Kumar Bahukhandi
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is greeted by Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi on his arrival at Raj Bhavan.(via REUTERS)
Mumbai: Keir Starmer, who is on his first visit to India as UK Prime Minister, held bilateral discussions with Modi in Mumbai on Wednesday October 8, 2025 .
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday October 9, 2025 said there is a “new energy” in India-UK relations following high-level talks with his British counterpart, Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
Starmer, who is on his first visit to India as UK Prime Minister, held bilateral discussions with Modi in Mumbai. The talks focused on strengthening trade, technology cooperation, and strategic ties between the two nations.
“Under the leadership of PM Starmer, India and the UK relations have seen significant progress. In July this year, during my visit to the UK, we signed the historic Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA),” PM Modi said in a joint statement with Starmer.
Both leaders held a bilateral meeting in Mumbai as the UK leader pushed for the swift implementation of the free trade agreement that the two nations signed earlier this year.
After the meeting, PM Modi took to X to describe his meeting with his British counterpart.
“It was a delight to welcome my friend, PM Keir Starmer, at the Raj Bhavan in Mumbai. Being his first visit to India, it is surely a special occasion. The presence of the largest business delegation to India makes it even more special and illustrates the strong potential of India-UK ties,” he wrote on X.
Calling the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) signed in July this year between the two countries “really important”, Starmer earlier said, “It’s the biggest deal we’ve struck since we left the European Union. I think it’s also the biggest deal that India has ever struck, so it’s hugely important.”
Prime Minister Modi also said that India and the UK have reached an agreement on cooperation in military training.
“We are fully committed to enhancing maritime security cooperation with UK in Indo-Pacific region,” PM Modi said.
On the Ukraine conflict and Gaza issue, he said India supports all efforts to restore peace through dialogue and diplomacy.
The two leaders held talks broadly focusing on boosting the India-UK ties in areas of trade, defence and security and critical technology.
The British leader, accompanied by a delegation of 125 of the UK’s most prominent business leaders, entrepreneurs and educationists, landed in Mumbai on Wednesday morning on a two-day visit.
Starmer’s visit to India came two-and-half months after the two countries inked a landmark free trade pact that will increase market access, cut tariffs and is expected to result in doubling the bilateral trade by 2030.
The trade deal was firmed up during PM Modi’s visit to London in July.
(Source-PTI)
