United Kingdom

Boris Johnson said the visit to India will focus on jobs and economic growth Foreign policy

Boris Johnson said his long-awaited visit to India this week will focus on “things that really matter” to people on both sides, mainly jobs and growth.

Although Tory MPs have spoken of Johnson’s role as leader of an international pro-Ukrainian coalition, a preliminary government briefing on the visit does not mention war – which has not loosened India’s close ties with Russia.

India abstained last month in a UN vote condemning Russia’s invasion, and the two countries continue to trade with each other.

Johnson said Sunday: “As we face threats to our peace and prosperity from autocratic countries, it is vital that democracies and friends stick together.

“India, as a major economic power and the largest democracy in the world, is a highly valued strategic partner for the United Kingdom in these uncertain times.

“My visit to India will lead to things that really matter to the people of both our nations – from job creation and economic growth to energy security and defense.

Johnson was originally scheduled to visit India in January last year, but the trip was canceled as a second wave of coronavirus flooded the UK, powered by the Alpha variant.

№ 10 tried to reschedule its visit to last April, but this flight was also canceled with relatively short notice after India was affected by its own emergency situation with Covid caused by the Delta variant.

Johnson was reluctant to delay, and there were allegations that the government was delaying putting India on its red travel list longer than it should have, because Johnson did not want to jeopardize the visit.

His visit this week will begin on Thursday in Gujarat. Number 10 said it would be the first time the British prime minister had visited the country, which is the ancestral home of about half of the UK’s Indo-Indian population.

From there, Johnson will visit New Delhi for talks Friday with his Indian counterpart, Narendra Modi. Their meeting will cover the ongoing negotiation of a free trade agreement between the United Kingdom and India, which is said to be able to increase trade between the two countries by £ 28 billion by 2035, as well as the defense partnership.

The UK’s integrated review of defense and security, published last year, identified ties with India as a priority link, as part of the UK’s slope towards the Indo-Pacific region.

Johnson is also expected to announce new investment deals, as well as cooperation covering science, health and technology.