Johnson to discuss security cooperation with Modi during visit to India

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will meet his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi next week, where he will reiterate that democracies should “stay together” and aim to strengthen economic and defense cooperation between the UK and India.

During the two-day visit, Johnson will hold talks with Modi in New Delhi, aimed at strengthening security cooperation between India and the UK in the Indo-Pacific region and on strategic defense in the face of increasing Russian aggression.

During the conflict in Ukraine, India has taken a strategically neutral stance towards Russia. President Modi has expressed concern about the use of force against civilians, as recorded in Bucha, but India has chosen to abstain from key UN votes condemning Russia. Modi even met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov earlier this year.

India’s stance has been frustrated by some Western allies, such as US President Joe Biden, who last month accused India of being “somewhat shaky” in its response to Russian aggression.

“As we face threats to our peace and prosperity from autocratic states, it is vital that democracies and friends stick together,” Johnson said ahead of this visit. “India, as a major economic power and the world’s largest democracy, is a highly valued strategic partner for the UK in these uncertain times”

He added: “My visit to India will deliver the things that really matter to the people of both our countries – from job creation and economic growth to energy security and defence.”

As part of his journey, Johnson will also meet with companies in Gujarat, where he is expected to announce further cooperation between the two countries in areas such as health and technology and major investments in key industries in the UK and India.

Trade between India and the UK is worth an estimated £23 billion each year. Last year, the two countries agreed on a comprehensive strategic partnership between the UK and India, which the UK government said would bring more than £533 million in investment from India into the country and create more than 6,500 jobs.

Johnson is also expected to use the trip to continue negotiations for a free trade agreement, which began in January this year.

Johnson’s journey comes as the UK government looks to refocus efforts in the Indo-Pacific region as part of its Global Britain strategy.

The Integrated Review, a defense and security paper published last March, argued that the Indo-Pacific would be of “increasing geopolitical and economic importance” in the coming years.

In particular, the review highlighted India’s strategic value and outlined the UK government’s intention to strengthen its partnership with the country in areas such as defence, trade and tackling climate change.

“The relationship between the UK and India is already strong, but over the next decade we will seek transformation in our partnership across the full range of our shared interests,” the review reads.