The British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is going to be the chief guest at the Republic Day Celebrations in 2021. This was announced in New Delhi by the going to UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab. At the finish of the talks, each nations have agreed on a 10-year roadmap and discussed how to “take their ties forward” in a post-Brexit era.
At the finish of a 4-hour discussion with external affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday, Mr Raab told the media at a joint press conference that the Prime Minister Boris Johnson has accepted the invitation to be the Chief Guest at the Republic Day Parade in January 2021. The UK PM has also invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a guest nation at the G-7 Summit subsequent year.
Today’s talks had been focused on enhancing defence and maritime cooperation. Next year the UK is also preparing to operate HMS Queen Elizabeth Carrier Strike Group in the Indo-Pacific area. In response to a query, Mr Raab stated, “You can expect the UK to be more active and energetic, especially, as have been talking about this Indo-Pacific tilt.”
Indo-Pacific Strategy
The going to secretary in his opening statement stated that by subsequent year the UK will come out with a strategic critique. This Strategic Review is anticipated to spell out the method of the UK towards the notion of Indo-Pacific, exactly where India is going to function prominently. There is substantial financial possible for a period of 20-30 years in the Indo-Pacific Region according to Mr Raab.
The notion of Indo-Pacific is an articulation of globalization – S Jaishankar
Welcoming the higher consideration of the UK towards Indo-Pacific, the external affairs minister S Jaishankar expressed India’s satisfaction with the developing recognition of the thought. To a query, he stated “In Europe, there will be political and security aspects to this acceptance of the Indo-Pacific, as there were many other aspects with the ASEAN, Japan, Australia and the US.”
Jaishankar also hinted that there could be other European nations that will help the Indo-Pacific Strategy. Countries like France, Germany and the Netherlands have in November come out with their personal version of the Indo-Pacific policy to counter the escalating belligerence of China in the waters from IOR to Pacific and the Atlantic.
Other difficulties discussed
Both he and Mr Raab reviewed the state of the globe, the regional difficulties, also the scenario in Afghanistan, the Indo-Pacific, and the developments in the Middle East.
India- UK trade Deal?
The final decade has witnessed a steady rise in the bilateral trade and it has now touched USD15.48 billion in 2019-20. During talks, the two sides talked about quick-tracking the discussions on a trade deal as nicely as concluding a complete migration and mobility partnership agreement. This can support in more rapidly movement of students and specialists in each directions.
According to Mr Raab “The two sides already have a strong and growing trade relationship. In the year before the pandemic hit, bilateral trade between India and the UK grew at a vibrant 11%. And, we want to do is take that up to another level working towards agreeing an enhanced trade partnership next year – which itself we hope will be a stepping stone towards a future Free Trade Agreement.”
To a query connected to the proposed trade deal in between the two nations, Mr Raab stated the two nations can provide an ‘Enhanced Trade Partnership’ subsequent year. And to the two nations “can combine cybersecurity expertise to protect our citizens, and join forces to protect global health and promote things like vaccine production.”
In the Defence Sector, as has been reported earlier by TheSpuzz Online, each nations will be inking a Defence Logistics Agreement, and a Defence Training MoU. Drafts are currently in final stages awaiting approvals. Space is one more region exactly where the two nations are keen to cooperate.
Also, an agreement is in the pipeline on the improvement of jet technologies and Missile Simulation Systems.