Although Tory lawmakers spoke of Johnson’s role as leader of the pro-Ukrainian international coalition, an earlier government briefing on the visit did not mention war – which did not lead to a loosening of India’s close ties with Russia. India abstained last month in a United Nations vote condemning the Russian invasion, and the two countries continue to trade with each other. Johnson said Sunday: “As we face threats to our peace and prosperity from authoritarian states, it is vital that democracies and friends stay together. “India, as a major economic power and the largest democracy in the world, is a valuable strategic partner for the United Kingdom in these uncertain times. “My visit to India will offer the things that really matter to the people of both our nations – from job creation and economic growth to energy security and defense.” Johnson was originally scheduled to visit India in January last year, but that trip was canceled as the second wave of the coronavirus swept the United Kingdom, propelled by the Alpha variant. No. 10 tried to reschedule the visit for last April, but this flight was also canceled, in a relatively short time, after India was hit by its own emergency for Covid, caused by the Delta variant. Johnson was reluctant to postpone and there were allegations that the government was late in putting India on the red list for more travel than it should have been because Johnson did not want to jeopardize the visit. His visit this week will begin on Thursday in Gujarat. No. 10 said this would be the first time a British prime minister had visited the state, which is the ancestral home of about half of the British-Indian population in the United Kingdom. From there, Johnson will visit New Delhi for talks on Friday with his Indian counterpart, Narendra Monti. Their meeting will cover the UK-India free trade agreement under negotiation, which is said to boost trade between the two countries by 28 28 billion by 2035, as well as the defense partnership. The UK’s comprehensive defense and security review, published last year, identified ties with India as a priority relationship, as part of the UK’s Indo-Pacific orientation. Johnson is also expected to announce new investment agreements, as well as partnerships covering science, health and technology.
