India and the UK: Building a new legacy

The war in Ukraine has brought unprecedented changes to the world as global powers seek to re-examine their foreign policies. India’s situation has been in the limelight in recent times when New Delhi is hosting diplomats and dignitaries from different countries. Britain’s Foreign Secretary on 31 March, Elizabeth Truss visits New Delhi As a part of a wider diplomatic push. She had come to India last October. Ms Truss called on External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and also participated in the inaugural edition of the India-UK Strategic Futures Forum, Track 1.5 Dialogue.

areas of cooperation

Despite the challenge posed by the Ukraine crisis, India-UK relations have been on an upward trajectory, exemplified as a conclusion. comprehensive strategic partnership On May 4, 2021. The agreement also established the 2030 Roadmap for India-UK relations, which primarily outlines partnership plans for bilateral relations. During her visit to New Delhi, Ms Truss stressed the importance of countering Russian aggression and reducing global strategic dependence on Moscow, underscoring the importance of democracies working together to deter invaders. In addition, he highlighted the importance of developing deeper ties between Britain and India in the Indo-Pacific, which will not only result in job creation, but also boost security in the region. They also took forward talks on deepening defense-related trade and cyber security and defense cooperation between the two countries. A new joint cyber security program is to be announced, aimed at protecting online infrastructure in India and the UK as the two sides seek to conduct joint exercises on tackling threats from cybercriminals and ransomware. India and the UK also plan to hold the first Strategic Tech Dialogue, a ministerial summit on emerging technologies.

Additionally, the UK and India have agreed to strengthen their cooperation in the maritime sector as the UK joins India’s Indo-Pacific Ocean Initiative and becomes a major partner on maritime security issues in Southeast Asia. In 2021, HMS Queen Elizabeth and Carrier Strike Group participated in a military exercise With the Indian Navy in the Bay of Bengal before proceeding to conduct exercises with the navies of Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand. India is a key strategic partner for the UK in terms of both market share and defense in the Indo-Pacific, as underscored by the 2015 signing of the Defense and International Security Partnership between India and the UK. The UK is a regional power. In the Indo-Pacific because it has naval facilities in Oman, Singapore, Bahrain, Kenya and the British Indian Ocean Territory.

The UK has also confirmed £70 million of the British International Investment Fund to support the use of renewable energy in India, which will help build renewable energy infrastructure and develop solar energy in the region. In January, India and the UK managed to conclude the first round of talks for an India-UK Free Trade Agreement. The talks reflected shared ambitions between the world’s fifth and sixth largest economies to secure a comprehensive deal, as technical experts from both sides covered 32 sessions covering 26 policy areas. The first round of talks laid the groundwork for the subsequent rounds, which were held in March 2022. India and the UK are expected to meet in New Delhi this month, with the potential to sign an early harvest deal. New Delhi has sought easier market access for Indian fisheries, pharma and agricultural products besides duty concessions for labour-intensive exports. For Britain, a successful conclusion of an FTA with India will boost its ‘Global Britain’ ambitions as the UK has sought to expand its markets beyond Europe since Brexit. Britain is trying to seize the opportunities in the growing Indo-Pacific economies to cement its place on the global stage as a serious global actor.

new areas of cooperation

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is expected to visit India in late April, amid renewed optimism about the trajectory of India-UK relations. Mr Johnson and Prime Minister Narendra Modi last met COP26 in Glasgow in November 2021 Where the two leaders focused on the India-UK climate partnership. During his visit, talks on FTAs ​​are expected to gain further momentum as the 2030 Roadmap aims to double the bilateral trade between India and the UK by 2030.

Both India and the UK are serious about overcoming heritage issues and engaging in stronger dialogue to promote cooperation on strategic and defense issues in the Indo-Pacific as well as globally. New areas of cooperation – namely, fintech, market regulation, sustainable and green finance, and cyber security – have emerged as new frontiers of this engagement. The remarkable success of the collaboration with Oxford-Astra Zeneca and Serum Institute of India in the production of CovShield vaccines in India is one of many examples of potentially successful collaborations. Mr Johnson’s upcoming visit to New Delhi reflects the importance of India’s role in the dynamically changing global order as New Delhi prepares to host several foreign leaders in the coming months and the presidency of the G-20 in 2023.

a unique moment

As India seeks to carve out a new role for itself in the evolving global order as a ‘leading power’ and the UK redefines its post-Brexit strategic approach, this is a unique moment in India-UK relations. The top leadership in both the countries is committed to building an enduring partnership and in the process, old issues like Pakistan have been marginalized in the bilateral dialogue. The new geopolitical realities demand a new strategic vision from London and New Delhi. It is time to take advantage of the times and lay the foundation for a partnership that can adequately respond to the challenges of the 21st century.

Harsh V. Pant is Vice President of Studies at the Observer Research Foundation (ORF), New Delhi and Professor of International Relations at King’s College London; Rahul Kamath is Research Assistant at ORF