India has invited UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson as the main guest to the Republic Day celebrations in 2021.
The invitation was extended during the phone call between the two sides on Nov. 27, sources told India Today TV.
Following the phone exchange, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said in a tweet: “I had an excellent discussion with my friend, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, about an ambitious roadmap for India-UK relations for the next decade. We agreed on working towards a quantum leap in our collaboration in all areas – trade and investment, defense and security, climate change and the fight against Covid-19. “
I had an excellent discussion with my friend, the UK Prime Minister @ BorJJohnson on an ambitious roadmap for India-UK relations over the next decade. We have agreed to work towards a quantum leap in our collaboration in all areas – trade and investment, defense and security, climate change and the fight against Covid-19.
– Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 27, 2020
In response to PM Modi’s tweet, the UK Prime Minister thanked him and tweeted, “Thank you @narendramodi, great to talk to you. I am very much looking forward to deepening and expanding UK-India relations in 2021 and beyond strengthen!”
Many thanks @ NarendramodiNice to talk with you. I am very much looking forward to deepening and strengthening the UK-India relationship in 2021 and beyond! https://t.co/DCOczjm0AL pic.twitter.com/k63ugK2B5n
– Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) November 27, 2020
While there is no official confirmation or announcement of India’s extended invitation, timing is important as PM Modi is expected to visit London next year to attend the G7 summit to which he was invited by the UK Prime Minister.
A proposal to include India and expand the G7 group came from US President Donald Trump when he invited PM Modi to attend this year’s G7 meeting.
During the telephone conversation between President Trump and Prime Minister Modi in June this year, the former “expressed its desire to extend the grouping’s scope beyond membership to other major countries, including India,” according to a Foreign Affairs Department statement .
However, the decision to expand the grouping cannot be made by the United States alone. Other members such as the UK, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and Canada need to approve not only Trump’s proposal to expand the grouping, but also the new members he wants to add.
A formal response from 10 Downing Street to India’s invitation to Republic Day celebrations is pending.
“The leaders reiterated their shared desire to make the post-Covid and post-Brexit partnership between India and the UK a quantum leap, and agreed that there was tremendous potential for improving trade and cooperation There is investment, scientific research and mobility of professionals and students as well as defense and security, “the State Department (MEA) had said in a statement on the telephone conversation that took place on November 27 between the Prime Ministers of both sides.
In early November, the current British High Commissioner for India, Jan Thompson, alluded to a “personal” visit by the British Prime Minister to India in a media conversation.
“We anticipate that British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab will pay a personal visit to India in the next few months. In addition, Prime Minister Boris Johnson is very keen to come to India. So we hope that in the next few months we will will visit both FS Raab and PM Johnson, “said Thompson.
Meanwhile, the UK High Commission spokesman said the mission could not confirm the news.
“We cannot confirm it one way or another. Prime Minister Boris Johnson is very keen to visit India as soon as possible,” ANI quoted the official as saying.
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