MUMBAI, India, October 9, 2025: British Prime Minister Keir Starmer concluded a two-day official visit to India on Wednesday, marking a significant advance in bilateral ties with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The talks, held in Mumbai, reaffirmed commitments across trade, defence, technology, climate, and education, building on the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two countries. This was Starmer’s first visit to India as prime minister and follows Modi’s trip to the UK in July, where both sides signed the India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA).
During the latest summit, the two leaders reviewed progress and expressed intent to ratify CETA at the earliest opportunity. They also announced the reactivation of the Joint Economic and Trade Committee (JETCO) to support implementation and broaden trade and investment ties. Starmer led the UK’s largest-ever trade delegation to India, comprising 125 business leaders, entrepreneurs, university vice-chancellors, and cultural figures. Talks focused on mutual investment opportunities in key sectors such as clean energy, infrastructure, defence manufacturing, advanced technology, and education.
The two sides highlighted the UK-India Infrastructure Financing Bridge between NITI Aayog and the City of London Corporation as a vehicle for financing sustainable development projects. On defence cooperation, both governments announced a government-to-government agreement for the initial supply of Lightweight Multirole Missiles (LMM) to bolster India’s air defence capabilities. The leaders confirmed plans to finalise an Inter-Governmental Agreement on maritime electric propulsion systems for Indian naval vessels. They also committed to increasing military collaboration through joint exercises, training exchanges, and defence industrial partnerships.
The port call of the UK’s Carrier Strike Group and the ongoing KONKAN naval exercise were acknowledged as part of broader maritime security efforts in the Indo-Pacific. Technology and innovation featured prominently during the summit. The two leaders welcomed the establishment of the India-UK Connectivity and Innovation Centre to focus on 6G technologies, non-terrestrial networks, and cybersecurity in telecommunications, backed by £24 million in joint funding. They also launched the Joint Centre for AI, which will promote responsible artificial intelligence in areas such as healthcare, climate science, and fintech.
India and UK advance strategic trade and technology deals
A UK-India Critical Minerals Processing Guild was announced to develop supply chain resilience and support bilateral investment in critical raw materials. In the biotechnology sector, new institutional partnerships were announced between the Centre for Process Innovation in the UK and India’s Biotechnology Research and Innovation Council. Agreements were also signed involving Oxford Nanopore Technologies and the Centre for DNA Fingerprinting and Diagnostics, targeting advancements in biomanufacturing, genomics, and 3D bioprinting.
PM Modi and Starmer jointly condemned terrorism and violent extremism in all forms, referencing the April 2025 attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir. They agreed to intensify cooperation in intelligence sharing, judicial processes, counter-radicalisation, and preventing the misuse of emerging technologies for terrorist purposes. Both sides reiterated the need for coordinated international action in accordance with the UN Charter and international law.
The leaders announced a new joint Climate Tech Start-up Fund and reaffirmed cooperation on clean energy transitions. The India-UK Climate Finance Initiative was launched to scale up access to green capital. They also established an Offshore Wind Taskforce and discussed potential collaboration through the Global Clean Power Alliance. On education, both leaders noted progress in the opening of UK university campuses in India. The University of Southampton has welcomed its first Indian student cohort in Gurugram, while letters of intent were issued for campuses by the Universities of Liverpool, York, Aberdeen, and Bristol.
Universities from UK approved for campuses in India
Further approvals were granted for Queen’s University Belfast and Coventry University in GIFT City, with Lancaster University receiving consent for a campus in Bengaluru. The summit concluded with both leaders reaffirming support for a reformed United Nations Security Council, with the UK reiterating its support for India’s bid for permanent membership. They called for peace and stability in Ukraine and the Middle East and endorsed the US-backed plan for Gaza, urging compliance with international law and the protection of civilians.
Prime Minister Starmer expressed gratitude to PM Modi for the hospitality extended during the visit, underscoring the continued momentum of the India-UK relationship rooted in shared democratic values and growing strategic alignment. He noted the significance of the agreements signed across trade, defence, innovation, and education, emphasizing that they reflect a mutual commitment to delivering tangible benefits for both nations. – By Content Syndication Services.