India and the UK have agreed to refresh their Roadmap 2030 for bilateral ties and accelerate efforts toward finalizing a mutually beneficial Free Trade Agreement (FTA) during the second 2+2 foreign and defence dialogue held on Tuesday.
The Roadmap 2030, established in 2021, serves as a comprehensive framework to enhance cooperation across key areas such as politics, trade and investment, defence, migration and mobility, and health. However, negotiations for the FTA, which began in early 2022, faced delays due to recent elections in both countries.
Revitalizing the Partnership
“The delegations reviewed the progress under the India-UK Roadmap 2030 and emphasized the need to revitalise the partnership by identifying new focus areas for collaboration,” the Indian Ministry of External Affairs stated in a readout.
Key priorities included strengthening economic and trade ties with a focus on the early conclusion of the FTA. Discussions also centered on enhancing defence and security cooperation in areas like cybersecurity and counter-terrorism, fostering innovation in critical technologies, and expanding partnerships in green energy, health, and education.
Strategic Initiatives and High-Level Engagement
Both sides acknowledged the progress in various sectors, highlighting new initiatives such as the Technology and Security Initiative, the UK-India Infrastructure Finance Bridge, the Electric Propulsion Capability Partnership, and the Defence Industrial Roadmap.
Discussions also underscored the importance of sustaining high-level engagement to advance the India-UK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, emphasizing cultural, educational, and people-to-people linkages.
Shared Vision for the Indo-Pacific
The dialogue provided an opportunity to exchange views on global and regional issues, with both countries reaffirming their commitment to peace, stability, and prosperity in a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific region.
Leadership and Future Engagement
The Indian delegation was led by Piyush Srivastava, Joint Secretary (Europe West) in the Ministry of External Affairs, and Vishwesh Negi, Joint Secretary (International Cooperation) in the Ministry of Defence. The UK team was led by Ben Mellor, India Director in the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, and Shimon Fhima, Director of Strategic Programmes in the Ministry of Defence.
The two sides agreed to convene the third edition of the dialogue in the UK in 2025.
