India, UK reaffirm partnership, sign tech, trade and defence initiatives during Starmer visit

“On the official visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer MP will pay a State Visit to India on 8-9 October 2025”

New Delhi 09/10/2025 (pib) Report by Santosh Seth

Prime Minister Starmer was accompanied by a high-level delegation including Peter Kyle MP, Secretary of State and President of the Board of Trade, Douglas Alexander MP, Secretary of State for Scotland, Minister for Admissions Jason Stockwood, and 125 CEOs, Fromina, Head of Fromist, and cultural leaders.

This is Prime Minister Starmer’s first official visit to India. This visit follows the visit of the Prime Minister of India to the UK on 23-24 July 2025, during which the two sides signed the historic India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Programme (CETE) and the India-UK Vision 2035 and a Trustworthy Independent Company Roadmap.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer delivered keynote addresses at the Global FinTech Fest in Mumbai on 9 October 2025.

The two leaders held limited and closed-level talks in Mumbai on 9 October 2025, where they expressed satisfaction with the positive progress of the India-UK Comprehensive Partnership and reaffirmed their shared commitment to global peace, stability, and a rules-based international order. They also discussed global and regional economic issues of mutual interest.

Developments

The two Prime Ministers welcomed the meeting of the CEO Forum in Mumbai on the sidelines of the India-UK Summit. They expressed hope for the early ratification of the India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) to set the stage for its grand success.

The Prime Ministers also welcomed the reconstitution of the Joint Economic and Trade Committee (JETCO), which will support the administration and utilization of CETA and further advance our comprehensive trade and investment.

Joining the UK Prime Minister, leaders from sectors such as construction, concrete infrastructure and clean energy, advanced manufacturing, defence, education, sports, culture, financial and business services, science, technology and innovation, consumer goods and food highlighted investment opportunities in the two countries.

The UK-India Infra Financing Bridge (UK IMB), built between NITI Aayog and the City of London Corporation, is an example of our shared commitment to sustainable development.

The two Prime Ministers reiterated their friendship and the need to improve aviation and enhance cooperation in the air force sector and welcomed the fact that the two sides are discussing the India-UK Air Services Agreement as well as other air force-related issues. This provides an opportunity for both countries to leverage innovative cooperation in the aerospace sector.

Technology and Innovation

The Prime Ministers of India and the UK reaffirmed their shared commitment to harnessing leading technologies to drive inclusive economic growth, strengthen national security, and shape the future of global innovation.

Building on the landmark Technology Security Initiative (TSI), the two leaders welcomed the substantial progress made in critical and emerging technologies, including telecommunications, critical minerals, AI, and health technology.

Under the TSI, the two leaders expressed satisfaction at the establishment of:

• The India-UK Connectivity and Innovation Centre, a joint hub focused on developing AI-native networks for 6G, non-terrestrial networks (NTNs), and cybersecurity for telecommunications, with joint funding of at least £24 million in the first phase.

The India-UK Joint AI Centre is advancing responsible and trustworthy AI in health, climate, fintech, and engineering biology.

• The UK-India Critical Minerals Processing and Downstream Collaboration Guild will build solid partnerships that will strengthen and diversify critical mineral supply chains and drive investment and growth in both countries. They announced the second phase of the UK-India Critical Minerals Supply Chain Observatory to expand mineral coverage, further integrate advanced technologies, open new bilateral investment opportunities, and establish a new satellite campus at IIT-ISM Dhanbad.

The UK and India continue to work together to advance strategic partnerships between the Centre for Process Innovation (CPI), Biotechnology Research and Innovation Council (BRIC) institutes in the UK and India, including the Henry Royce Institute (HRI) and the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Oxford Nanopore Technologies (ONT), and the BRIC – Centre for DNA Fingerprinting and Diagnostics (BRIC-CDFD), to deliver transformative outcomes in biomanufacturing, 3D bioprinting, and genomics.

Defence and Security

The two leaders agreed to enhance bilateral exchanges between the Indian and British armed forces through joint exercises, training, and capacity building.

Prime Minister Shri Modi welcomed the port call of the UK Carrier Strike Group and the Royal Navy’s exercise Konkan with the Indian Navy.

Both sides expressed commitment to strengthened maritime security cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region, including the establishment of a Regional Maritime Security Centre of Excellence (RMSCE) under the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI).

In the context of training cooperation, the two leaders welcomed progress on an arrangement under which qualified Indian Air Force flight instructors will be included in the training of the British Royal Air Force, as well as an agreement that will further strengthen our strong training and education ties.

The two Prime Ministers expressed satisfaction at the intention to finalize an Indo-British Inter-Governmental Agreement (IGA) on cooperation in the development of marine electric propulsion systems for Indian naval platforms.

The two leaders also announced a government-to-government agreement to enhance the initial supply of Lightweight Multirole Missile (LMM) systems.

This will further strengthen India’s air defense capabilities and meet the current and future requirements of the Indian Ministry of Defense, in line with the spirit of Atmanirbhar Bharat, and promote long-term cooperation on cutting-edge weapons between the two countries.

The two Prime Ministers unequivocally and strongly condemned terrorism and violent extremism in all its forms and manifestations.

They called for zero tolerance for terrorism and concerted international efforts to combat terrorism comprehensively and sustainably, in accordance with the UN Charter and international law.

They agreed to counter radicalization and violent extremism, counter terrorist financing and cross-border movement of terrorists, prevent the exploitation of new and emerging technologies for terrorist purposes, combat terrorist recruitment, information sharing, judicial cooperation, and capacity building, and strengthen bilateral and multilateral cooperation in these areas, including with the UN and FATF.

They strongly condemned the April 2025 terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir. They committed to strengthen cooperation to take decisive and concrete action against globally proscribed terrorists, terrorist entities and their masterminds.

Climate and Energy

The two leaders reaffirmed the importance of cooperation to achieve net-zero targets. The two Prime Ministers welcomed the ‘India-UK Climate Finance Initiative’ to enhance climate finance, enable green growth, and open up new financing opportunities for both countries.

They announced a new joint investment in a Climate Tech Start-up Fund. This strategic initiative, under a Memorandum of Understanding between the UK Government and the State Bank of India, will also support innovative entrepreneurs working in frontier sectors such as climate technology and AI.

The two leaders welcomed the establishment of the Offshore Wind Taskforce. They reiterated their desire to explore opportunities for working together through the Global Clean Energy Alliance (GCPA).

Education, Culture, and People-to-People Contacts:

The two leaders emphasized the importance of youth, cultural, and educational exchanges in shaping the future of bilateral relations.

They expressed commitment to the implementation of the first annual Ministerial-level Strategic Education Dialogue and the Cultural Cooperation Programme signed by the two Culture Ministers in May 2025.

Recognizing education as a key area of ​​bilateral cooperation, both sides expressed satisfaction at the progress made in the opening of campuses of nine leading UK universities in India.

The University of Southampton welcomed its first cohort of Indian students to its Gurugram campus. The University Grants Commission also submitted Letters of Intent (LOIs) for the establishment of branch campuses of the University of Liverpool, the University of York, the University of Aberdeen, and the University of Bristol in India. Additionally, Queen’s University of Belfast and Coventry University have been authorized to open branch campuses in GIFT City.

During the visit, Indian officials also submitted Letters of Intent for the opening of a campus of Lancaster University in Bengaluru and granted in-principle approval for the opening of a campus of the University of Surrey in GIFT City.

The two Prime Ministers expressed their commitment to continue the implementation of the Migration and Mobility Partnership (MMP).

Noting the progress in cooperation to combat irregular migration, both sides reiterated their commitment to continued cooperation in this area.

The two leaders recognized the Indian diaspora in the UK as a vibrant bridge between the two countries and commended its contribution to strengthening bilateral economic, cultural, and social ties.

They acknowledged the potential of the UK-India Cultural Cooperation Programme to bring together talent from both countries in the fields of culture, creative industries, arts, tourism, and sport.

Regional and Multilateral Cooperation

The two Prime Ministers reiterated their shared commitment to global peace, prosperity, and a rules-based international order.

They agreed to work together to promote reformed multilateralism, including reform of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).

The UK reiterated its long-standing support for India’s legitimate aspirations for permanent membership in a reformed UNSC.

The two leaders acknowledged that the Commonwealth’s shared values, spread across diverse geographical regions, are its strength.

They agreed to work together with the new leadership of the Commonwealth in the areas of climate change, sustainable development, and youth engagement.

Both Prime Ministers expressed support for a just and lasting peace in Ukraine in accordance with international law, including the UN Charter. They welcomed diplomatic efforts being undertaken by various countries to achieve this goal.

They reiterated their commitment to peace and stability in the Middle East, calling for restraint, the protection of civilians, adherence to international law, and refraining from actions that could further escalate the situation and undermine regional stability.

They expressed their support for the US peace plan for Gaza and their commitment to working with regional partners to ensure an immediate and lasting ceasefire, the release of hostages, and the delivery of humanitarian assistance, and their shared commitment to a lasting and just peace as a step towards a two-state solution with a viable Palestine and a secure Israel.

Prime Minister Starmer thanked Prime Minister Modi for the warm hospitality extended to him and members of his delegation.

The visit reaffirmed the strong growth and positive progress of the India-UK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, which is based on shared democratic values ​​and deep and abiding friendly ties between the two countries.