India and the United Kingdom have announced the launch of a new technology security initiative during the first official visit to India by the new British foreign secretary. The agreement, revealed late Wednesday, outlines plans for collaboration on crucial technologies such as critical minerals, AI, semiconductors, and telecoms. This initiative is expected to not only boost economic growth but also deepen cooperation between the two nations.
British Foreign Secretary David Lammy's office stated that the collaboration will extend to areas like climate, trade, technology, and education. In discussions with Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, both parties also agreed to enhance defense and security cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region. Global issues, including the Russia-Ukraine conflict, were also on the agenda.
Lammy emphasized that his visit to India aligns with the new government's foreign policy priorities, particularly focusing on resetting relations with Europe and the Global South, with an emphasis on climate issues. The new Labour Party government in the UK, which won the July 4 election, aims to revitalize UK-India relations, including restarting talks on a free trade agreement that began in 2022.
During his visit, Lammy met with Indian National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who expressed support for the new technology security initiative. Modi also indicated India's eagerness to finalize a free trade agreement, with the goal of doubling trade between the two countries from $50 billion in 2022 to 2030.
The trade deal negotiations had faced challenges, with 13 rounds of talks held before being suspended during the 2024 general elections in both nations. The agreement was initially proposed to be completed by Diwali in October 2022 by former Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
This new initiative and the commitment to enhancing bilateral relations signal a positive step towards strengthening ties between India and the UK, with a focus on technology, trade, and security cooperation.
