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PM Narendra Modi’s UK Visit
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s official visit to the United Kingdom on July 24, 2025, marked a defining moment in the evolving relationship between India and the UK. At the invitation of British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi undertook a high-level visit, accompanied by External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar, Commerce and Industry Minister Shri Piyush Goyal, National Security Advisor Shri Ajit Doval, and a delegation of senior officials and business leaders. This visit was both historic and forward-looking, culminating in the signing of landmark agreements and reaffirming the strategic depth of India-UK bilateral ties.
The highlight of the visit was the signing of the India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), a transformative deal that is expected to significantly boost trade, investment, and economic cooperation between the two countries. Signed in the presence of both Prime Ministers by India’s Commerce Minister and the UK’s Secretary of State for Business and Trade, the agreement lowers tariffs on a wide range of goods, especially labor-intensive sectors crucial for India like textiles, leather, seafood, toys, and gems and jewellery. The deal also opens Indian markets to key British exports such as medical equipment and aerospace components. Alongside CETA, a Double Contribution Convention was agreed upon, which will facilitate easier cross-border employment for professionals and service providers, reduce business costs, and enhance the ease of doing business in both countries.
This landmark trade agreement was further supported by the launch of the India-UK Vision 2035 document, an ambitious roadmap outlining strategic cooperation for the next decade. The vision is structured around five major pillars—economic growth and jobs, technology and innovation, defence and security, climate and clean energy, and education and people-to-people ties. Under this plan, India and the UK aim to deepen their collaboration in high-tech sectors including semiconductors, artificial intelligence, cyber security, and biotechnology. The document also reaffirms the commitment of both nations to a rule-based global order and reforms in multilateral institutions like the UN, WTO, and IMF to reflect contemporary realities.
Prime Ministers Shri Modi and Starmer met with top business leaders from both countries, representing sectors such as healthcare, IT, financial services, textiles, logistics, energy, and telecommunications. One of the major themes of the visit was educational cooperation. India and the UK pledged to expand transnational education by encouraging leading British universities to establish campuses in India.
Notably, the University of Southampton recently opened its campus in Gurugram, becoming the first foreign university to do so under India’s National Education Policy. Additional British institutions are expected to follow suit. The leaders also supported the implementation of the Green Skills Partnership, aimed at equipping the youth of both countries with skills in sustainability and climate-resilient industries. They also reaffirmed support for youth exchange programs such as the Young Professionals Scheme and Study India Programme.
In a special and personal gesture, Prime Minister Shri Modi met with His Majesty King Charles III at the Sandringham Estate. The meeting was warm and reflective of shared values, particularly in the areas of sustainable living, Ayurveda, and yoga. The two leaders discussed strengthening bilateral relations, the importance of climate action, and India’s progress in the renewable energy sector. As part of India’s tree plantation initiative “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam” (One Tree for Mother), Prime Minister Shri Modi presented a sapling to King Charles, which is to be planted at Sandringham during the next planting season.
Both Prime Ministers took a strong stand against terrorism and extremism. They condemned the recent Pahalgam terror attack in India and resolved to work jointly to combat terrorism in all its forms. They emphasized the need to prevent the misuse of democratic freedoms by extremist elements and agreed to intensify cooperation in law enforcement, intelligence sharing, and judicial collaboration. A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between India’s Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the UK’s National Crime Agency to facilitate cooperation in tackling transnational crimes and expediting the extradition of economic offenders.
In the sphere of global diplomacy, the two leaders discussed shared concerns related to peace and security in the Indo-Pacific, the war in Ukraine, and conflicts in West Asia. They emphasized the importance of respecting sovereignty and territorial integrity of nations, and reiterated their commitment to development and diplomacy over expansionism and conflict.
Another important dimension of the visit was the recognition of the Indian diaspora in the UK, which Prime Minister Shri Modi described as a “living bridge” between the two nations. The diaspora’s contributions to the UK’s economy, culture, sports, public life, and innovation were acknowledged and celebrated. Upon his arrival, Prime Minister Shri Modi received a festive welcome from members of the Indian community, reflecting the deep cultural ties between the two countries.
The visit concluded with Prime Minister Shri Modi extending an invitation to Prime Minister Starmer to visit India. Starmer accepted the invitation, affirming the desire of both governments to maintain high-level political engagement in the years ahead. Both sides also agreed to review the implementation of Vision 2035 annually through ministerial mechanisms, ensuring time-bound progress in all areas of cooperation.
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s 2025 visit to the United Kingdom successfully elevated the India-UK relationship to a new strategic level. Through visionary agreements such as the CETA and Vision 2035, and through dynamic engagements across sectors, the visit reaffirmed both countries’ commitment to building a partnership based on shared values, mutual interests, and long-term goals. As Prime Minister Shri Modi aptly put it, India and the UK are committed to building a “high-scoring solid partnership,” driven by trust, innovation, and common purpose.
Unveiled the India-UK Vision 2035
To infuse long-term strategic energy into bilateral cooperation, the two Prime Ministers unveiled the India-UK Vision 2035—a transformative roadmap for the next decade. It is built around five key pillars:
• Growth and Jobs
• Technology and Innovation
• Defence and Security
• Climate and Clean Energy
• Education and People-to-People Ties
The Vision 2035 document emphasizes mutual goals such as:
• Establishing transnational university campuses,
• Collaborating on semiconductors, AI, clean energy, and biotechnology,
• Advancing joint defence capabilities and maritime security,
• Accelerating green finance and climate-smart investments,
• Strengthening the rules-based global order and reforming multilateral institutions.
Signing of the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement
At the heart of the visit was the signing of the much-anticipated India-UK CETA by India’s Commerce and Industries Minister Shri Piyush Goyal and UK Secretary of State for Business and Trade Mr. Jonathan Reynolds, in the presence of Prime Ministers Modi and Starmer.
• This FTA marks a significant milestone in India’s engagement with major developed economies and reflects a shared commitment to strengthening economic integration. As the world’s fourth and sixth largest economies respectively, India and the UK’s bilateral engagement holds global economic significance.
• CETA secures unprecedented duty-free access for 99% of India’s exports to the UK, covering nearly the entire trade basket. This is expected to open new opportunities for labour-intensive industries such as textiles, marine products, leather, footwear, sports goods, toys, and gems and jewellery, alongside fast-growing sectors like engineering goods, auto components, and organic chemicals.
• The services sector, a strong driver of India’s economy, will also see wide-ranging benefits. The agreement provides greater market access in IT and IT-enabled services, financial and legal services, professional and educational services, and digital trade.