The Ukraine issue is likely to dominate British Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s April 21-22 visit, but a source familiar with the details said the official conversations will also explore the nature of India-UK relations over the next decade.
Although India’s neutral stance on Russia’s nearly two-month-long military operation in Ukraine has been at the core of western mobilization against Russia, it was discovered on Thursday that British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is unlikely to “lecture” India about the need to take a harsher stance.
“Prime Minister Boris Johnson will not lecture India about Ukraine, but he will undoubtedly present the United Kingdom’s viewpoint and listen to the Indian point of view.” The United Kingdom will not lose sight of the Indo-Pacific, and it will be a central topic of discussion when the two sides meet,” an informed source said of the visit’s agenda. Mr. Boris Johnson was “determined” to visit India, according to the agent.
Boris Johnson paid a visit to Ukraine
Mr. Johnson paid an unexpected visit to Ukraine earlier this month, and his government has been actively assisting the war-torn country in strengthening its defenses. India, on the other hand, has not criticized Russia’s invasion and has frequently abstained from voting at the United Nations Security Council and other international forums where Russia’s continuous military attacks on Ukraine have drawn broad condemnation. On Thursday morning, Mr. Boris Johnson will arrive in Ahmedabad.
During his visit to Ahmedabad, Obama is expected to meet industrialist Gautam Adani, according to The Hindu. He is also likely to visit Gujarat’s industrial areas. The source, on the other hand, refused to reveal any specifics about Mr. Johnson’s investment aspirations during his visit to Gujarat. His visit comes amid ongoing talks on a free trade agreement (FTA), and the leader will “promote” talks since the visit will serve as a “staging point” for faster engagement on overcoming the FTA’s blockages.
Delhi is having a discussion
On Friday, Mr. Johnson will meet with the Indian team led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi for an official meeting. The formal talks could include India’s concerns about hardline Khalistani groups who have repeatedly made the news in recent months as a result of an online anti-India campaign. The topic of Khalistanis comes up frequently in bilateral meetings, according to the source, and “the United Kingdom is a country that wishes to counter anyone who is on the wrong side of the law.”
Despite the impending shadow of the Ukraine crisis, which is a serious concern for the Johnson government, which is also dealing with the “party gate” scandal at home, it is thought that Downing Street regards the visit as a “big deal” because it will shape bilateral relations for the next decade.
The United Kingdom has prioritized India in its post-Brexit foreign policy, and the visit is expected to focus on the long-term opportunities that are emerging in the context of pandemic-related vaccine collaboration and the return of violent conflicts to Europe.