Johnson’s India visit showcases UK support and respect for India on world stage

Boris Johnson is going to India. Expectations from the British Prime Minister’s first overseas trip since Brexit and Covid-19 lockdowns are numerous. The main speculation is about an enhanced trade deal. This piece will leave that to the experts and focus on other areas of significance.

Uk-india relations can be super-charged by speeches of support and respect. Support comes in various guises—from goodwill wishes for Diwali or Vaisakhi to holding Pakistan to account for exporting terrorism, as David Cameron did in 2010. Equally, they can crash downwards with silly incidents such as the recent Alabama “Namaste” ban in the US, which suggests an element of anti-india bias. Respect

permeates everything and is an imperative in a 21st century relationship with India, especially in the geopolitical sphere if UK expects a transactional relationship. This is evidenced in how negatively India responds to predominantly Labour Party debates in Parliament about India’s domestic matters, interference in India’s relationship with Pakistan and in the bias towards Rashmi Samant at Oxford University.

Looking at recent UK think tank reports and government announcements, “competitive” is the word of the moment. “UK must be competitive” stands out repeatedly. The subtleties within “competitive” are often overlooked. It can be interpreted as keeping up with or competitor depending on the context.

Already European countries have become closer to

India—france in the military and space sectors. Last week France advised all its citizens to leave Pakistan temporarily due to Tehreeki-labbaik’s leader Saad Hussain Rizvi agitations to expel the French Ambassador under the pretext of President Macron’s Islamophobia. Italy’s bilaterals are improving in agriculture, the food economy and defence; the Netherlands on water management; and both Germany and UK have Mous for technological cooperation in the railway sector. Since 2014, India-israeli relations have been perfected. Israel has grasped India’s need to be treated with respect and as a strategic partner. The closeness and mutual respect have paid off for both nations across many sectors. This highlights the importance of “competitive” bilaterals for