India’s decision to invite U.K. PM Boris Johnson as chief guest for Republic Day 2021 is incredibly well timed & strategically smart. Four, among other, issues to watch out for:
1. Brexit & FTA: This will be tough sell for London (easy capital flows but restricted labour flows?), but GoI is likely to be welcoming of such agreements, esp. having said no to RCEP. Still a long way to go, but both countries have an economic incentive to get serious.
2. China & IOR: With a strategic shift in London’s position on China since HK situation, & it’s articulation of an Indo-Pacific strategy coupled w/ defence logistics pact w/ India, there are new synergies here.
3. Pakistan: Unlikely to be a problem anymore. The Tories owe Modi & the BJP machinery on this count for mobilising — to some extent — Indian diaspora in the U.K. in the 2019 elections. London is likely to get v. lukewarm on Pakistan, if not burn bridges (as it shouldn’t).
4. New areas of strategic convergence: Tech & medicine; esp w/ India’s importance as exporter of key chemicals & related materials imp. to develop the vaccine on a large scale. This pandemic has given these two countries a powerful plank to seriously work together.
5. Of course there are many more issues, & miles more to go. But, this invitation, despite BoJo’s domestic troubles is a v. smart move. With Corbyn gone, in fact, India-U.K. relations has become increasingly poll-proof akin to the India-US one.
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