Keir Starmer’s India Visit: Cementing Strategic Ties & Trade Prospects |
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is set to arrive in New Delhi on October 8, 2025, marking his first two-day official trip to the country since assuming office in July last year. The visit, by all accounts, is a critical milestone in the India-UK relationship, coming just over two months after the signing of the landmark India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA). Starmer’s visit underscores the shared ambition of both nations to strengthen ties across trade, technology, security, and strategic domains, while also exploring avenues for regional and global cooperation.
Bilateral Engagements and Key Events
During his two-day visit, Prime Minister Starmer will hold a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Mumbai. Both leaders are scheduled to participate in the 6th edition of the Global Fintech Fest, where they will deliver keynote addresses and engage with industry experts, innovators, and policymakers. This platform is expected to highlight the transformative potential of technology, fintech, and innovation in the India-UK partnership.
On October 9, the two Prime Ministers will review progress under the India-UK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, aligned with Vision 2035, a ten-year roadmap outlining initiatives across trade and investment, defence and security, technology, climate, health, education, and people-to-people relations. The agenda also includes interactions with businesses and industry leaders, focusing particularly on opportunities arising from the recently inked Free Trade Agreement (FTA), which serves as a central pillar for future economic cooperation.
Expectations from the Visit
There are high expectations surrounding Starmer’s visit. Foremost among them is the consolidation of the India-UK partnership beyond ceremonial gestures. The two nations aim to reaffirm their commitment to deepening bilateral trade, technology collaboration, and security cooperation. Given the backdrop of a post-Brexit UK seeking new global partnerships, India represents both a strategic and economic priority.
Industry experts anticipate that the visit will provide a clear roadmap for operationalizing the FTA, addressing implementation challenges, and identifying sector-specific opportunities. Beyond trade, Starmer’s presence signals the UK’s desire to engage India on global issues such as climate........