Sir Keir Starmer has praised the UK-India trade deal as a “launchpad” for closer ties after meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Mumbai.
The two leaders met to discuss ways to expand business and trade links after they signed a landmark trade deal in July.
Sir Keir’s two-day visit to India’s financial capital involved the UK’s largest-ever trade delegation of more than 100 CEOs, entrepreneurs, university vice-chancellors and cultural leaders.
Among the other issues discussed by the two prime ministers was the war in Ukraine, as India continues to buy Russian fossil fuels, helping to fund Vladimir Putin’s war effort.
Sir Keir described the trade deal as “huge” for the UK and “the most ambitious trade deal India has ever done”.
In their meeting, the PM said the pair discussed the need for “a just and lasting peace in Ukraine, the need for stability and security in the Indo-Pacific, and the need to co-operate in critical areas like climate and energy, including breaking away from dependence on fossil fuels”.
Asked whether he raised the issue of India buying Russian oil, Sir Keir told journalists: “Yes, we did discuss that this morning with President Modi, and we each went through the steps we’re taking to bring about a resolution of the conflict.”
Modi has described himself as a friend of Putin, but suggested he wanted to see the Ukraine war come to an end through “dialogue and diplomacy”.
Sir Keir said he also raised the case of Jagtar Singh Johal, a British Sikh activist who has been held in an Indian prison for seven years without a conviction.
Sir Keir said he also raised the case of Jagtar Singh Johal, a British Sikh activist who has been held in an Indian prison for seven years without a conviction.
Credit: bbc.com
