According to the Union Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla will leave on Friday for a two-day visit to the United Kingdom (UK) to strengthen India’s bilateral ties with the country as part of Roadmap 2030, a 10-year diplomatic coordination strategy between New Delhi and London. According to a press release, the foreign secretary will meet with his counterparts in the UK to discuss a variety of issues, including the implementation of the roadmap and the evolving situation in Afghanistan.
“During the visit, the foreign secretary will meet with his counterparts and conduct a detailed review of bilateral relations with particular focus on the implementation of the 2030 Roadmap,” MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said at a media briefing on Thursday.
In May, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his English counterpart Boris Johnson held a virtual summit to launch the Roadmap 2030 for future India-UK relations. In the areas of trade, investment, technology, climate action, and health, the partnership agreement envisions “revitalised and dynamic connections” between the two countries over the next decade. In addition, the plan aims to strengthen defence and security cooperation between India and the United Kingdom in the Indian Ocean and Indo-Pacific regions.
According to the external affairs ministry, Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla will conduct a detailed review of bilateral ties between India and the United Kingdom, with a focus on this 10-year roadmap. Shringla’s engagements in London are expected to include discussions about the evolving situation in Afghanistan.
“He will also discuss regional and global issues of mutual interest,” MEA spokesperson Bagchi said while speaking of Shringla’s upcoming visit to the UK.
As part of efforts to improve interoperability and naval cooperation, India and the United Kingdom recently conducted a three-day joint drill in the Bay of Bengal. The HMS Queen Elizabeth, Britain’s largest warship, and its strike task group conducted complex maritime exercises with the Indian Navy as part of the country’s efforts to raise its profile in the Indo-Pacific and strengthen defence ties with nations throughout the region.
