Strong Bilateral Relation Between Bharat & UK Gains Momentum in Present World Scenario

Dr. Sadhna Kushwaha

India’s current relationship with the United Kingdom is different from the way both countries feel about their future. In the past, the bitter effects of colonialism had made it impossible for the two sides to get along well. But in the last few years, India and the UK have started to work together in a way that is both positive and practical. Under the watch of India’s External Affairs Minister and his British counterpart, the two governments have been working on a plan to change how they work together by 2030.

Boris Johnson was in India for two days as the prime minister of Britain. Mr. Johnson was welcomed by Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and Governor Acharya Devvrat. He was the first British Prime Minister to visit Gujarat since 1947. When you look at his schedule for the day in Gujarat, you can see that the first place he went was the Sabarmati Ashram, where he paid flowers to Mahatma Gandhi. And if you watched the news all day, you wouldn’t have missed the pictures and videos of the British Prime Minister trying to spin the charkha. The next thing on his schedule was a meeting with Gautam Adani, who runs a business. News reports say that the two talked about how the Adani Group and British companies can work together as part of the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative to co-design and develop aerospace and defence technologies.

On April 21 and 22, 2022, the Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi, invited the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Rt Hon Boris Johnson MP, to come to India for an official visit. This is his first trip to India as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. It comes after his Virtual Summit with Prime Minister Modi in May 2021, where they agreed to raise India-UK relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership based on a shared commitment to democracy, fundamental freedoms, multilateralism, and an international order based on rules. The visit is also important because it comes at a time when the two countries are celebrating 75 years of ties and India is celebrating the 75th anniversary of its independence.

Introduction

Even though the Ukraine crisis has been a problem, the relationship between India and the UK has been getting better, as shown by the signing of a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2021. The agreement also set up a “Roadmap for India-UK Relations to 2030,” which mainly shows how the two countries plan to work together. During her recent trip, the UK Foreign Secretary stressed how important it is for democracies to work together to stop aggressors. She also talked about the need to reduce the world’s strategic dependence on Russia. The Secretary moved the talks on cyber security and defence cooperation between the two countries as well as trade related to defence forward.

India and the UK are about to announce a new programme to protect their online infrastructure that will be run by both countries. India and the UK also want to hold the first Strategic Tech Dialogue, which will be a summit for ministers to talk about new technologies. Also, the UK and India have agreed to work together more on maritime security issues in Southeast Asia. The UK will join India’s Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative and become a major partner in this area.

India and the UK were able to finish the first round of talks for an India–UK Free Trade Agreement in January 2022. Both the UK and India, which have the fifth and sixth largest economies in the world, wanted to reach a comprehensive deal. During the negotiations, technical experts from both countries talked about 26 policy areas over 32 sessions.

The Defense and International Security Partnership, which India and the UK signed in 2015, shows that India is a key strategic partner for the UK in the Indo-Pacific, both in terms of market share and defence. Britain’s “Global Britain” goals would get a boost from a successful FTA with India. Since Brexit, the UK has been trying to grow its markets outside of Europe. Britain has been trying to take advantage of the opportunities in the growing economies of the Indo-Pacific to show that it is a serious player on the world stage.

The UK has naval bases in Oman, Singapore, Bahrain, Kenya, and the British Indian Ocean Territory, which makes it a regional power in the Indo-Pacific. The UK has also confirmed that British International Investment will give £70 million to help India use renewable energy. This will help build infrastructure for renewable energy and develop solar power in the area. India has asked for easy market access for its fisheries, pharmaceutical, and agricultural products, as well as a reduction in taxes on exports that require a lot of labour.

The main problems between India and the UK

Colonial Prism: India’s relationship with Britain after it was no longer a colony has been full of contradictions. India’s unresolved feelings about being a colony and the UK’s inadmissible demand for a special role in the Subcontinent caused a lot of trouble. Because of Partition and the Cold War, it was harder for the two countries to build a partnership that would last. But the recent changes in the region and the world offer a new chance to work together in a way that benefits both sides.

From the point of view of Pakistan, it has also been one of the biggest problems for India and Britain to get along. India has always been worried about Britain’s support for Pakistan. In South Asia, the US and France are committed to a “India first” strategy, but the UK is still torn between its new enthusiasm for India and the fact that it has always favoured Pakistan.

Britain’s Politics at Home: Britain’s politics at home have also made it harder for the two countries to get along. Most people in Delhi thought that the Labour Party cared about India and the Conservative Party did not. Even though this view turned out to be very wrong, there was still dislike for India in some way. When it came to India’s internal issues, like Kashmir, the Labour Party had become quite hostile.

After leaving Europe, Britain needs all the partners it can get, and a rising India is naturally one of the top political and economic priorities. Both India and the UK are serious about working together on strategic and defence issues in the Indo-Pacific and around the world. They are also committed to resolving problems that have been around for a long time. India, on the other hand, has become very sure of itself when dealing with the UK. Since India’s economy will be bigger than Britain’s in the next couple of years, India is no longer afraid to deal with Britain.

India-UK Trade:

Britain is still the fifth largest economy, a permanent member of the UN Security Council, a global financial hub, a centre of technological innovation, and a leading cyber power. It has a large military presence around the world and a lot of political power. India should make more of an effort to use these British strengths to its own strategic advantage. The fact that the British Prime Minister is going to visit India shows how important India’s role is in the constantly changing global order. India is getting ready to host a number of foreign leaders in the coming months and to take over the G20 presidency in 2023. One of the main goals of the upcoming visit should be to make progress on the India-UK FTA talks. Fintech, market regulation, sustainable and green finance, and cyber security, which are newer areas of cooperation, could become the new frontiers of this engagement.

Defense:

Another important part of bilateral cooperation is cooperation in the defence sector. During the Prime Minister’s visit to the UK in November 2015, the two countries agreed to improve their relationship in the Defense field by forming partnerships in strategic areas where they have complementary skills. The Defense Consultative Group Meeting, which is a formal way to talk about defence cooperation, is held once a year at the level of the Defense Secretary. On September 27, 2018, the 18th meeting of the DCG took place in New Delhi. On December 3-5, 2017, the Director General of the Defense Intelligence Agency went to London to meet with his counterpart and start working together on defence intelligence. At the level of all three services, there are regular joint exercises and exchanges that cover a lot of ground.

Education: Education is an important part of the relationship between India and the UK. In the last 10 years, the relationship has grown a lot thanks to the India-UK Education Forum, the UK-India Education and Research Initiative (UKIERI), the Joint Working Group on Education, the Newton-Bhabha Fund, and scholarship programmes. During Prime Minister’s trip to the UK in November 2015, the following education-related announcements were made:

• It was decided that 2016 would be the UK-India Year of Education, Research, and Innovation.
• Schools would start virtual partnerships so that young people from one country could go to school in the other country and learn about its culture, traditions, and social and family systems.
• Generation UK-India plans for 25,000 UK students to go to India by 2020. By 2020, 1,000 UK interns will be working for Tata Consultancy Services in India.
• Launch of the UK India Education and Research Initiative’s third phase. In April 2016, UKIERI, which stands for UK-India Education and Research Initiative, moved into its third phase. During Theresa May’s visit to India in November 2016, it was announced that an extra £20 million would be put into the UKIERI until 2021. This is expected to create 50 new partnerships. As part of the Global Initiative for Academic Network (GIAN) programme, 35 British professors have been to India. The UK also backs the Skills India Mission, and a new pledge of up to £12 million was made.

Science and Technology:

The Science and Technology sector is the part of our relationship that is growing the fastest. In 2008, the UK and India spent less than £1 million on research together. Now, they spend more than £200 million. During Theresa May’s trip to India, an India-UK Clean Energy R&D Centre focused on solar energy storage and a joint R&D programme for energy-efficient building materials were announced. New research partnerships with a value of £80 million have also been set up. These include a new Joint Strategic Group on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) that will invest up to £13 million together.

Cultural Links:

India and the UK have many and deep cultural links because they have a lot in common in their history. Indian food, movies, languages, religion, philosophy, performing arts, and other parts of Indian culture have slowly become more popular. In the UK, there are a number of Indian cultural organisations that work to promote Indian culture by bringing together the Indian Diaspora and British organisations and people. The High Commission of India in the UK set up the Nehru Centre in 1992. It is now one of the ICCR’s most important cultural centres outside of India. To mark the 70th anniversary of India’s independence, 2017 was the India-UK Year of Culture. In 2017, there were a lot of events and programmes, such as an exhibition of Indian science at the Science Museum in London and a show about 400 years of Shakespeare in India. Her Majesty In February 2017, the Queen held a big party at Buckingham Palace to kick off the Year of Culture. On October 4, 2017, a special Independence Gala was held at the Royal Festival Hall, and the Year of Culture ended with the Bharat Symphony by Dr. L. Subramaniam and the London Symphony Orchestra at the Barbican in London on November 28, 2017. The High Commission of India held a Midnight Freedom Run in London at midnight on August 14 and 15, 2017, to celebrate 70 years since India became free.

Indian Diaspora:

The Indian Diaspora in the UK is one of the largest ethnic minority groups in the country. According to the 2011 census, there are about 1.5 million people of Indian origin in the UK, which is almost 1.8 percent of the population and makes up 6% of the country’s GDP. During the Prime Minister’s trip to the UK in November 2015, a community reception was held at Wembley Stadium. More than 60,000 people of Indian origin were there. Both the Prime Minister and the British Prime Minister, David Cameron, spoke at the reception. On January 9, 2017, in Bengaluru, the Indian government gave the Pravasi Bhartiya Samman to British MP of Indian descent Priti Patel and British MEP of Indian descent Neena Gill. On January 9, 2018, there was the 1st PIO-Parliamentary Conference. It was attended by 15 British delegates: 3 MPs, 9 Lords, 2 Baronesses, and 1 Mayor. Former DFID Secretary Priti Patel gave a speech on behalf of the UK delegation. At a special event called “Bharat Ki Baat Sabke Saath,” which took place at Westminster Central Hall in London on April 18, 2018, and was also broadcast live around the world in countries where there is a large Indian diaspora, the Prime Minister spoke with a group of important Indian diaspora people.

Close relations:

• India-U.K. links are substantial. One and a half million people from India live in Britain. Fifteen of them are members of Parliament, three of them are in the Cabinet, and two of them are in high positions as Finance and Home Ministers.
• Before COVID-19, India sent half a million tourists to Britain every year, and Britain sent twice as many to India.
• Even though it’s hard to find work after graduation, about 35,000 Indians study in Britain.
• Britain is one of the biggest investors in India, and India is the second-biggest investor and a major job creator in Britain.
• This will make it easier to imagine closer military ties, working together on Indo[1]Pacific strategies, fighting terrorism, and stopping climate change.
• Pandemic of Corona and working together to make vaccines – The most important thing for India will be working together more on the coronavirus vaccine.
• The Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine was going to be made and distributed by India’s Serum Institute in India and then, as part of the COVAX project, in other developing countries.

Significance:

• Since it voted to leave the European Union (EU) in June 2016 and left for good in January 2020, the UK has been pushing India for a two-way trade deal.
• India, on the other hand, had been blocking these efforts because it thought the Brexit process should finish first.
• India has wanted to know how much “special and preferential” access the UK will have to the huge European market after it leaves the EU’s single market.
• Strategic Partner: The UK is one of India’s strategic partners and a permanent member of the UN Security Council.
• By strengthening ties with the UK, India could ask for its help with things like the standoff with China in the Ladakh sector of the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and its claim for a permanent seat on the UN Security Council.
• Review of Trades: India could ask for a review of trade deals, which could include renegotiating tariffs on some items and tightening rules about country-of-origin certification.
• The UK is a populist country that says things like “make my country great again” and “my country first.” Their version of democratic politics is all about them and can’t be criticised.
• Now, Britain has given the EU one that is free of tariffs and quotas and supposedly “gives us back control over our money, borders, laws, trade, and fishing waters.” However, it could cause problems with the EU and at home.
• When Modi went to the U.K. in 2015, six important agreements were made.
• It’s unlikely that anyone has looked at how well those agreements are being followed, but in modern diplomacy, it’s common for a bunch of new treaties to be added on top of old ones even when there isn’t enough progress.
• Since 2007, India has been trying to negotiate a trade deal with the EU, but nothing has come of it. During that time, Britain was seen as the biggest obstacle to a deal.
• The EU wanted to lower taxes on cars, wines, and spirits, and they also wanted India to open its banking, insurance, postal, legal, accounting, maritime security, and retail sectors. India has always tried to make it easy for service professionals to move around.
• Because most of their exports are services, both the U.S. and Britain will face the same problems after Brexit.
• In response to free movement for professionals, Britain will talk about its new points-based system for immigrants. After leaving the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, India is cautious about negotiating any new trade agreement and will put more emphasis on the country of origin and the amount of value added to exports.
• So, when the time comes for a secret agreement with Britain, the two countries may settle for a limited one that covers maybe pharmaceuticals, financial technology, chemicals, defence production, petroleum, and food products.

Way Forward:

India is one of the big economies that is growing the fastest in the world, and the FTA with the UK has helped the country’s trade a lot. But policymakers say that India’s FTAs with the UK haven’t brought the tangible benefits that were expected and, on the contrary, have hurt the country’s manufacturing sector because of the loose rules of origin. Because of this, all the people who have a stake in FTAs need to do a detailed analysis of how goods, services, and investments flow through them.

* Dr. Sadhna Kushwaha is Asst Professor in Dept of History, SSN College, Delhi University, New Delhi. This research paper was presented by Dr Sadhna Kushwaha at an international seminar, ‘Naya Bharat- Sankalp se Siddhi Tak’, in London, UK.