Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri on Tuesday listed areas that emerged as pillars of India-UK bilateral cooperation, stating that partnerships have witnessed regular high-level exchange in areas such as trade, investment and defense.
Before the visit to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s United Kingdom (UK) and Maldives a special press briefing, Foreign Secretary Misri said, “There are regular busyness at the Foreign Minister’s level and his counterparts, British foreign secretaries, and strategic issues, financial, economic, energy issues, as well as many other institutional mechanisms. Innovation, knowledge economy emerges in the form of innovation, knowledge economy.”
Misri also mentioned how the India-UK partnership was upgraded in a comprehensive strategic partnership in 2021 and since then, it has regularly observed high-level political exchange. He said that both sides are committed to carrying this partnership to a higher level.
“Our bilateral trade is crossing USD 55 billion in 2023-24. The UK is also the sixth largest investor in India, with a accumulated investment of USD 36 billion and interesting is that India itself is a major source of foreign direct investment in the UK, with a cumulative investment of 20 billion USD,” he said.
“In the defense sector, we are seeing regular interactions and exercises between all three branches of the armed forces,” Misri said.
Speaking on the importance of the Indian diaspora, Misri saw him as a living bridge that connects India and the UK. “One of the most important, perhaps the basic aspect of this relationship is the Living Bridge that connects India to the UK, people of Indian origin in the UK are about 1.8 million strong Indian migrants who have contributed to strengthening the bond of friendship between our two countries, but have also contributed very valuable through Britain’s economy.”
He also talked about the issue of Khalistani extremists and related groups, which is a matter of concern for India, which has been brought to the attention of partners in the UK.
PM Modi will be held on a two-nation tour of UK and Maldives from July 23 to July 26, MEA said on 20 July. The visit to the UK is on the invitation of the Prime Minister Kir Stmper, while the state trip to Maldives is on the invitation of President Mohammad Muizu.
According to Mea, PM Modi will hold extensive discussions with his UK counterpart at the entire gamut of India-UK bilateral relations. They will also exchange ideas on issues of regional and global importance.
Over the years, the Indo-UK historical relations have turned into a strong, multi-faceted, mutually beneficial relationship. In 2021, the relationship has been elevated for a comprehensive strategic partnership. New Delhi and London have seen a constant and constant high -level political enclosure. Prime Minister Modi has met the UK Prime Minister Sir Kir Stormer twice in the last one year. They met on the banks of the G20 summit in Brazil in November 2024, and again during the G7 Summit in June 2025. There were also several telephone conversations during the period of both. (AI)