External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar left for a six-day state visit to the United Kingdom and Ireland from 4 to 9 March, 2025. His mission is to give a push to diplomatic relations, speed up trade negotiations on the India-UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA), and hold talks on ongoing global geopolitical issues, including the Russia-Ukraine war.
Major Diplomatic Interactions in the UK
Jaishankar’s British visit comprises top-level talks with British Foreign Secretary David Lammy. The two leaders will discuss the India-UK FTA, an important pact aimed at deepening economic relations by cutting tariffs and boosting investment.
India and the UK have a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, including major areas like defence, security, healthcare, education, and trade. Jaishankar’s visit will further strengthen these relations. He will also open new Indian consulates in Belfast and Manchester, increasing India’s diplomatic footprint beyond London, Birmingham, and Edinburgh.
The other key highlight will be Jaishankar’s speech at Chatham House on March 5. The session, “India’s Rise and Role in the World,” is likely to present India’s response to global issues and its growing role in global affairs.
India’s Neutrality towards the Russia-Ukraine War
Jaishankar’s visit is timely when there are increased debates in Europe about the Russia-Ukraine war. Last week, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer had a VIP summit with European leaders and called for a collective approach in halting the war.
New Delhi took a non-aligned stance against the war, staying neutral between taking sides of either bloc. India abstained while voting for two recent UN resolutions brought to the table by Ukraine and the US. It’s notable that India’s diplomatic language changed with it no longer saying “two parties to the conflict,” instead saying “parties concerned” with an implied inclusion now of the US, Russia, Ukraine, and Europe in this designation.
Although Jaishankar’s conversation with Lammy will likely cross into India’s role in international conflict resolution through diplomacy, India won’t lean firmly in one direction or another.
India-UK Free Trade Agreement Talks Continue
The Free Trade Agreement (FTA) India-UK is expected to feature prominently in discussions. Negotiations that started many years ago caught a new spurt of steam recently after British Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds visited New Delhi in February 2025.
The trade agreement, aiming to lower tariffs and boost investments in pharma, tech, and financial services, has stalled due to disagreements over market access and tariff reductions. This visit by Jaishankar, however, promises more attempts at closing the deal, one that could significantly help offset both economies.
Ireland Visit of Jaishankar: Fostering Bilateral Relations
After his interactions in the UK, Jaishankar will visit Ireland between March 6 and 7. He will have a meeting with Irish Foreign Minister Simon Harris and other high-ranking officials to exchange views on diplomatic and economic ties.
One of the main results of this visit is anticipated to be the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on a diplomat exchange program. Also, India and Ireland will create the India-Ireland Joint Economic Commission, deepening economic cooperation.
This visit marks the highest-level diplomatic interaction between India and Ireland since Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Dublin in 2015. It underscores India’s intent to enhance ties with smaller European nations beyond its core partnerships with the UK, France, and Germany.
India’s Global Balancing Act
Jaishankar’s visit arrives during changing geopolitical trends. With India emerging as a major player in the global scenario, it is dealing with complicated international nuances including its alliances with the US, Europe, Russia, and Ukraine.
India has always been promoting diplomacy over militancy. PM Modi recently also expressed this at the time of talks with the European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, stressing there must be a “just and lasting peace” based on territorial integrity and international law.
At the same time, European leaders such as French President Emmanuel Macron and British officials are negotiating possible ceasefire plans in Ukraine. Nevertheless, differences still exist, with Kyiv voicing security issues before approving any truce.
