Boris Johnson and India’s Narendra Modi to discuss defence and trade

Prime Minister Boris Johnson is set to discuss defense and energy ties with his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi during talks on Friday.

The two are expected to also discuss a post-Brexit trade deal when they meet in New Delhi ahead of a new round of negotiations next week.

Mr Johnson has also pledged to raise the issue of India’s relations with Russia amid the war in Ukraine.

India is facing pressure from Western countries to abandon its neutral stance.

On Thursday, Mr Johnson acknowledged that India, which has strong ties to Russia, is “not in the same place” as Britain because of the conflict.

But he told reporters there’s still a “huge amount we can work on together.”

The meeting between the two leaders in India’s capital comes on the final day of Mr Johnson’s two-day trip to the country, which has been severely delayed by Covid.

At the same time, the Prime Minister has been under pressure at home over whether he has misled MPs about lockdown parties in Whitehall.

He now faces a Commons inquiry into the issue after abandoning plans to postpone a vote on an inquiry after opposition from his own MPs.

Before their meeting on Friday, Downing Street announced Britain plans to tighten its licensing rules for military hardware exports to India.

No. 10 also said the two countries would strengthen security cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region, including the Indian Ocean.

And there was a commitment to step up research to bring down the cost of ‘green’ hydrogen power – part of the UK’s renewable energy plans.

The two leaders will also discuss the latest UK-India trade talks, where Mr Johnson has set an autumn target for a deal to be signed.

However, the talks between the heads of state and government about the invasion of Ukraine are likely to prove more difficult.

Britain, along with other Western countries, has tried to persuade India to take a tougher stance on Moscow, which is its biggest arms supplier.

Earlier this month, India condemned the killings in the Ukrainian city of Bucha – the harshest statement it has made since the Russian invasion.

But it has stopped blaming Russia for the violence and has not directly criticized Russia since its invasion in February.

Ahead of his meeting with Mr Modi, Mr Johnson said working with India on issues such as climate change and security was “vital”.

He added: “The world faces growing threats from autocratic states seeking to undermine democracy, choke off free and fair trade and trample on sovereignty.

“Britain’s partnership with India is a beacon in these stormy seas.”