London, Europe Brief News – UK PM Boris Johnson and his Indian counterpart, Narendra Modi, agreed to step up defence and business cooperation.
A bilateral free-trade deal could be wrapped up next October, UK ‘s Premier declared on his first visit to India.
The two parties have held talks on ways to boost security ties between London and New Delhi. India buys more than half of its military hardware from Russia.
Johnson held a joint news briefing with Modi on Friday, at the end of his two-day trip. “We had wonderful talks that have strengthened our relationship in every way,” he said.
“We have agreed a new and expanded defence and security partnership, a decades-long commitment that will not only forge tighter bonds between us, but support your goal of ‘Make in India’,” he added. He also referred to the Indian premier’s domestic manufacturing push.
Modi meanwhile hailed Johnson’s visit – which came as India marks its 75th year of independence – as “historic”.
“We discussed several regional and international developments. We also stressed a free, open, inclusive and rule-based order in the Indo-Pacific,” he said.
While exact details of the security partnership between the two sides were not immediately available, Johnson said both countries had agreed to work together in defence procurement “to meet threats across land, sea and air, space and cyber, including partnering on new fighter jet technology, maritime technologies to detect and respond to threats in the oceans”.
Last month, India abstained from a United Nations vote condemning the invasion and has not imposed sanctions on Russia. It took a stance that sparked off a recent flurry of diplomatic activity, including a visit by Russia’s foreign minister.
