Mumbai: British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has backed India’s aspiration for a everlasting seat within the United Nations Safety Council (UNSC). Talking after his assembly with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Mumbai, he mentioned, “We sit collectively within the Commonwealth and G20, and we need to see India taking its rightful place within the UN Safety Council.”
A joint assertion issued after the assembly highlighted each leaders’ shared dedication to world peace, prosperity and a rules-based worldwide order. “They agreed to work intently in selling reformed multilateralism, together with reform of the United Nations Safety Council. The UK reiterated its long-standing help for India’s authentic aspirations for everlasting membership in a reformed UNSC,” it mentioned.
International Secretary Vikram Misri confirmed the UK’s continued help throughout a media briefing. “We’ve obtained help from the UK insofar as our goal to achieve a spot as a everlasting member on a reconstituted and reformed UN Safety Council is anxious. The UK has been on the document on a number of events previously as effectively, and we very a lot welcome and respect that help,” he mentioned.
Commerce And Funding Acquire Centre Stage
Misri mentioned commerce and funding dominated discussions throughout Starmer’s go to. “The Free Commerce Settlement (FTA) that was signed in July is now present process the method of ratification in each the international locations and each leaders remarked on, whereas whilst this course of is happening, how excited the commerce, enterprise and funding communities within the two international locations are on the prospects of the complete implementation of this settlement. A lot of the time yesterday between the enterprise leaders of the 2 international locations was spent on planning for future funding and future commerce cooperation between the 2 sides,” he mentioned.
He added, “This go to has given either side the chance to debate deepening their strategic financial engagement with a purpose to derive the complete advantages from tariff discount underneath the FTA.”
The primary assembly of the reconstituted India-UK CEOs Discussion board additionally passed off on Thursday, reviewing the long-term commerce and funding relationship and supporting the FTA’s implementation.
The leaders introduced joint initiatives, together with boosting the Local weather Expertise Startup Fund to help entrepreneurs in local weather know-how and Synthetic Intelligence.
Misri mentioned, “This will even assist in supporting the FTA chapter on innovation, which ties in with a number of the initiatives we’re discussing underneath the Expertise Safety Initiative.”
A Pillar Of Partnership
“The know-how and innovation pillar is an important side of the bilateral relationship. In the course of the prime minister’s go to, main bulletins have been made concerning the India-UK Connectivity and Innovation Centre, the India-UK Joint Centre for Synthetic Intelligence and a Essential Minerals Trade Guild to safe resilient provide chains and promote inexperienced applied sciences,” Misri mentioned.
Part two of the UK-India Essential Minerals Provide Chain Observatory will probably be launched, alongside a brand new satellite tv for pc campus at IIT, the Indian College of Mines in Dhanbad. The leaders additionally mentioned increasing collaboration in training and superior coaching programmes.
Defence Offers And Strategic Safety Ties
On Thursday, the UK signed a £350 million defence take care of India, securing over 700 jobs in Northern Eire whereas supplying New Delhi with air defence missiles and launchers.
“The defence offers introduced in the present day present how our rising strategic partnership with India will increase UK enterprise and jobs,” Defence Secretary John Healey mentioned.
The contract delivers UK-manufactured Light-weight Multirole Missiles (LMM) to the Indian Military, constructing on comparable manufacturing for Ukraine. “I’m hopeful that this may pave the way in which for a deeper relationship between our defence industries, significantly within the improvement of electrical engines for naval ships and in air defence,” Healey added.
Starmer’s go to coincides with the UK Provider Strike Group (CSG) taking part in complicated air and naval workout routines within the Indian Ocean with the Indian Navy. Led by HMS Prince of Wales, the CSG commenced Train Konkan with INS Vikrant, involving ships, submarines and plane from each international locations.
Joint Dedication To Maritime Safety, Counterterrorism
India and Britain additionally dedicated to strengthening maritime safety within the Indo-Pacific, together with the institution of the Regional Maritime Safety Centre of Excellence underneath the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative. Coaching collaboration was highlighted, with Indian Air Drive Certified Flying Instructors built-in into Royal Air Drive programmes.
Each leaders introduced the preliminary government-to-government provide of Light-weight Multirole Missile (LMM) programs to India, boosting air defence capabilities underneath Atmanirbhar Bharat initiatives. They condemned terrorism in all types and burdened zero tolerance for violent extremism, counter-radicalisation and terrorism financing. The April 2025 Pahalgam terror assault in Jammu and Kashmir was condemned, and either side emphasised motion in opposition to proscribed terrorists and entities.
Cultural Diplomacy, Folks-to-Folks Ties
PM Modi and PM Starmer additionally witnessed a classical rendition of Ed Sheeran and Arijit Singh’s ‘Sapphire’ at Jio World Centre, celebrating India-UK cultural collaboration.
“Fantastic rendition of Ed Sheeran & Arijit Singh’s Sapphire, which is a superb instance of India-UK cultural partnership!” PM Modi wrote on X (previously Twitter).
Fantastic rendition of Ed Sheeran & Arijit Singh’s Sapphire, which is a superb instance of India-UK cultural partnership! pic.twitter.com/aLtx5WyiXT
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 9, 2025
PM Starmer visited Yash Raj Movies Studios and introduced that three main productions will probably be shot throughout the UK beginning in 2026. “Bollywood is again in Britain, bringing jobs, funding and alternative whereas showcasing the UK as a world-class vacation spot for world filmmaking,” he mentioned.
Financial Synergy, Future Prospects
PM Modi emphasised the rising energy of India-UK ties. “India’s dynamism and the UK’s experience mix to create a novel synergy. Our partnership is reliable, talent- and technology-driven,” he mentioned.
He highlighted the CETA settlement signed in London in July, highlighting that commerce prices will lower and employment alternatives will develop.
“With this settlement, new employment alternatives will probably be generated for the youth, commerce will enhance, and this may profit our industries and shoppers. Your go to to India inside only a few months of signing the settlement, with the most important enterprise delegation ever accompanying you, is a logo of the brand new vigour in India-UK partnership,” Modi informed Starmer.