Trade focus, UK PM Boris Johnson in Gujarat today

New Delhi, April 20

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson will not lecture India on Ukraine during his first two-day visit beginning from Thursday, but will put forth the UK’s position and listen to the Indian perspective, said diplomatic sources here.

In London, Johnson’s spokesperson said on his first trip to India as PM, he would discuss strengthening security cooperation at meetings with PM Narendra Modi. He will be accompanied by a large business delegation to indicate that the focus was trade and investment, the stated intention being to give momentum to negotiations on a Free Trade Agreement. But the UK was looking to increase its footprint in defence production in India, said the British official.

In Delhi, sources said while trade and talks on Ukraine were on the agenda, the two sides would not lose sight of the Indo-Pacific, which will be central to the talks between the two PMs.

Johnson’s trip will begin in PM Modi’s home state Gujarat. Officials sidestepped criticism about his plans to visit a bulldozer plant in the state, saying the intention was to step up investments. This is the first time a British PM has visited the coastal state. The diplomatic official here said this was due to several factors such as investment made and in the pipeline and a large Indian diaspora from the state, including UK Home Secretary Priti Patel.

On the Khalistani issue, the officials said this was something that India and the UK had been talking about. —