PM Modi, after talks with UK PM Keir Starmer, announces initiatives on defence training, critical minerals, and maritime security in Indo-Pacific
Mumbai: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Thursday signed agreements furthering the Comprehensive Economic Trade Agreement (CETA) and a £350 million ($468 million) contract to supply the Indian army with UK-manufactured lightweight missiles. Mr. Modi expressed confidence that the India-UK free trade pact will boost MSMEs, create jobs, and the target of doubling bilateral trade will be achieved before the target date of 2030.
In a joint statement, the Centre announced that the missile agreement will enhance India’s air defence capabilities and, in line with the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative, address both current and future needs of the Indian Ministry of Defence. It will also foster long-term collaboration on advanced weapon systems between India and the UK.
According to the UK Ministry of Defence, the missile supply deal is expected to directly generate over 700 jobs in Northern Ireland — one of the UK’s four constituent nations, along with England, Scotland, and Wales. The announcement was made on the second and final day of Mr. Starmer’s first official visit to India, during which he was accompanied by a delegation of 125 business leaders.
Mr. Modi met his United Kingdom counterpart at the Raj Bhavan in Mumbai. He said that India-UK relations have made significant progress under PM Keir Starmer’s leadership. Addressing a joint briefing, Mr. Modi said, “Today, our bilateral trade is approximately $56 billion. We have set a target of doubling it by 2030. I am confident that we can achieve this target ahead of time.”
Further informing that nine UK universities are going to open their campuses in India, Mr. Modi added, “In the meeting today, we discussed Indo-Pacific, peace and stability in West Asia and Ukraine conflict. On the issues of the Ukraine conflict and Gaza, India supports all efforts for peace through dialogue and diplomacy. In the Indo-Pacific region, we are committed to increasing maritime security.”
Recognising India as a global player, Mr. Starmer said, “We sit together in the commonwealth, G20 and we want to see India taking its rightful place in the UN Security Council.”
Hailing the UK-India Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) in July as a breakthrough moment, the UK PM said, “We are building something here, we are creating a new modern partnership focused on the future and availing the opportunities and we are doing it together.”
Starmer shared that he discussed the situation in West Asia with PM Modi and welcomed the first steps towards the peace plan in Gaza. He also shared that the two leaders discussed the need for a just and lasting peace in Ukraine, and the need for stability and security in the Indo-Pacific. Starmer made the remarks on Thursday during his joint remarks to the media along with PM Modi.
He shared that India and the United Kingdom discussed issues of "vital importance" to global stability and security, including the situation in West Asia. "I strongly welcome the news that a deal has been reached on the first stage of the peace plan in Gaza. This is a moment of profound relief felt around the world, particularly for the hostages and the families and for the civilian population of Gaza who have all ensured unimaginable suffering over the last two years. I am grateful for the tireless diplomatic efforts Egypt, Qatar, Turkiye, United States and many others in securing this crucial first step. This agreement must now be implemented in full, without delay, and accompanied by the immediate lifting of all restrictions on life-saving humanitarian aid to Gaza.
The UK will support these crucial initial steps and the next stages of the talks to ensure the full implementation of the peace plan," he said."The Prime Minister and I also 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 cooperate in critical areas like climate and energy including breaking away from dependence on fossil fuels, " Starmer added.Pitching for India at the UN hightable, Starmer further mentioned, "India is a global player. We sit together at in the Commonwealth, G20, and we want to see India taking its rightful place on the UN Security Council too. So we are committed to strengthening our strategic partnership."
Speaking about the strong defence cooperation between India and the UK, he noted Exercise Konkan 2025 taking place in India's west coast. "Our Carrier Strike Group is here in India right now exercising with the Indian Navy, showing the strength of that relationship of defence and security, which we want to take even further," he said.Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the press conference reaffirmed India's commitment to promoting peace in the Indo-Pacific, West Asia, and the ongoing Ukraine conflict.
PM Modi stated that India supports the restoration of peace and the resolution of every conflict, including the Gaza issue, through dialogue and diplomacy.PM Modi emphasised that in the present time, the growing partnership between India and the UK has become a crucial foundation for global stability and economic progress.Earlier, Qatar's Prime Minister and official Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Majed Al Ansari, on Thursday said that an agreement was reached on all the provisions and implementation mechanisms of the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement. Ansari said that the deal covered the release of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners.Hamas has released its first public statement since US President Trump said the Palestinian group and Israel had "signed off on the first Phase of our Peace Plan".
In a post on Telegram, Hamas announced the "conclusion of an agreement stipulating an end to the war on Gaza, the occupation's withdrawal from it, the entry of aid, and a prisoner exchange", as per Al Jazeera.
