UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy Embarks on Strategic India Visit

UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy arrives in India on a two-day visit, aiming to reinforce UK-India ties with a focus on economic and global security partnerships. He plans to meet Indian ministers, climate leaders, and business executives to pave the way for a Free Trade Agreement and bolster bilateral cooperation.

UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy arrived in the national capital on Wednesday morning, marking the first high-level visit by the newly-elected Labour government in the UK. Lammy is on a two-day tour aimed at underscoring the importance of a new UK-India partnership focusing on economic, domestic, and global security.

During his inaugural visit to India, Lammy will engage in discussions with External Affairs Minister Jaishankar and Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal. He will also confer with climate and business leaders to unlock the full potential of the UK-India partnership. Lammy is expected to push for a reset of the UK-India relationship by reinforcing the UK's commitment to securing a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) for greater growth in both nations.

"India is the emerging superpower of the 21st century, the largest country in the world with 1.4 billion people, and one of the fastest-growing economies," Lammy stated during his campaign. "Our Free Trade Agreement negotiations are the floor, not the ceiling, of our ambitions to unlock our shared potential and deliver growth." Lammy highlighted that the UK and India share interests in green transition, new technologies, economic security, and global security.

Lammy emphasized that his visit within his first month as Foreign Secretary signifies the UK government's strategy to reset its relationship with the Global South for enhanced security and prosperity. According to the British High Commission, Lammy will galvanize support for accelerated climate action with India as an indispensable partner. He aims to drive forward the clean energy transition and create opportunities for British and Indian businesses. Discussions will also cover partnering on Indian-led global initiatives to build clean power access and climate resilience in the Global South and small island states.

The Foreign Secretary will also underline the significance of the Living Bridge between the UK and India, representing 1.7 million people of Indian heritage in the UK who contribute richly to British life. In a visit to India's third-largest tech company, he will meet with business leaders to highlight collaborative efforts in cutting-edge science, innovation, and trade aiming to improve livelihoods in both countries. High-level talks with Indian government members, including External Affairs Minister Jaishankar, are also on the agenda.

Overall, Lammy's mission seeks to unlock the potential of the new UK-India partnership for prosperity not just within the two countries but globally. Following his India visit, Lammy will attend the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' meeting in Laos to further advance UK economic partnerships and unveil new cooperation in climate and health sectors.

(With inputs from agencies.)