Foreign Secretary David Lammy undertook a key two-day visit to New Delhi over the last weekend to review and advance the UK-India economic and migration partnership.
The visit also served as a preparatory step ahead of Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s expected visit to India, expected in the coming months.
According to an official statement issued by the UK government, "The visit follows the historic Free Trade Agreement signed between the two countries and will deliver on this government's commitment to boost jobs and prosperity back in the UK, as part of the government's Plan for Change."
Secretary Lammy also met Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and held bilateral talks with Indian External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar to further deepen the strategic partnership between the UK and India. He also met Indian Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal.
Key areas of discussion included counter-terrorism cooperation, enhancing trade and technological collaboration, regional matters such as the situation in Pahalgam and more. The visit aimed to strengthen bilateral ties and explore opportunities that will benefit both nations.
The visit follows the landmark India-UK Free Trade Agreement signed on May 6, a deal set to significantly boost trade and investment between the world’s fifth and sixth largest economies.
Negotiated over three years after Modi and former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson aimed to conclude it by October 2022, the agreement is expected to increase bilateral trade by over £25 billion annually, add £4.8 billion to the UK’s GDP, and raise wages by £2.2 billion each year, benefiting working-class citizens.
A stressful time for both the Indian and Pakistani communities in Britain
Following the May 10 ceasefire between India and Pakistan, prompted by the Pahelgam attack and marking the end of their most intense conflict in nearly three decades UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy visited Islamabad on May 16. It was the first visit by a UK Foreign Secretary to Pakistan since 2021.
The visit raised eyebrows, with some questioning why Lammy travelled to Pakistan and not India, given the UK’s historically strong ties with New Delhi. Speaking to Asian Voice, Lammy addressed the speculation. He said, “I’ve now been to India. This is my third trip in about 15 months. Dr Jaishankar has also visited the UK and spent time with me at Chevening House, where, in fact, we went to Spurs together. It was always the intention that I would visit Pakistan. The United Kingdom has strong links with both countries and in both countries I've discussed a range of issues. Particularly here in India. We're building on the free training that we have just recently struck. This is a very exciting era for our partnership, but the UK is a friend and partner to both India and Pakistan. This is not about picking sides, and I want to be clear that we welcome the cessation of fighting. We welcome the dialogue that we have, that I have been able to have in both countries. We want to see de-escalation, and we are in a de-escalation. Military period at this time, and here in India, we've been discussing with our Indian partners the threats of terrorism and how we can do more to counter terrorism, working together.”
Lammy also acknowledged the emotional impact of the conflict on the South Asian diaspora in the UK. “The 100 hours of conflict were a deeply stressful time for both Indian and Pakistani communities in Britain. And of course, there is a lot that both local authorities and community groups and people to people put in to ensure that we de-escalate, so that we remain a cohesive society where people can live side by side and peacefully. It is important for the United Kingdom, as a friend of both countries, to be able to play our role in encouraging de-escalation, and as I say, we're very pleased that there has been a cessation of fighting. In India, I discussed key issues like counter-terrorism and regional security. In Pakistan, we addressed the heavy toll terrorism has taken there,” he said.
Asked about growing anti-migrant sentiment in the UK and whether it affected talks in India, Lammy was quick to emphasise the strength of the relationship. He added, “This has been a wonderful visit to India. It's against a backdrop of a very exciting new era for our two countries that builds on the FTA that we have signed. This is my third visit to India in just over a year. When I came just after the election in July, I said that I wanted us to sign up for the free trade agreement, and we have achieved that. I know Dr Jaishankar very well. He spent time at Chevening House with me a few months ago, and this is my second meeting with Prime Minister Modi. On both occasions, the meetings have run over time and looked on the issue of race. Our enduring witnesses are noted in celebrating the unique living bridge that exists between our people, including a 1.9 million strong Indian diaspora in the UK that gives our country so very much. It's the living bridge that connects us across culture, education, food, sport, business and industry. And what we actually talked about was cultural cooperation. We talked about Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s upcoming trip to India and how we could forge deeper education links. This was a conversation of two very close allies, ambitious for our future.”
On Prime Minister Starmer’s upcoming visit, though Foreign Secretary hoped “it will be soon,” but added that he will “leave the formal announcement to Downing Street.”
“I’m very excited about it,” he said excitedly. “My visit sets the stage for that meeting and the official signing of the FTA. While others failed to deliver it by Diwali, we got on with it—and made it happen. As I say, it paves the road for a very, very exciting new era.”
Meeting Modi, Jaishankar and other dignitaries
David Lammy met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and shared highlights of their discussion in a post on X. He welcomed the progress made under the India-UK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and noted the successful conclusion of the Free Trade Agreement, describing it as a significant step forward in strengthening bilateral ties.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed appreciation for the UK's support in India’s fight against cross-border terrorism during his meeting with UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy. Sharing details on X, PM Modi wrote, “Pleased to meet UK Foreign Secretary Mr. David Lammy. Appreciate his substantive contribution to the remarkable progress in our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, further strengthened by the recently concluded FTA. Value UK's support for India's fight against cross-border terrorism.”
Lammy also shared his reflections on the meeting, posting on X: “Thank you Prime Minister Narendra Modi for your warm welcome to India. Building on the free trade agreement between our great countries, we will continue working together to deepen our Partnership, celebrate our unique living bridge, and deliver growth and security.”
David Lammy and EAM Dr S Jaishankar held bilateral discussions in New Delhi, reaffirming their commitment to deepening the India-UK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
In his opening remarks, Jaishankar thanked the UK for strongly condemning the “barbaric terrorist attack” in Pahalgam and for supporting India’s fight against terror. He stressed India’s zero-tolerance policy and said perpetrators must never be equated with victims.
Lammy echoed the sentiment, calling it a “horrific attack” and conveyed Prime Minister Starmer’s condolences and the UK’s support and solidarity in tackling terrorism together.
Jaishankar called the finalisation of the FTA and the double taxation convention a milestone that will boost trade, investment, and strategic ties, strengthening supply chains and bilateral cooperation. He highlighted progress in the India-UK Tech Security Initiative (TSI), launched in July 2024, covering sectors like AI, semiconductors, telecom, health tech, and critical minerals.
He also announced the launch of the Strategic Exports and Technology Cooperation Dialogue, aimed at resolving licensing and regulatory issues to boost trade in emerging technologies. Jaishankar noted strong collaboration in education, with several UK universities planning campuses in India, and emphasised the potential of the infrastructure financial bridge to channel UK capital into Indian development.
Lammy described the FTA as a “trophy” for Britain, marking a new era in ties and a potential £25.5 billion boost in trade. He expressed the UK’s intent to deepen cooperation in trade, defence, tech, innovation, and clean energy.
In a post on X, EAM Jaishankar wrote, “Glad to meet UK Foreign Secretary @DavidLammy today in Delhi. Appreciate UK’s strong condemnation of the terrorist attack on Pahalgam and support in combatting terrorism. Our conversation focused on the significant strides being made by the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. As our collaboration grows, new opportunities continue to emerge. We also discussed global and regional issues, along with cooperation in multilateral fora.”
Lammy echoed similar sentiments in his post: “Great to see my friend Dr S Jaishankar in Delhi today. We are advancing a new era in UK-India relations — boosting trade and technology, tackling the climate crisis, and providing greater security for our people.”
During his visit, David Lammy met Indian Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal and National Security Adviser Ajit Doval. According to the UK Foreign Office, the talks focused on strengthening economic and migration ties, expanding opportunities for British businesses, and enhancing border security under the UK-India migration partnership.
Goyal described his meeting with David Lammy as “fruitful,” highlighting discussions on deepening bilateral trade and enhancing collaboration across key sectors. In a post on X, Goyal said, “Had a fruitful meeting with UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy today. We both appreciated the work done in finalising the historic India-UK FTA, which will further boost our growing ties. We also explored ways to strengthen trade and unlock the full potential of our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.”
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Amarjit Singh hails UK-India FTA as ‘game changer’
Founder and CEO of the India Business Group, Amarjit Singh attended a celebratory reception at the British High Commissioner’s Residence in New Delhi, marking the successful conclusion of the UK-India Free Trade Agreement negotiations—a landmark moment in bilateral relations. Hosted by H.E. Ms Lindy Cameron CB OBE and Harjinder Kang, the event brought together senior policymakers, diplomats, business leaders, and key UK-India collaborators, with Foreign Secretary David Lammy and Indian Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal in attendance.
Speaking to Asian Voice, Amarjit described the UK-India Free Trade Agreement (FTA) as a “positive, ambitious and constructive” development. He said, “The FTA took nearly three years of intermittent official negotiations, but the groundwork had been laid over the past decade through stronger bilateral ties and people-to-people connections. Ultimately, it was the Keir Starmer government that got the deal over the line—kudos to them. It’s a comprehensive and ambitious agreement that’s a real game changer for UK-India relations.”
He added, “This FTA gives both countries a competitive edge by creating a business-friendly framework, removing many tariff and non-tariff barriers, and making it easier to trade in both directions. It will drive growth in business, trade, innovation, and knowledge exchange—especially in education. Several UK universities are already establishing campuses in India, which will boost global talent, research, and development. I believe we’re entering a new golden era in UK-India relations.”
