British Prime Minister Keir Starmer begins a two-day visit to India on Wednesday, his first official trip to the country as leader, with a sweeping bilateral trade agreement and broader economic cooperation at the top of the agenda.
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Analysts say the visit offers both strategic and economic significance, coming amid rising global trade tensions and pressure on Starmer to deliver growth without inflaming Britain’s immigration debate. While the UK hopes to boost exports and investment ties with India, New Delhi is likely to press for more visas and collaboration in emerging sectors.
Starmer is joined by a 125-member delegation of business leaders and cultural representatives, reflecting his government’s desire to use trade diplomacy as a lever for creating jobs and investment at home. The centrepiece of the trip is the India-UK Free Trade Agreement, signed in July, which both governments have hailed as a launch pad for economic transformation.
The visit also comes against the backdrop of new US tariffs under President Donald Trump, which have disrupted global trade flows and spurred countries like India and the UK to deepen bilateral partnerships.
“The free trade agreement will open up markets for each other in critical sectors and double the trade volumes. But more importantly, [it comes] at a time when Mr Trump is creating challenges for India, and for Europe including the UK,” said Harsh Pant, a professor of international relations at King’s College London.
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