New Delhi: British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is on a two-day visit to India. He met PM Modi today, as the UK looks to increase its footprint in defence production in India, and new cooperation on clean & renewable energy. Boris Johnson said that India-UK defence and security alliance is for decades.
Addressing Media along with his British counterpart Boris Johnson, PM Modi said “While India is celebrating the “Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav” (celebrations on the 75th year of independence), the UK Prime Minister’s visit is historic.”
The two leaders were seen stressing on the progress of the Free Trade Agreement between the two countries, their climate commitments at Glasgow, and the need for a “free and open” Indo-Pacific.
British PM appreciated tariffs being dropped by India on certain goods and commodities. He said, “We aim to have a new Free Trade Agreement by Diwali…I have urged officials to get it done by Diwali. We appreciate the tariffs being dropped by India on certain goods and commodities and in return, we too are dropping some tariffs we levy. We also look forward to the close cooperation shared between the UK’s NHS and India’s health services.”
Boris said, “The UK is creating an India specific open general export license reducing bureaucracy and reducing delivery times for defence procurement.”
Coming to Russia Ukraine War PM Modi said that the two leaders stressed the need for an end to the war in Ukraine and the resolution of conflicts through dialogue and diplomacy. “We reiterated the importance of territorial integrity and sovereignty of all nations,” he said.
Boris has announced that Britain and India have agreed to a “new and expanded” defence and security partnership. “The two countries have a shared interest in keeping the Indo-Pacific open and free,” he said.
He terms the new partnership “a decades-long commitment”.
“We reiterated our support to a peaceful, stable and secure Afghanistan and an inclusive representative government. It’s essential that Afghan territory is not used to spread terror in other countries,” PM Modi said.
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