India and the U.K. are well-positioned to construct a new future-oriented and mutually beneficial partnership on the back of their newly firmed-up comprehensive trade deal and the defence industrial roadmap, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said on Thursday (June 4, 2026).

Highlighting ‘remarkable developments’ in the bilateral ties in recent months, the External Affairs Minister pointed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the U.K. last July, followed by U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s trip to India in October.

Dr. Jaishankar highlighted the finalisation of the India-U.K. Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), the adoption of a comprehensive strategic partnership and the defence industrial roadmap as major achievements.

“We are today well positioned to build a new future-oriented and mutually beneficial partnership,” he said.

Dr. Jaishankar said CETA addresses many concerns about creating resilient supply chains and addressing concerns in areas of trade, energy, food and economic security.

“Our relationship has moved from being a historical and perhaps cultural connection to being a forward-looking highway of shared economic ambitions and high technology,” he said.