Why was it important for Modi to go to Britain at this stage?
Prime Minister Narendra Modi went to Britain on an official visit to Britain on July 23-24. It was obviously important for him to do so because Prime Ministers go on foreign visits when Parliament is in session only when India’s external interests are involved in great measure. This is especially if they have, in the past, visited the country they are going to. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri noted in his media briefing on July 22, “This will be Prime Minister’s fourth visit to the United Kingdom since assuming office. He has visited previously in 2015 and 2018, and he was there in 2021 for the COP26 summit in Glasgow. Within the last year itself, Prime Minister Modi and Prime Minister Starmer have already met twice, first on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro last year, and more recently, just last month, in June, in Kananaskis in Canada, on the sidelines of the G7 summit. And of course, they’ve been in touch on the phone a number of times”.
Why was it important for Modi to go to Britain at this stage? Misri clarified the purpose of the visit in these words “to review the entire gamut of the bilateral relationship and discuss ways to strengthen it further, and also discuss issues that are of regional and global relevance. The India-UK partnership, as you’re aware, was upgraded to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2021, and since then has seen regular high-level political exchanges, and both sides remain committed to taking this partnership to even higher levels”. He did not directly dwell on the most important aspect of the visit; The two governments will enter into a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) during the visit.
Britain has been keen on an FTA ever since it left the European Union in January 2020 and for India the British market and technology are important. India is especially keen on British expertise in what Misri said was the “critical and emerging technologies sphere”. As India’s aim is become the third largest global economy by 2030 it is vital that it is no longer dependent on foreign countries for technology. Hence, it has to develop technological partnerships and use them to develop its own technologies. These should be suited not only for its purposes but have to be world class. Indeed, it has to become a global leader in many frontier technologies if it has to secure its position as one of world’s truly major powers. This will not be easy but if the political class and the nation summon their will it can be accomplished.
India-British relations are now on an upward trajectory in the economic, commercial and technological spheres. However, the two countries do not see eye to eye on some geo-political issues. These relate inter alia to the continuing Russian invasion of Ukraine. India has never shied away from making its unhappiness with the Russian action known. However, it has critical interests in the Russian relationship which extend to defence and security, space and civil nuclear areas. India has also to the chagrin of the West been a major importer of Russian oil. It has correctly assailed Western double standards on the issue of Russian energy because Europe has not denied itself the advantages derived from Russian energy even while demanding that India does so. There is little doubt that the Modi and Starmer will discuss European security matters; and, Russia is the major issue in this context.
There are two issues of Indian concern which have been continuing over the years but Britain has dragged its feet on both. The first is of the extradition of fugitives from Indian law who are present in Britain and the second is the latitude given to the Khalistanis to carry out some of their activities in Britain. On the former, Misri told the media “These have been a matter of discussion between both sides, and we have continued to make the case for these fugitives to be rendered to India. Obviously, there is a legal process that such requests and such issues go through in the other country, and we continue to follow up very closely with our partners in the UK on these matters”. It is true that there are legal processes but it is known in inter-state relations that the judicial authorities do not disregard the advice of governments when foreign nationals and the country’s national interest gets involved. Hence, India needs to be more forceful with Britain on the extradition of well-known economic offenders. It is also noteworthy that Western powers leave no stone unturned when they want the extradition of persons they deem important.
On the Khalistan issue, Misri while responding to a question said “The issue of the presence of Khalistani extremists and bodies close to these people is again something that we have brought to the attention of our partners in the UK. We will continue to do so. This is a matter of concern not only to us, but it should be a matter of concern to our partners as well, because this impacts social cohesion and social order in these other countries as well”. Khalistani supporters have, at times, created unacceptable situations. India has to take a much tougher attitude on them with Britain.
Britain has a 1.8 million strong Indian diaspora. Indeed, it has had a Prime Minister of Indian origin. This is an extraordinary bridge between the countries which have common interests in a Trumpian world. And, the shadows of the colonial period on bilateral ties have receded but have not entirely gone away.
