A Khalistani protester approached External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar's car during his visit to the UK, overshadowing his trip.
India expressed its displeasure to the UK about the incident, but Jaishankar’s visit went ahead as planned.
Despite the scare, Jaishankar emphasized that India-U.K. relations are set for a “very big pickup” and acknowledged the complex history between the two nations.
India is strengthening its presence in the UK with two new consulates in Manchester and Belfast.
Jaishankar’s talks focused on the long-delayed India-U.K. Free Trade Agreement (FTA), which has missed deadlines since Brexit in 2020.
Discussions about the India-EU Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) are also underway, with a goal to conclude by 2025.
India’s bilateral trade with the UK ($52 billion) and Ireland ($17 billion) is underperforming, and Jaishankar aimed to improve collaboration, especially in high-tech trade.
Tariff reductions: India has made concessions on import duties (e.g., wines, spirits, vehicles) in line with U.S. requests, which could aid in trade talks with the U.S. and Europe.
Jaishankar’s visit follows significant EU diplomatic activity and comes amid geopolitical shifts, including U.S. alliances and support for Ukraine.
India is leveraging diplomacy to strengthen ties with both the U.S. and Europe amid changing global dynamics.
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