The United Kingdom just released its Integrated Review of Security, Defense, Development and Foreign Policy, looking ahead to a post Brexit Britain until 2030. India plays a pivotal role in the vision of Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s government.
Excerpts from the 114 page report below:
In the decade ahead, the U.K. will deepen our engagement in the Indo-Pacific, establishing a greater and more persistent presence than any other European country.
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The U.K.-India relationship is already strong, but over the next ten years we seek transformation in our cooperation across the full range of our shared interests. India – as the largest democracy in the world – is an international actor of growing importance. As Commonwealth nations, we have strong cultural links: 1.5 million British nationals are of Indian origin; and we enjoy broad collaboration across the education sector.
Trade between the UK and India more than doubled between 2007 and 2019, our investment relationship supports over half a million jobs in each other’s economies, and the U.K. is India’s second-biggest research partner. The ability to strike our own trade deals will allow us to grow our economic relationship further, including through increased bilateral investment flows.
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Our vision is for re-energized trade and investment, rooted in Science and Technology and supporting levelling up in the U.K. and India alike; enhanced defense cooperation that brings a more secure Indian Ocean Region, building on the existing biannual Ministerial Defense Dialogues; and U.K.-India leadership to tackle global challenges like climate change, clean energy and global health.
We will take a major step towards achieving this vision in 2021 when we launch our Enhanced Trade Partnership with India as a roadmap to a potential comprehensive trade deal.
This relationship will be underpinned by our largest single country diplomatic network anywhere in the world, with more than 800 staff spread across eleven posts.
Last updated: December 26th, 2025
