India-UK Joint Statement Visit by Prime Minister Keir Starmer

1. High-Level Context:

• The United Kingdom prime minister Sir Keir Starmer paid his inaugural official visit to India, returning the visit made by PM Modi in July 2025.
• The attention was paid to the adoption of the India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) and the Roadmap of the Vision 2035 signed previously.

2. Economic & Trade Cooperation:

• Both leaders demanded CETA to be ratified early in order to enhance trade and investment.
• Joint Economic and Trade Committee (JETCO) began being revived to monitor the implementation of CETA.
• A model that was noted to be collaborative was UKIIFB.

3. Technology and Innovation Initiatives:

• India-UK Connectivity and Innovation Centre: 6G, telecommunication security, and Non-Terrestrial Networks centre with a funding of £24 million.
• Joint Centre for Artificial Intelligence (AI): It was created to advance ethical AI in health, climate, and fintech.
• Critical Minerals Collaboration Incorporates a new guild, satellite campus at IIT-ISM Dhanbad and Phase 2 of the Critical Minerals Observatory.
• Biotechnology: Cooperation between Henry Royce Institute, Oxford Nanopore and Indian biomanufacturing and genomics institutes at the University of the United Kingdom.

4. Defence & Security:

• Maritime Security: Intensified naval cooperation, extension of Exercise KONKAN, and a brand new Regional Maritime Security Centre of Excellence.
• Air Force: Induction of Indian Air Force instructors in training programmes of Royal Air Force.
• Defense Manufacturing: Cooperation in the development of maritime electric propulsion engines and delivery of Lightweight Multirole missiles (LMM) to assist in developing a 'Atmanirbhar Bharat'.
• Counter-Terrorism: Rejected terrorism and pledged more intelligence sharing and financial surveillance.

5. Climate & Clean Energy:

• Instituted the India-UK Climate Finance Initiative and a Joint Climate Tech Start-up Fund.
• Introduction of a new Offshore Wind Taskforce.
• Will jointly work with Global Clean Power Alliance (GCPA) on artificial intelligence-based climate solutions.

6. Education/Cultural Exchange:

• University Campuses in India: the University of Southampton (Gurugram) was opened; Liverpool, York, Aberdeen, and Bristol are going to be opened; Lancaster University and University of Surrey received a new approval.
• First Ministerial Strategic Education Dialogue started to formalize collaboration.
• Restated the Migration and Mobility Partnership (MMP) in honor of the Indian diaspora as a living bridge.

7. Regional & Global Issues:

• The UK once again reiterated its backing of India as a permanent member of a reformed UN Security Council.
• Invited to peace talks in Ukraine and received the U.S.-brokered Gaza peace plan, calling on a ceasefire and humanitarian access to aid.
• Devoted to Commonwealth change and