The Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs of the United Kingdom, Rt Hon Yvette Cooper MP, was on an official visit to India from 3-4 June 2026. This was her first visit to India as Foreign Secretary of UK. During the visit the Foreign Secretary was called on Hon. PM Narendra Modi. External Affairs Minister, Dr S. Jaishankar, also held an annual meeting with the Foreign Secretary. The ministers reviewed the progress made under the five pillars of India-UK Vision 2035, which include growth, technology, security, clean energy and education.
The Ministers discussed the new opportunities under the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) and looked forward to its early enforcement. They also reviewed the progress on various initiatives under India-UK Technology Security Initiative (TSI), such as artificial intelligence and critical minerals. The ministers also welcomed the new defence cooperation initiatives such as military instructors exchange for training purpose. Education has become most important pillar of bilateral cooperation, a Ministerial Dialogue on Education will be convened in future. Additionally, climate partnership will be strengthened by India-UK Climate Finance Initiative. Also, both ministers agreed to initiate Migration and Mobility Partnership which will deepen people-to -people relations. The ministers also discussed the recent regional and global geopolitical developments, to promote mutual interests via multilateral platforms.
The significant outcomes of visit were in the areas of the education, critical minerals and maritime security. The Minister of Education, Dharmendra Pradhan, handed over the Letter of Approval to the University of Liverpool to open a foreign campus in Bengaluru under the New Education Policy (2020). The campus will be operation in Bengaluru from the next academic session. Also, the Memorandum of Understanding between King’s College and the National Maritime Foundation to establish the Regional Maritime Security Centre for Excellence (RMSCE). This was established under the ‘Maritime Security’ pillar of the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI). Apart from this, the Foreign Secretary held meeting with Minister Coal and Mines to finalise the UK-India Critical Minerals Supply Chain Observatory (GSCO).
‘Lindy Cameron, British High Commissioner to India : The UK-India partnership is a bulwark against rising global uncertainty. Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper’s visit this week, her first visit in the role, is another important opportunity to build on that partnership.’ (to be put in box)
The visit of the UK Foreign Secretary to India underscores the growing strength of the India–UK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. As both nations deepen cooperation across trade, technology, defence, climate action, and people-to-people ties, the visit reaffirms their shared commitment to fostering a forward-looking partnership that contributes to global stability, prosperity, and sustainable development.
