British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will seek to put his domestic problems behind him when he visits India this week on a trip to strengthen links between the two countries which have not seen eye to eye over the response to the Ukraine crisis.
Johnson will head to India on Thursday with calls for his resignation ringing in his ears after he was fined for breaking his own COVID-19 lockdown rules by attending a birthday party for him in Downing Street in June 2020.
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Parliament returns from its Easter vacation on Tuesday and Johnson has said he would “set the record straight” about
gatherings in his office. He had previously told lawmakers there were no parties and guidance was always followed.
In details released late on Saturday, Johnson’s office said the British leader would use his trip to India to deepen relations, including in-depth talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the two nations’ “strategic defense, diplomatic, and economic partnership.”
But the visit will be overshadowed in part by disagreement over the Ukraine conflict.
Western allies have called for India, which imports arms from Russia, to condemn Russian President Vladimir Putin in stronger terms, and US President Joe Biden earlier this week told Modi that buying more oil from Russia was not in India’s interest.
British trade minister Anne-Marie Trevelyan also said last month Britain was very disappointed with India’s stance.
However, Johnson’s office made no direct reference to the conflict, although a source said it was expected Ukraine would be discussed “among other geopolitical issues.”
Johnson said India, as a major economic power, was a highly valued strategic partner.
“As we face threats to our peace and prosperity from autocratic states, it is vital that democracies and friends stick together,” he said in a statement. Last year, he was forced to cancel a planned trip to India because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Last May, the two countries announced a partnership involving more than 530 million pounds of Indian investment into Britain, and Downing Street said Johnson was expected to announce further major investment and new collaboration on cutting-edge science, health and technology.
Johnson said the visit on April 21-22 would focus on what he said were “the things that really matter to the people of both our nations – from job creation and economic growth, to energy security and defence.”
“India, as a major economic power and the world’s largest democracy, is a highly valued strategic partner for the UK in these uncertain times,” he added.
Johnson’s office said he and Prime Minister Modi would hold “in-depth talks” in Delhi on April 22 on their “strategic defense, diplomatic, and economic partnership,” in the hope of bolstering that partnership and increasing “security co-operation” in the Asia-Pacific.
Since Britain’s departure from the European Union, the conservative government has sought to boost trade and security ties with countries in the Asia-Pacific.
On April 21, Johnson will visit Ahmedabad, the main city in the state of Gujarat, the “ancestral home” of around half the Anglo-Indian population in Britain, the former colonial power.
Downing Street said Johnson was expected in Gujarat to announce investments in “key industries” in Britain and India andcollaboration on science, health and technology.
He will also attempt to make headway in negotiations on a free trade agreement between Britain and India which could, according to his office, boost bilateral trade “by up to £28 billion ($37 billion, 34 billion euros) annually by 2035.”
Read more: UK’s Truss presses India for tougher action on Ukraine war ahead of Lavrov visit
