EAM Jaishankar’s visit to UK & Ireland seeks to strengthen bilateral ties, economic cooperation
| 2025-03-04
Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and UK Home Secretary Yvette Cooper hold discussions in London on March 4, 2025.
India and the United Kingdom share a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar began a two-nation visit to the United Kingdom and Ireland on Tuesday (March 4, 2025) to strengthen bilateral ties with the two nations.
Among his first official engagements in London was a meeting with UK Home Secretary Yvette Cooper where they discussed collaboration in dealing with trafficking and terrorism in addition to people-to-people exchanges.
“A good meeting with Home Secretary @YvetteCooperMP today in London. We discussed the flow of talent, people to people exchanges, and joint efforts in tackling trafficking and extremism,” EAM Jaishankar said on social media platform X.
EAM Jaishankar will also be holding extensive discussions with his counterpart, Foreign Secretary David Lammy, and will meet several other senior government functionaries. Additionally, he will interact with members of the Indian community.
India and the UK share a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, which has strengthened across diverse areas including Defence & Security, Trade & Economy, Health, Education, People-to-people ties.
External Affairs Minister Jaishankar’s visit to the UK also assumes significance as it comes soon after British Prime Minister Keir Starmer hosted a summit in London with European leaders including French President Emmanuel Macron to discuss a peace plan for Ukraine.
Incidentally, India and the United Kingdom are looking at stronger trade and economic ties, having officially resumed negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) last month. The discussions, which had been on hold for nearly a year due to general elections in both countries, gained fresh momentum following a meeting between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his British counterpart, Keir Starmer, on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in November 2024.
Positive Trajectory of India-Ireland Bilateral Relationship
India and Ireland have friendly ties based on shared democratic values, cultural ties, and growing economic engagements. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Ireland in 2015 imparted a fresh impetus to bilateral ties.
EAM Jaishankar’s visit to Ireland on March 6-7, 2025 aims to strengthen bilateral relations across a broad spectrum of areas. During the visit, he will be meeting with his Irish counterpart, Simon Harris, and other dignitaries.
According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), EAM Jaishankar’s visit will provide renewed impetus to India’s friendly ties with both UK and Ireland.
In recent years, the two sides have been discussing steps for closer trade and economic ties and EAM Jaishankar’s visit is likely to see the finalisation of the India-Ireland Joint Economic Commission.
The External Affairs Minister will also meet members of the Indian community that has a sizable presence in Ireland and numbers about 80,000. This includes nearly 34,000 Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) and approximately 40,000 Non-Resident Indians (NRIs). The number of Indian students in Ireland is estimated to be about 10,000.
Among his first official engagements in London was a meeting with UK Home Secretary Yvette Cooper where they discussed collaboration in dealing with trafficking and terrorism in addition to people-to-people exchanges.
“A good meeting with Home Secretary @YvetteCooperMP today in London. We discussed the flow of talent, people to people exchanges, and joint efforts in tackling trafficking and extremism,” EAM Jaishankar said on social media platform X.
EAM Jaishankar will also be holding extensive discussions with his counterpart, Foreign Secretary David Lammy, and will meet several other senior government functionaries. Additionally, he will interact with members of the Indian community.
India and the UK share a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, which has strengthened across diverse areas including Defence & Security, Trade & Economy, Health, Education, People-to-people ties.
External Affairs Minister Jaishankar’s visit to the UK also assumes significance as it comes soon after British Prime Minister Keir Starmer hosted a summit in London with European leaders including French President Emmanuel Macron to discuss a peace plan for Ukraine.
Incidentally, India and the United Kingdom are looking at stronger trade and economic ties, having officially resumed negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) last month. The discussions, which had been on hold for nearly a year due to general elections in both countries, gained fresh momentum following a meeting between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his British counterpart, Keir Starmer, on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in November 2024.
Positive Trajectory of India-Ireland Bilateral Relationship
India and Ireland have friendly ties based on shared democratic values, cultural ties, and growing economic engagements. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Ireland in 2015 imparted a fresh impetus to bilateral ties.
EAM Jaishankar’s visit to Ireland on March 6-7, 2025 aims to strengthen bilateral relations across a broad spectrum of areas. During the visit, he will be meeting with his Irish counterpart, Simon Harris, and other dignitaries.
According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), EAM Jaishankar’s visit will provide renewed impetus to India’s friendly ties with both UK and Ireland.
In recent years, the two sides have been discussing steps for closer trade and economic ties and EAM Jaishankar’s visit is likely to see the finalisation of the India-Ireland Joint Economic Commission.
The External Affairs Minister will also meet members of the Indian community that has a sizable presence in Ireland and numbers about 80,000. This includes nearly 34,000 Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) and approximately 40,000 Non-Resident Indians (NRIs). The number of Indian students in Ireland is estimated to be about 10,000.
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