British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer arrived in Mumbai on October 9, 2025, for his first official visit to India, where he was warmly welcomed by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Leading the largest-ever UK trade delegation of over 100 CEOs, entrepreneurs, university leaders, and cultural figures, Starmer’s visit aims to strengthen economic and educational ties between the two nations. Modi described the meeting as “historic,” with both leaders discussing ways to expand business, trade, and collaboration following the landmark UK-India trade deal signed in July. Key global issues, including the Ukraine conflict and regional security in the Indo-Pacific, were also on the agenda.
During the discussions, Starmer emphasized the importance of a just and lasting resolution to the Ukraine war and highlighted the need for cooperation in climate action and energy security. He also advocated for India to take its “rightful place” on the UN Security Council, a long-standing goal for the country. Human rights concerns were raised, including the case of British citizen Jagtar Singh Johal, imprisoned in India for seven years without conviction, with Starmer stating that the matter would be pursued at “every level” during the talks. Modi stressed dialogue and diplomacy as the means to address international conflicts, maintaining his position as a friend of Russian President Vladimir Putin while supporting global peace initiatives.
The visit also marked major educational and trade announcements, with new UK university campuses in India set to open at the University of Lancaster and University of Surrey, bringing an estimated £50 million economic boost. The trade deal aims to cut India’s tariffs on UK goods from 15% to 3%, while reducing duties on key Indian exports like clothing, footwear, jewellery, and frozen seafood. With trade between the two nations projected to grow by an additional £25.5 billion annually by 2040, Starmer’s delegation is seen as a significant step toward strengthening UK-India relations, boosting investment, and creating thousands of jobs across both countries.
