India and United Kingdom under threat from autocratic states: British PM

New Delhi/London: The democratic countries like India and the United Kingdom are under threat from countries with dictators. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson underlined the importance of his India visit, saying that the unity of democratic countries is essential in these circumstances. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will be coming on a visit to India on the 21st of April and starting his visit from Ahmedabad. The mention of threats from countries with dictators by Prime Minister Johnson before the visit is pointing fingers at China and Russia simultaneously.

A few days ago, UK Foreign Minister Liz Truss came on a visit to India. At around the same time, US Deputy National Security Advisor Daleep Singh was also in India. Talks were on that Liz Truss and Daleep Singh had been sent to India to warn against the fuel it was purchased from Russia. But Liz Truss had clarified that she was not here to advise India on the fuel transactions. Foreign Minister Truss had pointed out that the United Kingdom was very keen on signing a free trade agreement with India.

India has signed a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Australia and other countries also are taking the initiative to sign FTAs with India. The United Kingdom has also opened a dialogue with India for the FTA. Further, both the countries are expressing satisfaction over the progress of the talks. As per information, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will hold important discussions regarding the FTA with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. It is being said that talks will also be held regarding economic and strategic military cooperation.

Prime Minister Johnson has expressed confidence that his India visit will be productive on employment creation, economic development, energy security and defence. At the same time, Prime Minister Johnson made a suggestive statement that countries with dictators pose a threat to the peace and prosperity of democratic countries like India and the United Kingdom. As per that country, Russia is the biggest threat to British security. The United Kingdom has claimed that the danger has increased further following the Russian invasion of Ukraine. At the same time, China, a country with a monopolistic communist regime, poses a challenge to Indian security. In this scenario, Prime Minister Johnson seems to have combined the issues of threats posed by China to India and Russia to the United Kingdom. But India has consistently warned the western countries, including the United States, that India will never sever its ties with Russia.

India is a country with a huge economic capacity and the biggest democracy globally. Therefore, Prime Minister Johnson added that priority is being given to strategic cooperation with India in the current times of uncertainty.