Foreign Secretary to hold high-level talks with Indian leadership amid push for stronger economic and strategic relations
Foreign Secretary David Lammy has arrived in New Delhi for a high-profile diplomatic visit aimed at strengthening ties between the United Kingdom and India. His agenda includes bilateral talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, as both nations look to expand their strategic and economic partnership.
Lammy’s visit comes shortly after the UK and India concluded a long-anticipated free trade agreement (FTA), which has been hailed as a landmark step in deepening economic co-operation between the two Commonwealth nations. However, the Foreign Secretary made it clear that the agreement is merely a starting point.
“Signing a free trade agreement is just the start of our ambitions – we’re building a modern partnership with India for a new global era,” Mr Lammy stated ahead of his trip. “We want to go even further to foster an even closer relationship and co-operate when it comes to delivering growth, fostering innovative technology, tackling the climate crisis and delivering our migration priorities, and providing greater security for our people.”
Trade and migration are expected to dominate the discussions in New Delhi, with Lammy keen to advance negotiations on key issues such as skilled worker mobility, tech innovation, and climate collaboration. The UK is especially interested in tapping into India’s fast-growing digital economy and renewable energy sector, which present significant opportunities for British investment and joint ventures.
According to the Foreign Office, the talks will also address sensitive geopolitical matters, including the recent escalation of tensions in Kashmir. Last month’s US-brokered ceasefire between India and Pakistan followed a deadly terrorist attack on a group of tourists in Pahalgam, a town in Jammu and Kashmir.
Mr Lammy is expected to raise the attack with Indian officials and discuss how the UK can support continued peace and stability in the region. “The Foreign Secretary will also raise the recent escalation in tensions following the Pahalgam terrorist attack, and how the welcomed sustained period of peace can be best supported in the interests of stability in the region,” the Foreign Office said.
The visit underscores Britain’s broader efforts to recalibrate its foreign policy focus post-Brexit. Strengthening ties with influential partners in the Indo-Pacific, such as India, is seen as essential to Britain’s economic and diplomatic strategy in a rapidly changing global order.
In addition to economic and security topics, Lammy will welcome progress on the UK-India migration partnership, which includes cooperation on managing legal migration, preventing illegal crossings, and enhancing consular support for citizens in both countries.
“The Foreign Secretary will also welcome progress in our migration partnership, including ongoing work on safeguarding citizens and securing borders in both countries,” a spokesperson for the Foreign Office confirmed.
Experts believe the visit signals a new chapter in UK-India relations, with both countries viewing each other as critical partners in global challenges and opportunities alike.
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Lammy’s outreach reflects the growing recognition of India’s strategic and economic clout on the world stage, as the UK positions itself to remain a relevant and forward-looking partner in the region.
His New Delhi visit is expected to lay the groundwork for further ministerial meetings later this year, including potential high-level summits on innovation, climate action, and global security.
The UK-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, launched in 2021, remains the foundation for these initiatives, aiming to elevate cooperation across defence, education, health, and sustainable development.
Lammy’s message to his Indian counterparts is clear: the UK is ready to engage in a deeper, broader, and more forward-looking partnership – one that reflects the realities of a new global era.
