**British PM Keir Starmer Begins Historic First Visit to India**
*New Delhi:* British Prime Minister Keir Starmer commenced his maiden visit to India on an unusual note. A video circulated showing Starmer aboard his British Airways flight from London to Mumbai, greeting passengers with the words: “This is the Prime Minister. I’m in the cockpit. This is the biggest trade mission to India that the UK has ever sent. I’m looking forward to working with you as we explore all the opportunities in our new free trade agreement.”
**PM Modi Welcomes Starmer**
Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to X to welcome Starmer, calling it his “historic first visit to India.” Modi posted, “Looking forward to our meeting tomorrow for advancing our shared vision of a stronger, mutually prosperous future.”
**About the Visit**
Starmer is on a two-day visit to India accompanied by a 125-strong business delegation. His itinerary began in Mumbai, where he visited the iconic Yash Raj Film Studio and also participated in a football event.
Following these engagements, Starmer shifted focus to traditional diplomacy with a meeting planned with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar. This discussion aimed to prepare for talks with PM Modi, where both leaders will review progress in various aspects of the India-UK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership aligned with ‘Vision 2035’.
Trade is the main focus of this visit. Starmer and his delegation intend to explore opportunities presented by the recently signed India-UK free trade agreement. This agreement aims to double bilateral trade between the two nations to nearly $100 billion by 2030.
**Trade Agreement Under Scrutiny**
Despite the optimism surrounding the trade agreement, it is still subject to parliamentary scrutiny in the UK. The House of Lords International Agreements Committee launched an inquiry on September 10 to examine the potential benefits and risks of the deal, its implications for bilateral relations, and the wider geopolitical context.
Lord Goldsmith, chair of the committee, emphasized this holistic review, highlighting the importance of understanding the agreement’s impact on the UK-India relationship.
**India’s Perspective**
Indian Ambassador Ruchi Ghanashyam, former High Commissioner to the UK, expressed a cautiously optimistic view. She said the deal “provides an ambitious roadmap to deepen the economic and trade relationship in the medium and long term.” However, she noted some issues remain to be resolved.
“While we have yet to see easing of visa restrictions from the UK side, important agreements covering migration, mobility, and social security contributions for Indian workers in the UK are definitely steps in the right direction,” Ghanashyam stated. “There is logic to strengthening bilateral ties between India and the UK, and both governments recognize that.”
**Visa Issue: A Point of Friction**
The visa issue continues to be a sensitive topic in the India-UK relationship. During a press interaction in Mumbai, Starmer made it clear that visa discussions would not be part of his visit itinerary.
This was no surprise to Rahul RoyChaudhury, Senior Fellow for South and Central Asian Defence, Strategy and Diplomacy at the UK-based International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS). He explained, “Immigration has become a significant political issue in the UK, with a large anti-immigration rally having taken place recently in London.”
RoyChaudhury added, “This issue is expected to dominate the local elections next summer (2026) and the general elections in 2029, in which the Labour party faces potential losses to right-wing parties. As a result, there is a stiff crackdown on illegal immigration alongside prospective curtailments on legal migration to address anti-immigration sentiment.”
**Additional Engagements**
Starmer and Modi are also scheduled to participate in the CEO Forum and the Global Fintech Fest 2025 on Thursday, further strengthening business and technological collaborations between the two nations.
**Addressing Concerns on Sikh Extremism**
On concerns related to Sikh extremism, experts believe Starmer’s government has dispelled expectations from Sikh separatists that the Labour government would sympathize with their cause.
“There is now greater awareness within the British government about the detrimental impact of Sikh separatist groups in the UK, with a clear emphasis to prevent a situation similar to those seen in parts of Canada and the US,” said Roy Chaudhury.
Ambassador Ghanashyam reiterated that while both countries remain engaged on this sensitive subject, it should not be exaggerated. “Sikh separatists represent a small fraction and do not reflect the majority view of the Sikh community in the UK.”
—
*This historic visit marks a significant phase in India-UK relations, with trade and diplomacy at its core as both nations look toward a mutually prosperous future.*
https://www.freepressjournal.in/world/this-is-the-prime-minister-uk-pm-keir-starmer-surprises-british-airways-co-passengers-from-cockpit-on-maiden-india-visit-video