New Delhi, June 3: Amidst the ongoing crisis in West Asia and disruption in energy flows, India and the United Kingdom (UK) are set to discuss ways to have closer collaboration to minimise the economic shocks from ongoing conflicts, preserve global stability, and ensure freedom of navigation.
The two countries will also discuss ways to take forward the bilateral ‘Vision 2035’ when visiting British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper holds talks with External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar here tomorrow on her first official visit to India.
‘Vision 2035’, a shared ambition for how the UK and India partner together to unlock the huge potential of this partnership, was unveiled last year jointly by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
Cooper’s trip “sets an ambitious path for engagement with India, a top priority partner for the UK. It builds on the visit by Business and Trade Secretary Peter Kyle earlier this week to bring the landmark UK-India Free Trade Agreement into force as soon as possible,” said a statement issued by the British High Commission here.
“Together with Dr Jaishankar, the Foreign Secretary will undertake a formal review of delivery under the UK-India Vision 2035 to date, highlighting the UK’s priorities for the year ahead across economic growth, technology and innovation, defence and security, climate and education,” it said.
“The annual review ensures our partnership remains dynamic, aligned, and responsive to rapid global change,” the statement said.
Ahead of the visit, British High Commissioner to India Lindy Cameron said: “The UK-India partnership is a bulwark against rising global uncertainty. Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper’s visit this week, her first visit in the role, is another important opportunity to build on that partnership.
“Since our Prime Ministers unveiled their shared vision for a modern UK-India partnership last year, the UK has been driving forward collaboration with India as a priority.
“From the Technology Security Initiative where we are shaping the technologies of tomorrow to our landmark trade deal that will help make trade cheaper, quicker and easier – the UK-India partnership is delivering where it matters most to people in both countries.”
In New Delhi, the British Foreign Secretary will welcome new Indian investment into the Technology Security Initiative throughout her programme.
She will interact with AI health tech entrepreneurs and join a special programme at the British Council to hear how UK-India partnerships on education and growth are delivering real results on shared priorities.
India-UK Relations
The UK and India signed a landmark Free Trade Agreement (FTA) in July 2025, marking a new era of growth for two of the world’s largest and most innovative economies.
The deal could increase yearly bilateral trade by £25.5 billion, and boost GDP by nearly £5 billion each in the long run for both countries.
The UK and India have deepened our defence cooperation through a new 10-year Defence Industrial Partnership, high-level military engagements, and enhanced coordination on counterterrorism, serious organised crime, and emerging threats.
Two UK universities have opened international branch campuses in India – the University of Southampton (Delhi National Capital Region) and Queens University Belfast (GIFT City in Gujarat) and seven more UK universities have approval to open in 2026-27, boosting the UK’s soft power and driving growth into the UK economy.
These are: University of York, University of Aberdeen, University of Bristol, University of Liverpool, University of Lancaster, University of Surrey, and Birkbeck – University of London. These new campuses complement wider higher education collaboration on UK-India joint and dual degrees and joint research and innovation.
