India’s External Affairs Minister, Dr. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, is on an official visit to the United Kingdom and Ireland from 4th March to 9th March 2025.
The visit commenced with a meeting at 10 Downing Street alongside the UK’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer on 4th March 2025, where the Ministers focused on reinforcing their commitment to advancing bilateral cooperation and enhance people-to-people exchanges. The UK’s Foreign Secretary David Lammy was next on the list, with a key meeting at Chevening House, where discussions followed on taking the UK-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership forward, based on academic ties, economic growth, technological innovation, and collaboration on emerging global challenges like climate change and geopolitical issues.
Dr. Jaishankar had productive discussions with the UK’s Home Secretary Yvette Cooper. Conversations continued on people-to-people exchanges, flow of talent between the two countries, and tackling trafficking jointly with a stern hand. Outlining India’s growing influence in the world, Dr. Jaishankar addressed the audience at London’s leading think-tank Chatham House with a session titled ‘India’s Rise and Role in the World’.
A major highlight of Dr. Jaishankar’s visit was the inauguration of two new Indian consulates in Manchester and Belfast, underscoring the deepening relationship between India and the UK. The establishment of the consulates is meant to support the Indian community in the UK as well as help facilitate trade between the two nations. Trade was one of the key points of discussion, with the UK welcoming Indian investment deals exceeding over GBP 100 million. These investments are aimed at creating more jobs for the two countries, and strengthening economic growth and collaboration. In this regard, he met with the Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds and both parties planned to resume negotiations on the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between India and the UK, aiming to reduce tariffs and remove trade barriers so as to enhance investment across technology, financial services, pharmaceuticals, and more. Talks were arranged with Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland, Emma Little-Pengelly, and Junior Minister Aisling Reilly, where both counterparts discussed about India’s engagement in Northern Ireland, focusing on sectors such as cybersecurity, technology, manufacturing, creative arts, and skills development.
Following all the meetings in the UK, Dr. Jaishankar set off for Ireland, marking the visit of an Indian Minister in ten years after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit in 2015. He held bilateral talks with Foreign Minister Simon Harris, resulting in an agreement to establish a Joint Economic Commission (JEC) between India and Ireland. The JEC is expected to assist both countries in increasing awareness of each other’s economic priorities and provide consultations on trade accordingly. Trade between India and Ireland has recorded a growth spike, with combined trade amounting to approximately 16 billion Euros in 2023. The JEC is anticipated to boost this even further, providing a structured framework for increased collaboration. The ministers additionally signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to initiate a diplomatic exchange programme to improve cooperation between the governmental systems of both countries, facilitate networking among officials, and promote understanding of strategic policies.
Dr. Jaishankar also met with Irish President Michael D. Higgins, former Prime Minister Leo Varadkar, and other ministers, exploring future opportunities for collaboration and expanding the tenets of their bilateral relationship. He celebrated Irish heritage and culture by visiting the General Post Office Museum in Dublin, and Trinity College Dublin, where he viewed the Old Library and the Book of Kells. The Indian Minister addressed the Indian community in Dublin, expressing his appreciation for their contributions and the ‘can do’ spirit of Indian youth, both of which have a role to play in the journey towards Viksit Bharat. He concluded his visit by paying his tributes to Indian Nobel Laureate and poet Rabindranath Tagore at St. Stephen’s Green Park in Dublin.
Dr. S. Jaishankar’s visit to the UK and Ireland in March 2025 gave way to fruitful conversations and agreements, highlighting the ever-growing ties with these nations. Strategic dialogues, cultural visits, inauguration of consulates, and the establishment of economic commissions promise to bring about deeper cooperation, streamlined partnerships, and a shared approach to global challenges.
