desire to conclude a mutually beneficial free trade agreement. Lammy also expressed UK’s keen desire to realise the full potential of the bilateral relationship, including in the areas of economy, investment, defence, security, critical and emerging technologies and climate change.
UK Foreign Secy calls on PM, EAM on India visit
PM Modi congratulated Lammy on his appointment and appreciated his initiative in visiting India within the first month of the UK Government formation. The Prime Minister recalled his recent conversation with the UK PM Keir Starmer and appreciated the priority accorded by the new UK Government to broaden and deepen bilateral Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
Talks with Jaishankar
Lammy held bilateral consultations with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. Both Ministers reviewed the ‘Roadmap 2030’ agreed between the Prime Ministers during the India-UK Virtual Summit 2021. The two ministers expressed satisfaction with the progress achieved so far and agreed to look at the renewal of the ‘Roadmap 2030’, aiming at a heightened ambition for bilateral cooperation between the two countries.
Both sides agreed to finalise the details as per contemporary realities in a timebound manner to further intensify bilateral collaboration in priority areas of trade and investment, defence and security, migration and mobility, IT/AI/ tech-centric areas, innovation, climate, and green energy.
The two sides welcomed the launch of the UK-India Technology Security Initiative, TSI. The collaboration under TSI will include Government, private sector, academia, and R&D institutions. Both sides also appreciated the substantial progress made in the India-UK Foreign Trade Agreement negotiations and looked forward to its early conclusion to achieve a mutually beneficial FTA. They also agreed to deepen defence and security cooperation in the Indo-Pacific and beyond and to enhance capacities to address growing threats from non-state actors.
Regional, global issues
During the meeting, Jaishankar and Lammy also exchanged views on regional and global issues of mutual interest, including the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the situation in West Asia and the Red Sea, the Commonwealth, and the UN Security Council.
Lammy’s visit to India came within the first month of the formation of the new Government in the UK. According to the Ministry of External Affairs, Lammy also met National Security Adviser Ajit Doval during his visit.
