British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak took the opportunity on Wednesday to commend the leadership of his Indian counterpart, Narendra Modi, for his accomplishments over the past year. He expressed his belief that "India is the right country at the right time to hold the G20 presidency."
Rishi Sunak, who happens to be the first British Prime Minister of Indian origin, emphasized the pivotal role that the relationship between the United Kingdom and India is set to play in shaping the future of both nations. He believes that this partnership will wield even more influence over their destinies than it currently does.
He elaborated on this point, stating, "This country's scale, diversity, and extraordinary successes mean that India is the right country at the right time to hold the G20 presidency. I pay tribute to Prime Minister Modi's leadership over the last year, and it's wonderful to see India showing such global leadership," Sunak conveyed in an interview with the news agency PTI. This conversation transpired just days before the upcoming G20 summit scheduled for September 9-10 in Delhi.
The British Prime Minister also underscored the collaborative efforts that both countries will undertake during India's tenure as the G20 president to address the most pressing global challenges. These challenges span a wide spectrum, from stabilizing the global economy to devising strategies to combat climate change.
Sunak also acknowledged that the year 2023 holds immense significance for India. He noted the multitude of G20 meetings taking place throughout the country, as well as the highly anticipated Cricket World Cup scheduled for the following month. Consequently, India is set to be the epicenter of some of the most momentous global geopolitical events of the year.
At the forthcoming G20 summit, which will witness the participation of leaders such as the British Premier, PM Modi, US President Joe Biden, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, and Japanese PM Fumio Kishida, a comprehensive discussion of critical global issues is expected. One of the prominent topics on the agenda will be the repercussions of the Ukraine war, an issue that has created a complex situation for India. India faces the formidable task of achieving consensus among the G20 leaders regarding the wording related to the Ukraine crisis in the G20 leaders' declaration.
"India has taken on the presidency of the G20 at a time when the world is facing multiple challenges," Sunak emphasized. He elaborated on these challenges by highlighting the sharp rise in inflation and economic instability witnessed over the past year. Additionally, he pointed to instances such as the outbreak of conflict in Sudan, military coups in Niger and Gabon, and the ongoing violation of human rights in Afghanistan and other regions.
Sunak expressed his eagerness to engage with Prime Minister Modi during the G20 summit and explore how collaboration between India and the UK can contribute to addressing a spectrum of global challenges. He also indicated that the summit's outcomes would become clear only after the event, asserting that the UK is fully committed to supporting India's endeavors to ensure a successful summit.
Furthermore, Sunak delved into various aspects of the India-UK relationship, encompassing cultural exchanges, people-to-people connections, and shared objectives. He emphasized that what sets the UK-India relationship apart as "truly unique" is the concept of the "Living Bridge." This living bridge is comprised of the vast Indian diaspora, numbering 1.6 million, residing in the UK. It serves as a conduit for fostering connections across culture, education, cuisine, sports, and numerous other domains.
Sunak referenced the "2030 Roadmap," a significant initiative adopted during the summit between Prime Minister Modi and then-British PM Boris Johnson. This roadmap, which encompasses a 10-year commitment, seeks to bolster ties in key areas such as trade and the economy, defense and security, climate change, and people-to-people interactions.
The British Prime Minister highlighted several achievements made under this roadmap, including mutual recognition of higher education qualifications, the introduction of new visa routes for young professionals, and substantial investment deals involving British corporations such as Tesco, Deliveroo, and Revolut, expanding their operations in India, thereby generating thousands of new job opportunities.
Regarding defense and strategic cooperation, Sunak disclosed that the UK Navy, Army, and Air Force have all engaged in joint exercises with their Indian counterparts, enhancing their collective capacity to address shared threats. In the realm of science and technology, significant strides have been made through shared expertise between the two nations. He cited the joint effort that resulted in the development of a COVID-19 vaccine, with research conducted at Oxford University, financial support from the UK Government, production by AstraZeneca, and large-scale manufacturing by India's Serum Institute.
Sunak also touched upon the robust India-UK trade engagement and their collaborative efforts in the Indo-Pacific region. He recognized India's trajectory towards becoming the world's third-largest economy within the next decade and its consequential importance in the Indo-Pacific arena.
Expressing his belief in the potential for increased collaboration, Sunak remarked, "I absolutely see more for the UK and India to do together in the Indo-Pacific, building on the impressive cooperation that has already taken place across trade, defense, and security under the 2030 Roadmap." He affirmed the UK's unwavering commitment to the Indo-Pacific, stating that it remains strategically significant to both the UK and the world.
The British Prime Minister also highlighted his country's 2021 foreign policy strategy, which reaffirmed the strategic significance of the Indo-Pacific region to the UK and the world. He emphasized that the UK's commitment to the Indo-Pacific region remains steadfast and unchanging, aligning with the region's enduring importance.
