Boris Johnson : UK visit to India: The Office of the Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he and Prime Minister Modi would hold “in-depth talks” in Delhi on April 22 “on strategic security, communications and economic relations”.

London: UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson will travel to India next week to discuss trade and security with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is neutral in the Russian war in Ukraine.

“As we face threats to our peace and prosperity from democratic provinces, it is important that democracy and allies stick together,” Johnson said in a statement ahead of his visit, for the first time to India as British leader.

Britain and India have differing views regarding the Russian invasion of Ukraine. While London imposed economic sanctions on Moscow and provided Kyiv with weapons, Modi’s government did not openly criticize the Kremlin or support a UN Security Council vote condemning Moscow’s “violence” against its neighbor.

India says Russia is a long-term ally and an important pillar of its foreign policy, and relies on strategic cooperation with Moscow for national security.

Johnson said the April 21-22 trip will focus on what he called “the most important things for the people of both nations – from job creation and economic growth, to energy security and defense”.

Boris Johnson

India, as the world’s largest economic power and democracy, is the UK’s most important partner in these uncertain times, “he added.

Johnson’s office said he and Prime Minister Modi would hold “in-depth talks” in Delhi on April 22 “on strategic defense, national and economic relations”, in the hope of strengthening those ties and enhancing Asia-Pacific “security cooperation.”

Since Britain’s withdrawal from the European Union, the apartheid government has sought to improve trade and security relations with Asia-Pacific countries.

On April 21, Johnson will visit Ahmedabad, the largest city in Gujarat province, the “ancestral home” of about half the Anglo-Indian population in Britain, the former colonial empire.

Downing Street said Johnson was expected in Gujarat to announce investments in “important industries” in Britain and India as well as cooperation in science, health and technology.

He will also try to negotiate a free trade agreement between Britain and India that, according to his office, will increase bilateral trade “to £ 28 billion ($ 37 billion, 34 billion euros) per year by 2035”.

“India, as the world’s largest economic power and democracy, is the UK’s most important ally in these uncertain times,” he said, referring to the Ukrainian war.

“My visit to India will bring important things to the people of both countries – from job creation and economic growth, to energy security and defense,” the British Prime Minister said on Twitter.

Mr Johnson’s visit to India will also successfully complete four of the 26 chapters of the India-UK free trade agreement, or FTA, negotiations.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Mr Johnson are expected to review the negotiations and approve a timeline for the completion of the program, originally scheduled for the end of this year, reports the PTI news agency.

According to officials close to the talks, there has been “significant progress” in the remaining 22 chapters of the FTA at the end of the first two rounds of formal negotiations, and a third round of talks scheduled for the end of this month, reports PTI. .

The conflict between Russia and Ukraine is likely to be overshadowed by the summit, but officials have indicated that other regional issues such as the situation in Afghanistan and the UK’s Indo-Pacific tilt will be at the forefront of the two countries’ travel plan.