Modi-Starmer G7 talks: India-UK ties, trade deal and AI in focus
Synopsis
On the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Evian, Modi and Starmer signalled that the India-UK relationship is moving well beyond a trade deal — with AI, critical minerals, university campuses, and defence all on the table. The bilateral has quietly become one of India's most active strategic partnerships heading into 2025.
Key Takeaways
PM Modi and UK PM Keir Starmer held a bilateral meeting at the G7 Summit in Evian, France on 16 June .
Talks covered trade, innovation, AI, skill development, defence, and people-to-people ties under the Vision 2035 framework.
Both leaders looked forward to early entry into force of the India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement .
University campuses from Liverpool (Bengaluru), York , and Bristol (Mumbai) were highlighted as education partnership milestones.
The India-UK Critical Minerals Global Supply Chain Observatory was welcomed as a key step under the Technology Security Initiative.
Modi also interacted with US President Donald Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron at the summit.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his British counterpart Keir Starmer held a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Evian, France, on Tuesday, 16 June, with discussions centred on deepening momentum in India-UK relations across trade, technology, defence, and people-to-people ties. The meeting follows a year of intensified engagement between the two nations, capped by the signing of a landmark trade agreement.
What Modi Said
Prime Minister Modi described the meeting as productive, writing on X: 'Had a wonderful meeting with PM Keir Starmer in Evian. The last year has been outstanding as far as India-UK relations are concerned. The trade deal has opened many avenues of economic cooperation. Today's talks focused on how to add even more momentum to India-UK ties.'
Modi added that the two leaders 'discussed ways to work closely in areas like innovation, AI, skill development, sports and more,' and explored ways to 'increase investment linkages for the benefit of the people of our nations.'
Key Areas of Progress
According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the two Prime Ministers reviewed the strong momentum in bilateral relations since their reciprocal visits last year and welcomed advances across all pillars of Vision 2035. These pillars span trade and economic growth, defence and security, climate action and green energy, technology and innovation, and education and people-to-people ties.
The leaders expressed satisfaction with the education partnership, noting recent progress with the University of Liverpool to establish its campus in Bengaluru, and with the University of York and the University of Bristol for their planned campuses in Mumbai.
Technology, AI and Critical Minerals
Prime Minister Modi thanked Starmer for the UK's strong representation at the AI Impact Summit held in Delhi earlier this year. He also welcomed steady progress under the Technology Security Initiative, including the recent launch of the India-UK Critical Minerals Global Supply Chain Observatory — a significant step given both nations' strategic interest in securing mineral supply chains amid global competition.
Trade Agreement and What Comes Next
Both leaders looked forward to the early entry into force of the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement — the landmark deal that has been at the centre of India-UK economic engagement. The MEA noted that the two sides reaffirmed their shared commitment to further strengthening the India-UK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
Regional and Global Discussions
Beyond bilateral matters, the leaders exchanged views on regional and global developments of mutual concern, including situations in West Asia and Ukraine. Prime Minister Modi also engaged with several other world leaders at the summit, including US President Donald Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron, as diplomatic interactions continued through the G7 proceedings in Evian.
Point of View
But the real architecture now being built — critical minerals, AI governance, university campuses, defence tech — reflects a partnership that both sides are treating as long-term. What mainstream coverage underplays is the Critical Minerals Observatory, which is arguably the most consequential outcome of recent India-UK engagement given the global race to secure supply chains. Whether Vision 2035 translates from aspiration to measurable outcomes will depend on implementation timelines that neither government has yet made public.
NationPress
4 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Modi and Starmer discuss at the G7 Summit in Evian?
The two Prime Ministers discussed deepening India-UK ties across trade, AI, innovation, skill development, defence, and education. They also reviewed progress under Vision 2035 and looked forward to the early entry into force of the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement.
What is the India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement?
It is a landmark bilateral trade deal between India and the United Kingdom that has opened new avenues of economic cooperation. Both leaders at the Evian meeting reaffirmed their commitment to its early entry into force.
What is the India-UK Critical Minerals Global Supply Chain Observatory?
It is a recently launched initiative under the India-UK Technology Security Initiative aimed at securing and monitoring critical mineral supply chains globally. Its launch was welcomed by PM Modi as a significant step in the bilateral technology partnership.
Which UK universities are setting up campuses in India?
The University of Liverpool is establishing a campus in Bengaluru, while the University of York and the University of Bristol are planning campuses in Mumbai, as part of the India-UK education partnership highlighted at the Evian meeting.
Which other world leaders did PM Modi meet at the G7 Summit?
PM Modi also interacted with US President Donald Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron, among other world leaders, on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Evian, France.
