New Delhi Welcomes British Prime Minister After Trade Deal Agreement

On Wednesday, New Delhi welcomes British Prime Minister Keir Starmer after a trade deal agreement. 

Starmer visits India:

It is the first visit of the British Prime Minister to India. India welcomes the Minister, along with the 125-member delegation that includes the top business leaders. British Airways Chief Executive Sean Doyle also visits India with the British PM.

Starmer visited India due to the trade deal agreement that was signed between the Indian Prime Minister and the British Prime Minister last July. Sources confirmed that both leaders will meet tomorrow. In addition, Starmer also addresses a fintech conference in Mumbai with Modi.

Starmer issued a statement in which he said that trading with India will eventually open new opportunities on the way to economic progress and prosperity. Starmer said, “With India set to be the third biggest economy in the world by 2028, and trade with them about to become quicker and cheaper, the opportunities waiting to be seized are unparalleled.” 

In history, the trade deal between the Indians and the former colonial rulers (British) was the fifth and sixth largest economy. Their trade worth is around $54.8 billion. Moreover, there were 600,000 job opportunities across both nations. 

India’s foreign ministry said in a statement, “Their trade partnership will provide a valuable opportunity to reaffirm the shared vision of India and the United Kingdom to build a forward-looking partnership.” New Delhi and India are both looking for a positive response from their bilateral trade deal agreement. 

Under the new trade deal agreement, India will reduce tariffs on the import of British goods. These British items include whisky, cosmetics, and medical devices. 

Visa deal with India:

While talking about the visa deal, he did not expand the visa access for Indian professionals. In Mumbai, he told the reporters, “That is not part of the plan. We’re here now to take advantage of the free trade agreement that we’ve already struck. We’ve got to implement it. Businesses are taking advantage of that. But the issue is not about visas.”

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said that visa issues had hindered earlier attempts to finalise a trade agreement with India. He explained that since the new deal carries no visa implications, he does not plan to revisit the topic during his upcoming meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Starmer made it clear that visas would not be discussed as part of efforts to attract tech professionals from India, even after US President Donald Trump increased fees on H-1B visas. However, he added that Britain still aims to bring in the “top talent” from around the world.

When asked whether he would block visa issuance to countries that refuse to take back foreign criminals or deportees, Starmer described it as a “non-issue” in India’s case, noting that a returns agreement already exists between the two nations. 

Still, he said the government was reviewing the broader policy, “We are looking at whether there should be a link between visas and returns agreements.”

Starmer’s stance reflects his government’s tougher approach to immigration, as he faces growing public pressure over the issue. His Labour Party has recently fallen behind the populist Reform UK party in opinion polls, prompting him to adopt a more restrictive tone on migration and border control.

Meanwhile, human rights groups have urged the British premier to raise the case of Scottish Sikh blogger Jagtar Singh Johal, who has been detained in India since 2017 over an alleged plot to assassinate right-wing Hindu leaders. Johal has not been convicted, and one of the nine charges against him was dismissed earlier in March.

As Starmer prepares for his talks in New Delhi, his remarks signal an attempt to balance domestic immigration concerns with strengthening trade and diplomatic ties with India.