India and UK Affirm Transformational Strategic Partnership

Spread love

In his first official visit to India, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and PM Narendra Modi unveil a new phase in bilateral cooperation.

By TRH Foreign Affairs Desk

New Delhi, October 9, 2025 — In a visit that marks the next chapter in post-Brexit diplomacy, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer concluded his first official trip to India on Thursday, affirming a renewed India–UK strategic partnership that now spans defence, technology, trade, and climate cooperation.

Hosted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Starmer’s visit — accompanied by a 125-member delegation of cabinet ministers, business leaders, and university vice chancellors — underscored London’s intent to cement its ties with New Delhi at a time of global flux and shifting alliances.

The two sides jointly reaffirmed their Vision 2035 roadmap and called for early ratification of the India–UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), signed earlier this year. Both leaders highlighted the need for a rules-based global order and reaffirmed their shared commitment to peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific, the Middle East, and Ukraine.

“Our partnership is growing across sectors — from fintech to defence, from education to green growth,” Prime Minister Modi said. He added that “this reflects the trust and friendship between our peoples.”

Defence and Security Cooperation

One of the most striking outcomes was the expansion of bilateral defence collaboration, including an upcoming India–UK Inter-Governmental Agreement (IGA) on maritime electric propulsion systems for Indian naval platforms and a government-to-government deal for the initial supply of Lightweight Multirole Missiles (LMMs).

The Royal Navy’s upcoming Carrier Strike Group port call in India and the joint KONKAN naval exercise will further deepen maritime cooperation under the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative.

Both leaders also condemned terrorism “in all its forms,” calling for zero tolerance and concerted international efforts to combat terror financing, radicalisation, and cross-border terrorism.

Technology, Innovation, and Critical Minerals

The visit also strengthened the Technology Security Initiative (TSI), leading to three new joint hubs:

India–UK Connectivity and Innovation Centre — focused on 6G, Non-Terrestrial Networks, and cybersecurity;
Joint Centre for AI — advancing ethical AI in health, fintech, and climate;
Critical Minerals Collaboration Guild — aimed at securing diversified supply chains and expanding partnerships, including a new satellite campus at IIT-ISM Dhanbad.

The biotech sector also received a boost, with partnerships between UK institutions like Oxford Nanopore Technologies and India’s Biotechnology Research and Innovation Council for joint research in genomics, biomanufacturing, and 3D bioprinting.

Trade, Investment, and Climate

The India–UK CEO Forum and JETCO meetings in Mumbai showed business optimism, with focus sectors including clean energy, advanced manufacturing, and digital services. A new India–UK Climate Finance Initiative, under an MoU between the UK Government and the State Bank of India, will unlock investments in green startups and climate technology.

Both sides also announced an Offshore Wind Taskforce and cooperation through the Global Clean Power Alliance (GCPA) to accelerate progress toward net-zero goals.

Education, Culture, and Mobility

The education partnership reached a new milestone with nine UK universities now opening branch campuses in India, including Southampton, Liverpool, York, Aberdeen, and Bristol, with new approvals for Lancaster University (Bengaluru) and University of Surrey (GIFT City).

The leaders reaffirmed their commitment to the Migration and Mobility Partnership (MMP), vowing to facilitate smoother educational and professional exchanges.

Prime Minister Starmer described India as a “vital partner in shaping the global future”, adding that “the partnership is defined not by the past, but by the promise of what we can achieve together.”

Both countries pledged to work together for UN Security Council reform, with the UK reiterating its support for India’s permanent membership. On global conflicts, they jointly supported US-led efforts for a Gaza ceasefire, the protection of civilians, and the creation of a viable Palestinian state alongside a secure Israel.

The two leaders concluded the summit expressing optimism for a “new era of growth, innovation, and trust” in India–UK relations.

“The India–UK partnership is not transactional; it’s transformational,” Starmer said, before departing Mumbai.

Follow The Raisina Hills on WhatsApp, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, and LinkedIn