Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper visited India for the first time since taking office, holding high-level talks aimed at advancing the bilateral partnership. Discussions focused on trade, technology, defence, education, climate cooperation and regional security, alongside several new initiatives announced during the visit…reports Asian Lite News Desk
United Kingdom Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper paid an official visit to India on June 3 and 4, marking her first visit to the country since assuming office and underscoring the growing importance of the bilateral relationship between the two nations.
During the visit, Cooper called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and held the first annual meeting with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to review progress under the India-UK Vision 2035 framework. The roadmap was adopted during the visit of the Indian Prime Minister to the United Kingdom in July 2025 and sets out long-term goals for cooperation across a range of sectors.
According to the Ministry of External Affairs, the two ministers reviewed developments under all five pillars of the Vision 2035 framework: Growth, Technology and Innovation, Defence and Security, Climate and Clean Energy, and Education.
The ministers welcomed opportunities arising from the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) and expressed their expectation that the agreement would enter into force at an early date. They also reviewed progress under the India-UK Technology Security Initiative (TSI), including cooperation in areas such as artificial intelligence and critical minerals.
Defence and security cooperation featured prominently in the discussions. The ministers welcomed recent developments in the sector, including the exchange of military instructors between training institutions in both countries. They noted the growing momentum in defence engagement and reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening cooperation in the field.
Education was highlighted as one of the most successful areas of bilateral collaboration. Both ministers expressed support for the early convening of the first Ministerial Dialogue on Education, which is expected to provide a new platform for advancing educational cooperation and academic partnerships.
The importance of climate cooperation was also emphasised during the talks. The ministers recognised the role of the India-UK climate partnership, including efforts being undertaken through the India-UK Climate Finance Initiative to support green growth and sustainable development.
People-to-people links were identified as a key foundation of the broader relationship. Both sides noted positive engagement under the Migration and Mobility Partnership and acknowledged the contribution of strong social, cultural and educational ties to the overall partnership.
The discussions also covered a range of regional and global issues of mutual interest. The ministers exchanged views on cooperation at multilateral forums, including the Commonwealth, and explored opportunities for closer coordination on international challenges.
Several outcomes were announced during the visit across the areas of education, critical minerals and maritime security.
In the education sector, the Ministry of Education handed over a Letter of Approval to the University of Liverpool to establish a campus in Bengaluru under India’s New Education Policy. The approval was presented in the presence of Jaishankar, Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and Cooper. The University of Liverpool campus is expected to begin operations from the next academic year.
A Memorandum of Understanding between King’s College London and the National Maritime Foundation was also exchanged during the visit. The agreement will support the establishment of the Regional Maritime Security Centre for Excellence, which is being developed under the Maritime Security pillar of the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative.
In addition, Cooper and Minister of Coal and Mines G Kishan Reddy jointly launched the UK-India Critical Minerals Supply Chain Observatory. The initiative is intended to support cooperation and knowledge-sharing in a sector increasingly viewed as strategically important for economic growth, industrial development and technological advancement.
India and the United Kingdom share a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership that has expanded significantly in recent years. What began as a relationship rooted in historical ties has evolved into a broad-based partnership spanning trade, investment, technology, education, defence, climate action and people-to-people exchanges.
The visit provided an opportunity for both sides to assess progress on existing initiatives and identify areas for deeper cooperation. It also reinforced the commitment of India and the United Kingdom to advancing the objectives of the Vision 2035 framework and strengthening collaboration across a wide range of shared priorities.
According to the Ministry of External Affairs, Cooper’s visit further strengthens the bilateral relationship and reflects the continued commitment of both countries to expanding cooperation in the years ahead.
