Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended his congratulations to the newly elected Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Keir Starmer, on Saturday. He lauded Starmer’s remarkable victory in the recent election, which saw the Labour Party secure a landslide win. Modi also took the opportunity to extend an invitation to Starmer for an early visit to India.
During their conversation, both leaders highlighted the long-standing and historic ties between India and the UK. They reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthen and deepen the existing Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two nations. Notably, they agreed to work towards concluding a mutually beneficial India-UK Free Trade Agreement at the earliest.
The PMO highlighted the shared appreciation for the Indian community’s significant contributions to the social, economic, and political development of the UK. Both sides agreed to continue fostering close people-to-people connections.
Starmer, a human rights barrister, had previously indicated that the Labour party would prioritize establishing a “new strategic partnership” with India, including a free trade agreement, if they secured the mandate. During the India Global Forum last year, he had declared, “What my Labour government will seek with India is a relationship based on our shared values of democracy and aspiration.” He had further added, “That will seek a free trade agreement (FTA), we share that ambition, but also a new strategic partnership for global security, climate security, economic security.”
Starmer’s Labour Party achieved a historic victory on Friday, delivering the biggest blow to the Conservatives in their two-century history. The landslide win came on a platform of change and promises to address the multitude of domestic issues facing the UK.
