'This is a historic achievement', talks on FTA between India and Britain concluded, Modi-Starmer announced

All the terms of the free trade agreement (FTA) between India and Britain have finally been agreed upon after three consecutive years of negotiations. The talks were underway between the officials of both nations in London for the past few days. There was a telephonic conversation between PM Narendra Modi and UK PM Keir Starmer on Tuesday, and the Indian PM announced the same after that.

India has announced negotiations on FTA with Britain, while a top delegation of government officials is also working round the clock on finalizing the bilateral trade agreement (BTA) with the US. Negotiations on FTA with the European Union (EU) have also made considerable progress. In the coming week, PM Modi is traveling to Croatia, Norway, and the Netherlands, and on that occasion, a separate FTA between India and the Nordic countries will also be announced.

This announcement by PM Modi also comes as a surprise because the talks negotiations that have been ongoing in London have been showing that they have hit a snag on some matters.

After talking to British Prime Minister Starmer, PM Modi termed the agreement reached between India and Britain as a historic milestone and said, "Along with the ambitious and equally beneficial FTA, negotiations on the Dual Contribution Agreement (DCC) have been successfully concluded. This agreement will further strengthen the overall strategic partnership of the two countries and will work to increase jobs, investment, growth, business, and exploration in the economies of both countries. I look forward to welcoming PM Starmer to India soon.''

It clearly indicates that the top leaders of both countries will soon seal the agreement on FTA and DCC. For this, the British PM will come to India. DCC will be an agreement between the two countries regarding social security contributions. With this, if a person contributes to social security in one country, then they will have the right to take it to another country within a certain time frame.

PM Modi has not commented on the bilateral investment agreement in a social media message. Talks between India and Britain regarding FTA have been going on since January 2022, but the final consensus reached on this is also important. After the Pahalgam attack, tensions between India and Pakistan are at their peak. If this tension increases, then Britain's role as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) will be important.

Till 10-15 years ago, Britain's diplomacy used to be largely in favor of Pakistan, but now the situation has changed. There is a comprehensive strategic partnership between Britain and India. India is Britain's closest partner in the field of science, technology, and exploration. After the FTA, India and Britain will have to take more care of each other's interests.