At the invitation of External Affairs Minister, Dr. S. Jaishankar (EAM), H.E. Mr. David Lammy MP, Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, United Kingdom paid an official visit to India on 24 July 2024. This was his first official visit to India in his capacity as UK Foreign Secretary. During the visit, UK Foreign Secretary called on Prime Minister and also met with Shri Ajit Doval, National Security Adviser.
EAM held bilateral consultations with the visiting Minister. Both Ministers reviewed the Roadmap 2030 agreed between the Prime Ministers during the India-UK Virtual Summit 2021. The two Ministers expressed satisfaction on the progress achieved so far and agreed to look at the renewal of the Roadmap 2030, aiming at a heightened ambition for bilateral cooperation between the two countries. Both sides agreed to finalise the details as per contemporary realities in a time bound manner to further intensify bilateral collaboration in priority areas of trade and investment, defence and security, migration and mobility, IT/AI/Tech-centric areas, S&T, Innovation, climate and green energy.
Both sides welcomed the launch of UK–India Technology Security Initiative (TSI), spearheaded and agreed by the National Security Advisors (NSAs) of both countries, to expand collaboration in critical and emerging technologies (CET) across priority sectors including Telecom, Critical Minerals, Semiconductors, Artificial Intelligence, Quantum, Biotech and Advanced Materials. The collaboration under TSI will include Government, Private Sector, Academia and R&D Institutions.
After the launch, a Fact Sheet (https://bit.ly/3WzG3DJ) with focus on specific technologies and areas of cooperation was also released. The Fact Sheet provides precise guidance to all stakeholders, especially industry and academia, and will guide future collaboration.
Both sides will also set up a bilateral mechanism led by the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India and the UK Government for promotion of critical and emerging technology trade and collaboration, including resolution of relevant licensing and regulatory issues.
Both sides appreciated the substantial progress made in the India-UK FTA negotiations and looked forward to its early conclusion to achieve a mutually beneficial FTA.
The two sides agreed to deepen defence and security cooperation, in the Indo-Pacific and beyond, and to enhance capacities to address growing threats from non-state actors.
They also discussed India-UK collaboration in the field of Climate and Green Economy, agreeing to focus on it and look for areas of mutual cooperation. Both Ministers also discussed the Migration and Mobility Partnership between the two countries with a view to strengthen people-to people ties.
EAM and Mr. David Lammy also had the opportunity to exchange views on regional and global issues of mutual interest, including the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the situation in West Asia and the Red Sea, the Commonwealth and the UN Security Council.
The visit comes within the first month of the formation of a new Government in the UK and is reflective of the commitment of both sides to further deepen and diversify the India-UK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.