Boris Johnson seeks defence, diplomatic, economic cooperation with India

LONDON: Boris Johnson's first visit to India as Britain's Prime Minister -- twice postponed because of Covid -- is at last scheduled on the anvil for April 21-April 22.

"My visit to India", he said, "will deliver on the things that really matter to the people of both our nations - from job creation and economic growth, to energy security and defence."

Johnson's is no stranger to India. He was married to a half-Indian barrister -- Marina Wheeler -- for 25 years and undertook trips to India often for family occasions. He also went to India as Mayor of London and the UK's Foreign Secretary. This, though, is his first sojourn since Britain formally exited the European Union (EU) as a member state at the end of 2020.

Johnson is perceived to be arriving in India with a relatively weak hand, keen to increase British exports to India and to induce Indian companies to invest in the UK. The British government, however, visualizes India to be in vulnerable circumstances, with China posing a military threat its borders, and the Indian economy having gone pear shaped, including exports struggling to move upwards.

Johnson's office at 10 Downing Street stated: "He will use the visit to drive progress in the Free Trade Agreement negotiations launched earlier this year - a deal with India is predicted to boost our total trade by up to 28 billion pounds annually by 2035 and increase incomes across the UK by up to 3 billion pounds."

The FTA aimed at will be selective rather than comprehensive, with a target to conclude it by the first quarter of 2024, or before general elections in spring of that year in both countries. 'Data, Fintech and Information Technology,' will be the key focus, a source disclosed. IANS

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