During his first visit to India’s capital as UK prime minister, Johnson spoke with his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi on ways to strengthen security ties with India, which buys more than half of its military equipment in Russia. Britain and India agreed on Friday to strengthen security and trade cooperation during a visit to New Delhi by Boris Johnson, who said a free trade agreement could be wrapped up in October.
India’s foreign secretary, however, said Johnson had not put pressure on Modi over New Delhi’s stance on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine”Shringla. “There was no pressure of any kind.”
Said Johnson to Modi
India did not have a UN vote against Ukraine’s invasion and unlike Britain and other Western countries it did not impose sanctions on Moscow, calling Russia’s action in Ukraine a “special military campaign”. Johnson said after meeting Modi there is little chance that India will end. its long-standing relationship with Russia.
“The situation the Indians have with Russia is well known. They will not change that, of course, that is true,” he told a news conference on the last day of his two-day trip. “But they see. Happening and growing desire to do more with the UK.”
Johnson, who is under political pressure at home for violating his own roadblocks during the violence, said talks between the two countries were expected to finalize a free trade agreement by the end of this year. “We are telling our negotiators to do so by October in October. This could double our trade and investment by the end of the decade,” he said.
Johnson supports India’s goal
Johnson said Britain would support India’s goal of building its own aircraft, reducing the cost of expensive military equipment. India now has a mix of Russian, British and French fighter jets. The Indian government last year awarded a $ 480 billion contract ($ 6.28 billion) to state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd for 83 lightweight aircraft, Tejas, to be delivered from 2023.
The United States last month granted India more protection and trade after President Joe Biden called India “somehow” in its fight against Russia.
Impact and benefits of conference between India and Britain
• Britain also created a common export license aimed at India to reduce the delivery times of defense equipment. Only the European Union and the United States currently hold such licenses.
• Foreign Secretary Shringla said India could seek Britain’s support for maritime power systems and aviation programs. He said the focus was on “co-operative development and co-production” of defense equipment, he said.
• Johnson said the free trade agreement would help India sell more rice and more textiles to Britain.
• Trade between the British and India, the second-most populous country in the world with a population of about 1.4 billion, was worth $ 23 billion ($ 29.93 billion) in 2019, much lower than the UK trade with some very small economies like Ireland.
• If there is free trade, eliminated prices and quotes, monopoly is also eliminated because more players can come in and join the market. Effective use of resources means increased profits. Investment in public infrastructure increases the productivity of private and public finances, leading to higher outcomes in the future for India.
• The interim agreement aims to achieve up to 65 percent coverage and access to 40 percent of service delivery. By the time the final agreement is put in place, imports are expected to rise to “90 percent” of goods.
Said the Director of Center Policy Alternatives
Mohan Guruswamy, director of the Center for Policy Alternatives in New Delhi, said India would always rely on Russian military resources, in part because it was cheaper. Russia’s promise to India always says’ Our closet is open but Britain does not give India everything it wants and what it does to get it is usually very expensive, “he said.
Johnson said on his trip he felt like an Indian cricketer, Sachin Tendulkar, as hundreds of people filled the streets and many boards displayed his image. “I was wonderfully welcomed,” he said. “My face was everywhere.”
READ ALSO : India halves LIC target IPO revenue target to $ 3.9 billion
