Modi congratulates Starmer for poll win; has message for Sunak
What's the story
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday congratulated Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer for his party's historic win in United Kingdom general elections.
The party secured 412 seats out of the total 650 in the House of Commons, ending a 14-year Conservative rule.
In a post on X, PM Modi said, "Heartiest congratulations and best wishes to @Keir_Starmer... I look forward to our positive and constructive collaboration to further strengthen the India-UK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership."
Statement
Modi thanks Sunak for 'admirable leadership'
Separately, PM Modi also thanked outgoing PM Rishi Sunak for his "admirable leadership" and his contributions in deepening the India-UK ties.
"Thank you @RishiSunak for your admirable leadership of the UK, and your active contribution to deepen the ties between India and the UK during your term in office. Best wishes to you and your family for the future," PM Modi said.
Twitter Post
Read PM Modi's post here
Heartiest congratulations and best wishes to @Keir_Starmer on the remarkable victory in the UK general elections. I look forward to our positive and constructive collaboration to further strengthen the India-UK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in all areas, fostering mutual…
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 5, 2024
Bilateral relations
Starmer's vision for UK-India relations
Starmer's foreign policy agenda includes a focus on enhancing United Kingdom-India relations.
Acknowledging "past mistakes," such as the Labour Party's stance on issues like Kashmir, Starmer is committed to establishing a "new strategic partnership" with India.
His dedication to a free trade agreement (FTA) and increased bilateral cooperation in areas like technology, security, education, and climate change underscores his intent to strengthen ties with one of the world's fastest-growing economies.