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  • Thursday, 09 October 2025
Keir Starmer and Narendra Modi Deepen UK-India Relationship During Visit

Keir Starmer and Narendra Modi Deepen UK-India Relationship During Visit

On his first official visit to India, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Mumbai to strengthen business, defense, and tech ties. The visit, which Starmer called a push to “double down” on a major trade deal signed in July, saw over 100 UK business, university, and cultural leaders travel with him — the largest-ever delegation of its kind.

 

Modi hailed the trip as “historic” and praised the “new energy” between the two countries, while Starmer described India’s growth as “remarkable,” and said their relationship is built on trust.

 

Trade Deal in Focus

The UK-India free trade agreement, signed just a few months ago, was front and center during the talks. It’s expected to boost trade by £25.5 billion a year by 2040, cut tariffs on goods like textiles, whisky, and cars, and offer more market access to businesses from both sides. India will also reduce duties on Scotch whisky, luxury cars, and medical devices, while the UK will lower tariffs on Indian clothing, seafood, and jewellery.

 

Starmer said, “My visit this week is about doubling down on the potential of our trade deal for the benefit of all of us.” He added that the delegation’s goal was clear: “When we leave India tonight, I expect that we will have secured major new investments creating thousands of high-skilled jobs in the sectors of the future.”

 

Investment and Jobs

As part of the growing partnership, 64 Indian companies are set to invest £1.3 billion in the UK, creating nearly 7,000 jobs. Meanwhile, British chip designer Graphcore is planning a £1.3 billion investment in India, including a new research hub.

 

Additional joint ventures were announced across climate tech, offshore wind, AI, and health research, including a UK-India innovation centre, a critical minerals guild, and a joint AI centre. There’s also a climate tech startup fund in the works.

 

Education and Digital ID

On education, Starmer announced that two more UK universities – Lancaster and Surrey – have received approval to open campuses in India, adding to institutions like York, Aberdeen, and Queen’s University Belfast. The move is expected to inject £50 million into the UK economy and provide Indian students with more access to British education.

 

Starmer also met with Nandan Nilekani, the architect of India’s digital ID system, to explore how a similar scheme could be introduced in the UK. Despite public pushback at home, Starmer’s government believes a digital ID system could help clamp down on illegal work.

 

Defense, Diplomacy, and Divergence

On the defense front, Britain will supply the Indian Army with lightweight multi-role missiles in a £350 million deal, and work with India to develop electric naval engines. Modi also announced that Indian Air Force instructors will train with the Royal Air Force as part of expanding military cooperation.

 

Despite strong collaboration, the leaders don’t see eye to eye on everything. India continues to buy oil from Russia, but Starmer held back from open criticism, noting that the UK respects India’s “strategic independence.” He said the two also discussed “the need for a just and lasting peace in Ukraine” and global security concerns like the Indo-Pacific region and climate change.

 

Modi, who has described himself as a “friend” of Putin, reiterated his support for peace “through dialogue and diplomacy.” Starmer also backed India’s long-standing ambition to gain a permanent seat on the UN Security Council, calling on the global community to recognise India as a “global player.”

 

Visa Policy Stays Tight

While trade and tech ties are growing fast, the UK is standing firm on immigration rules. Starmer said he would not be expanding visa access for Indian workers, despite calls from business leaders. “That wasn’t part of the FTA,” he said, noting that none of the CEOs raised the issue during the trip.

 

Human Rights Pressure

Back home, there’s growing pressure on Starmer to address the case of Jagtar Singh Johal, a British citizen held in an Indian prison without conviction for over seven years. Starmer said the government is raising the issue at “every level,” but campaigners continue to demand stronger action.

 

Bottom line? The UK and India are pushing ahead with one of the most ambitious trade and investment partnerships in years. While sensitive issues like Russia, migration, and human rights remain on the table, both sides appear focused on economic growth, innovation, and forging deeper strategic ties for the future.

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