UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak reached out to Bharatiya Prime Minister Narendra Modi to extend his congratulations on Modi’s recent election victory. Sunak praised the strong bilateral relationship between the UK and Bharat, expressing confidence that it would continue to flourish in the future. The conversation took place ahead of their planned meeting at the G7 Summit in Italy.
Sunak, who is currently campaigning for the upcoming UK general election, conveyed his well wishes to Modi via a social media post. He emphasized the close friendship shared between UK and Bharat, affirming his commitment to further strengthen this partnership.
Today I spoke to @narendramodi to congratulate him on his election victory.
The UK and India share the closest of friendships, and together that friendship will continue to thrive.
ब्रिटेन और भारत के बीच करीबी मित्रता है, और साथ मिलकर यह मित्रता आगे बढ़ती रहेगी।
🇬🇧🇮🇳
— Rishi Sunak (@RishiSunak) June 5, 2024
The official statement from 10 Downing Street echoed Sunak’s sentiments, highlighting the positive exchange between the two leaders. They acknowledged the robustness of the UK-Bharat relationship and expressed mutual optimism about its continued growth.
Despite the warm exchanges, there was no mention of the stalled Bharat-UK free trade agreement (FTA). The negotiations have hit a roadblock amid the ongoing general election cycles in both countries.
Sunak and Modi’s last face-to-face meeting occurred at the G20 Summit in New Delhi last September. During that encounter, they had pledged to expedite the FTA talks with hopes of reaching an agreement before Bharat’s general election. However, the trade discussions are now expected to resume only after a new UK government is elected on July 5.
The Opposition Labour Party has indicated its willingness to prioritize the FTA negotiations if it assumes power. This stance underscores the significance of the trade agreement in the broader political landscape.
As both nations navigate through their respective election cycles, the fate of the Bharat-UK free trade agreement remains uncertain. However, the recent communication between Sunak and Modi signals a continued commitment to bolstering bilateral ties, irrespective of the political landscape. Their upcoming rendezvous at the G7 Summit presents an opportunity to further solidify these diplomatic relations.
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