Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday, 10 June 2026 responded to warm wishes from former UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, reaffirming India's commitment to deepening bilateral relations with the United Kingdom.

Context

In a post on X, PM Modi wrote: 'Thank you Rishi Sunak for your warm wishes. India is committed to working with the UK to further deepen our bilateral ties.' The exchange reflects the personal diplomatic rapport the two leaders have maintained, rooted in their shared tenures as heads of government.

Rishi Sunak served as UK Prime Minister from October 2022 to July 2024, during which period he engaged closely with Modi on trade, defence, and technology cooperation. The nature of the occasion prompting Sunak's wishes has not been officially confirmed.

Policy Backdrop

The diplomatic warmth expressed in the post sits within a well-established framework. In 2021, India and the UK elevated their relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, accompanied by the 2030 Roadmap — a blueprint for cooperation across trade, defence, climate, and health.

A landmark India-UK Free Trade Agreement, negotiations for which were launched in January 2022, has remained a centrepiece of the bilateral agenda. The talks aim to expand market access for goods and services between two of the world's largest economies, and successive rounds of negotiations have kept the partnership in active diplomatic focus.

India's broader foreign policy posture of multi-alignment — engaging Western democracies while maintaining strategic autonomy — has made the UK a priority partner, particularly as Britain seeks to reposition its trade and security relationships in the post-Brexit era.

Stakeholders and Impact

The Indian diaspora in the UK, estimated to be one of the largest and most economically active communities in Britain, stands as a key human bridge between the two nations. Their interests span trade, professional mobility, and cultural exchange — all areas covered under the bilateral roadmap.

Trade negotiators on both sides, as well as businesses in sectors such as pharmaceuticals, financial services, and technology, closely watch signals from political leadership for momentum on the FTA. A reaffirmation from PM Modi of India's commitment to deepening ties provides a positive signal to those stakeholders.

What's Next

Further rounds of India-UK Free Trade Agreement negotiations remain the most concrete near-term deliverable on the bilateral agenda. Ministerial visits and any planned summits between the two governments will be watched for tangible progress on trade and defence cooperation.

Modi's public acknowledgement of Sunak's outreach underscores the continuity of personal diplomacy as a tool of statecraft — a pattern that has consistently reinforced India's ties with key Western partners regardless of changes in government on either side.