New Delhi, 25 July 2024.
At the invitation of India's External Affairs Minister, S. Jaishankar, David Lammy MP, Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs of the United Kingdom, undertook an official visit to India on 24th July 2024. This marked his inaugural official visit to India in his capacity as UK Foreign Secretary. During his visit, the UK Foreign Secretary called upon the PM Modi and held discussions with Ajit Doval, the National Security Adviser.
During bilateral consultations between the EAM and the visiting UK Minister, both sides reviewed the progress under the Roadmap 2030, initially agreed upon during the India-UK Virtual Summit in 2021. They expressed satisfaction with the strides made thus far and agreed to renew the Roadmap 2030 with a heightened ambition, focusing on key areas of bilateral cooperation including trade and investment, defence and security, migration and mobility, IT/AI/technology, science and technology, innovation, climate, and green energy.
EAM Jaishanker in his opening remarks during the meeting mentioned, "Both countries have a big global presence in different ways. So I think it’s also important that India and the UK work together on global issues and in global platforms."
While David Lammy commented that "This government will put growth at the heart of our foreign policy. That’s why 3 weeks into the job, I am in Delhi announcing a new Technology Security Initiative to deliver on the promise of the UK-India relationship."
Both sides welcomed the launch of the UK–India Technology Security Initiative (TSI), driven by the National Security Advisors of both countries, aimed at expanding collaboration in critical and emerging technologies across sectors such as telecom, critical minerals, semiconductors, artificial intelligence, quantum technologies, biotech, and advanced materials. A Fact Sheet outlining specific technologies and areas of cooperation was released post-launch, offering clear guidance to stakeholders in industry and academia, facilitating future collaborations.
Additionally, a bilateral mechanism led by the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India and the UK Government will be established to promote trade and collaboration in critical and emerging technologies, addressing licensing and regulatory issues in a collaborative manner.
Progress in the India-UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations was noted, with both sides anticipating an early conclusion to achieve a mutually beneficial FTA. They also committed to deepening defence and security cooperation, particularly in the Indo-Pacific region, and enhancing capabilities to combat threats posed by non-state actors.
The ministers discussed enhancing cooperation in climate action and green economy initiatives, identifying potential areas for mutual collaboration. They also reviewed the Migration and Mobility Partnership, aiming to strengthen people-to-people ties between the two nations.
During their discussions, EAM and David Lammy exchanged views on various regional and global issues of common interest, including the Russia-Ukraine conflict, developments in West Asia and the Red Sea region, as well as matters concerning the Commonwealth and the UN Security Council.
This visit, occurring early in the tenure of the new UK Government, underscores the shared commitment of both countries to further deepen and diversify the India-UK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
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