Ahead of crucial talks between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his British counterpart Boris Johnson, UK has said that it will offer New Delhi "know-how" on building fighter jets.

The development is likely to provide a much-needed boost for India’s ‘Make in India’ programme in the defence sector.

A statement from UK Prime Minister's Office said that the country will "support for new Indian-designed and built fighter jets, offering the best of British know-how on building battle-winning aircraft."

The offer is being seen as London's attempts to away&nbsp;India’s reliance on Russia for its defence needs. India imports a bulk of defence equipments, including spare parts, from Russia.

The UK statement explained that it "will also seek to support India’s requirements for new technology to identify and respond to threats in the Indian Ocean".

This comes in the wake of increased Chinese presence in the region engaged in IUU—illegal, unreported and unregulated activities.

Last year, UK deployed its Carrier Strike Group in Indian Ocean Region as part of its strategic tilt to the Indo-Pacific.

Ahead of his meeting with the Indian PM, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said, "The world faces growing threats from autocratic states which seek to undermine democracy, choke off free and fair trade and trample on sovereignty.”

"UK’s partnership with India is a beacon in these stormy seas,” he added.

The UK PM is on a two-day visit to India, with the first day being spent in Gujarat on Thursday.

Ahead of crucial talks between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his British counterpart Boris Johnson, UK has said that it will offer New Delhi "know-how" on building fighter jets.

Ahead of crucial talks between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his British counterpart Boris Johnson, UK has said that it will offer New Delhi "know-how" on building fighter jets. The development is likely to provide a much-needed boost for India’s ‘Make in India’ programme in the defence sector. A statement from UK Prime Minister's Office said that the country will "support for new Indian-designed and built fighter jets, offering the best of British know-how on building battle-winning aircraft." The offer is being seen as London's attempts to away India’s reliance on Russia for its defence needs. India imports a bulk of defence equipments, including spare parts, from Russia. The UK statement explained that it "will also seek to support India’s requirements for new technology to identify and respond to threats in the Indian Ocean". This comes in the wake of increased Chinese presence in the region engaged in IUU—illegal, unreported and unregulated activities. Last year, UK deployed its Carrier Strike Group in Indian Ocean Region as part of its strategic tilt to the Indo-Pacific. Ahead of his meeting with the Indian PM, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said, "The world faces growing threats from autocratic states which seek to undermine democracy, choke off free and fair trade and trample on sovereignty.” "UK’s partnership with India is a beacon in these stormy seas,” he added. The UK PM is on a two-day visit to India, with the first day being spent in Gujarat on Thursday.

UK to offer India know-how in building fighter jets

From spinning 'Charkha' at Gandhi's Ashram to bulldozer plant visit: UK PM Boris Johnson's India trip in pics

Britain on Monday imposed its strictest travel curbs on&nbsp;India&nbsp;after an explosion of coronavirus cases there, hours after Prime Minister Boris Johnson called off a trip to New Delhi.

"We've made the difficult but vital decision to add India to the Red List. This means anyone who is not from the&nbsp;UK&nbsp;or an Irish resident or a British citizen cannot enter the&nbsp;UK&nbsp;if they've been in India in the previous 10 days," Hancock told parliament.

"UK&nbsp;and Irish residents and British citizens who've been in India in the past 10 days before their arrival will need to complete hotel quarantine for 10 days from the time of arrival."

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/british-pm-boris-johnson-cancels-visit-to-india-over-covid-surge-for-the-second-time-378586" hreflang="en">UK PM Boris Johnson cancels delayed visit to India over rising COVID cases</a>

The move was taken as a precaution while the variant first identified in India was assessed. Asked whether vaccines being rolled out in Britain worked against the variant, Hancock said he could not give that assurance but was looking to establish an answer as soon as possible.

"The core of my concern about the variant first found in India is that the vaccines may be less effective in terms of transmission and/or in terms of reducing hospitalisation and death," he said.

"It is the same concern that we have with the variant first found in South Africa, and is the core reason why we took the decision today."

Public Health England (PHE) has said that 77 cases of the so-called 'double mutant&nbsp;Indian variant have been detected in the UK since last month and that it has now been classed as a Variant Under Investigation (VUI).

In the event, the UK and Indian governments earlier Monday called off Johnson's visit, which was set for next week after already being postponed in January.

It would have been Johnson's first major foreign visit since he took office in 2019.

"In the light of the current coronavirus situation, Prime Minister Boris Johnson will not be able to travel to&nbsp;India&nbsp;next week," the two governments said in a joint statement.

They said that Johnson and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi would instead speak later this month "to agree and launch their ambitious plans for the future partnership between the UK and&nbsp;India.&nbsp;

"They will remain in regular contact beyond this, and look forward to meeting in person later this year."

Cricket impact

Monday's announcement could also have a knock-on effect upon England's upcoming home international cricket schedule.

Several leading England and New Zealand cricketers currently taking part in the lucrative Indian Premier League tournament are expected to fly in for the two-match Test series that starts at London's Lord's ground on June 2.

Indian players could be affected too, with Virat Kohli's men set to face New Zealand in the inaugural World Test Championship final in Southampton later that month.&nbsp;

But the Rose Bowl ground at Southampton, the headquarters of county side Hampshire, boasts an on-site hotel and it was one of the venues, along with Manchester's Old Trafford, that has a similar set-up, which pioneered international cricket's return from coronavirus-enforced suspension last year.

A spokesperson for the International Cricket Council, the sport's global governing body, said: "The ECB (England and Wales Cricket Board) and other Members have demonstrated how we can stage international cricket safely in the middle of a pandemic and we are confident that we can continue to do that and that the World Test Championship Final will go ahead as planned in June in the UK."

The&nbsp;India&nbsp;women's team is also due to arrive for a multi-format series against England starting on June 16.&nbsp;

Johnson's office had last week announced the visit would be shortened. It was originally organised to span three days and set to begin on April 26.

It had initially been heralded as an opportunity for Britain to refocus its international trade policy in the wake of Brexit as it pursues a so-called "global Britain" strategy.

But spiking coronavirus cases, hospitalisations and deaths in Britain earlier this year led to its delay.&nbsp;

Now, surging infections in&nbsp;India,&nbsp;where officials have recorded five consecutive days of more than 200,000 cases, have led to its cancellation altogether.

A total of 103 cases of the Indian variant have been identified in Britain, Hancock said.

(With inputs from agencies)

Britain on Monday imposed its strictest travel curbs on India after an explosion of coronavirus cases there, hours after Prime Minister Boris Johnson called off a trip to New Delhi.

Britain on Monday imposed its strictest travel curbs on India after an explosion of coronavirus cases there, hours after Prime Minister Boris Johnson called off a trip to New Delhi. "We've made the difficult but vital decision to add India to the Red List. This means anyone who is not from the UK or an Irish resident or a British citizen cannot enter the UK if they've been in India in the previous 10 days," Hancock told parliament. "UK and Irish residents and British citizens who've been in India in the past 10 days before their arrival will need to complete hotel quarantine for 10 days from the time of arrival." Also read| UK PM Boris Johnson cancels delayed visit to India over rising COVID cases The move was taken as a precaution while the variant first identified in India was assessed. Asked whether vaccines being rolled out in Britain worked against the variant, Hancock said he could not give that assurance but was looking to establish an answer as soon as possible. "The core of my concern about the variant first found in India is that the vaccines may be less effective in terms of transmission and/or in terms of reducing hospitalisation and death," he said. "It is the same concern that we have with the variant first found in South Africa, and is the core reason why we took the decision today." Public Health England (PHE) has said that 77 cases of the so-called 'double mutant Indian variant have been detected in the UK since last month and that it has now been classed as a Variant Under Investigation (VUI). In the event, the UK and Indian governments earlier Monday called off Johnson's visit, which was set for next week after already being postponed in January. It would have been Johnson's first major foreign visit since he took office in 2019. "In the light of the current coronavirus situation, Prime Minister Boris Johnson will not be able to travel to India next week," the two governments said in a joint statement. They said that Johnson and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi would instead speak later this month "to agree and launch their ambitious plans for the future partnership between the UK and India. "They will remain in regular contact beyond this, and look forward to meeting in person later this year." Cricket impact Monday's announcement could also have a knock-on effect upon England's upcoming home international cricket schedule. Several leading England and New Zealand cricketers currently taking part in the lucrative Indian Premier League tournament are expected to fly in for the two-match Test series that starts at London's Lord's ground on June 2. Indian players could be affected too, with Virat Kohli's men set to face New Zealand in the inaugural World Test Championship final in Southampton later that month. But the Rose Bowl ground at Southampton, the headquarters of county side Hampshire, boasts an on-site hotel and it was one of the venues, along with Manchester's Old Trafford, that has a similar set-up, which pioneered international cricket's return from coronavirus-enforced suspension last year. A spokesperson for the International Cricket Council, the sport's global governing body, said: "The ECB (England and Wales Cricket Board) and other Members have demonstrated how we can stage international cricket safely in the middle of a pandemic and we are confident that we can continue to do that and that the World Test Championship Final will go ahead as planned in June in the UK." The India women's team is also due to arrive for a multi-format series against England starting on June 16. Johnson's office had last week announced the visit would be shortened. It was originally organised to span three days and set to begin on April 26. It had initially been heralded as an opportunity for Britain to refocus its international trade policy in the wake of Brexit as it pursues a so-called "global Britain" strategy. But spiking coronavirus cases, hospitalisations and deaths in Britain earlier this year led to its delay. Now, surging infections in India, where officials have recorded five consecutive days of more than 200,000 cases, have led to its cancellation altogether. A total of 103 cases of the Indian variant have been identified in Britain, Hancock said. (With inputs from agencies)

UK adds India to COVID-19 travel 'red list' after Boris Johnson cancels tour

The British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has cancelled his visit to India once again due to alarming COVID-19 cases across India. This meeting will be held online.

WION Fineprint: UK PM Boris Johnson cancels his India visit once again due to COVID

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has cancelled his delayed visit to India next week, his office said on Monday. This was to be his first major bilateral foreign visit since taking power in 2019.

Johnson had already postponed the trip once from January when COVID-19 infections were high in Britain. Infections in India are currently surging as the country endures a second wave of the virus.

"In the light of the current coronavirus situation, Prime Minister&nbsp;Boris&nbsp;Johnson will not be able to travel to India next week," a joint statement from the British and Indian governments said.

"Instead, Prime Ministers Modi and Johnson will speak later this month to agree and launch their ambitious plans for the future partnership between the UK and India."

Relations with India are seen as a key component of both Britain's post-Brexit ambitions to reinvigorate trade with countries outside the European Union, and a diplomatic push to gain more influence in the Indo-Pacific region.

Britain has invited India to attend the G7 summit it is hosting in June.

Public Health England (PHE) has said that 77 cases of the so-called 'double mutant&nbsp;Indian variant have been detected in the UK since last month and that it has now been classed as a Variant Under Investigation (VUI).

The variant&nbsp;officially named B.1.617&nbsp;is believed to be almost certainly playing a part in the second wave of the coronavirus pandemic in India and a major spike in infection rates.&nbsp;

(With input from agencies)

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has cancelled his delayed visit to India next week, his office said on Monday. This was to be his first major bilateral foreign visit since taking power in 2019.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has cancelled his delayed visit to India next week, his office said on Monday. This was to be his first major bilateral foreign visit since taking power in 2019. Johnson had already postponed the trip once from January when COVID-19 infections were high in Britain. Infections in India are currently surging as the country endures a second wave of the virus. "In the light of the current coronavirus situation, Prime Minister Boris Johnson will not be able to travel to India next week," a joint statement from the British and Indian governments said. "Instead, Prime Ministers Modi and Johnson will speak later this month to agree and launch their ambitious plans for the future partnership between the UK and India." Relations with India are seen as a key component of both Britain's post-Brexit ambitions to reinvigorate trade with countries outside the European Union, and a diplomatic push to gain more influence in the Indo-Pacific region. Britain has invited India to attend the G7 summit it is hosting in June. Public Health England (PHE) has said that 77 cases of the so-called 'double mutant Indian variant have been detected in the UK since last month and that it has now been classed as a Variant Under Investigation (VUI). The variant officially named B.1.617 is believed to be almost certainly playing a part in the second wave of the coronavirus pandemic in India and a major spike in infection rates. (With input from agencies)

British PM Boris Johnson cancels visit to India over COVID surge, for the second time

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has called India an "indispensable partner" ahead of his Delhi visit next month as the chief guest at the Republic day parade. The visit will be his first major bilateral visit since taking charge in 2019 and Brexit.

Johnson said, "I am absolutely delighted to be visiting India next year at the start of an exciting year for Global Britain, and look forward to delivering the quantum leap in our bilateral relationship that Prime Minister Modi and I have pledged to achieve."

The visit will be key to London's pivot to Indo-Pacific. As Johnson described it, "As a key player in the Indo-Pacific region, India is an increasingly indispensable partner for the United Kingdom" as we "work to boost jobs and growth, confront shared threats to our security and protect our planet."

Also see:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/british-leaders-who-were-invited-to-indias-republic-day-346990">British leaders who were invited to India's Republic Day</a>

Boris Johnson will be the second British Prime Minister to be at India's Republic Day parade as a chief guest since John Major in 1993.

The British Prime Minister has also extended an invitation to Indian Prime Minister Modi for the next year's G7 summit. India, along with Australia and South Korea are 3 countries that have been invited to the G7 summit under the chairmanship of the UK.

Ahead of the visit, UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab is on a four-day India visit and met India's external affairs minister S Jaishankar for talks that lasted for 4 hours at Delhi's Hyderabad house.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/ahead-of-pm-johnsons-visit-dominic-raab-jaishankar-seek-to-deepen-india-uk-ties-349926" hreflang="en">Ahead of PM Johnson's visit, Dominic Raab, Jaishankar seek to deepen India, UK ties</a>

EAM, reacting to the announcement made of Raab that PM Boris has accepted the invitation to come to India said, "It would in a way symbolic of a new era, a new phase of our relationship, it will also really drive us to put in place mechanism, platforms which would realize the expectations that both PM Modi and PM Johnson have of the relationship."

During the Raab-Jaishankar talks, both sides focused on the strengthened UK-India relationship over the next 10 years. Raab said, " As COP26 President and G7 President next year we will work closely with our Indian friends, as they return to the UN Security Council, to boost trade, promote peace and work together as a force for good throughout the Indo-Pacific."

While on every field both sides are working, the key areas are people to people, trade, defense and security, climate change, and health. The British Foreign Secretary will meet Prime Minister Modi on Wednesday to discuss a ‘10-year roadmap’ with emphasis on the collaboration on Trade, dealing with the coronavirus crisis, and tackle climate change.

Both sides are working on a Free Trade Agreement, something the post-Brexit UK is very keen on. Trade between the UK and India stands at £24 billion and grew at 11% last financial year. While there are 842 Indian companies in the UK with a combined turnover of £41.2 billion, 400 British companies are present in India.&nbsp;

On the COVID pandemic, a billion doses of the UK’s Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine being manufactured at India’s Serum Institute in Pune. Amidst the pandemic, the UK got 11 million masks, 3 million packets of Paracetamol from India which emerged as the Pharmacy of the world. When it comes to defense and security, UK will send HMS Queen Elizabeth Carrier Strike Group to the Indo-Pacific region next year even as both sides have vowed to increase cooperation.&nbsp;

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has called India an "indispensable partner" ahead of his Delhi visit next month as the chief guest at the Republic day parade.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has called India an "indispensable partner" ahead of his Delhi visit next month as the chief guest at the Republic day parade. The visit will be his first major bilateral visit since taking charge in 2019 and Brexit. Johnson said, "I am absolutely delighted to be visiting India next year at the start of an exciting year for Global Britain, and look forward to delivering the quantum leap in our bilateral relationship that Prime Minister Modi and I have pledged to achieve." The visit will be key to London's pivot to Indo-Pacific. As Johnson described it, "As a key player in the Indo-Pacific region, India is an increasingly indispensable partner for the United Kingdom" as we "work to boost jobs and growth, confront shared threats to our security and protect our planet." Also see: British leaders who were invited to India's Republic Day Boris Johnson will be the second British Prime Minister to be at India's Republic Day parade as a chief guest since John Major in 1993. The British Prime Minister has also extended an invitation to Indian Prime Minister Modi for the next year's G7 summit. India, along with Australia and South Korea are 3 countries that have been invited to the G7 summit under the chairmanship of the UK. Ahead of the visit, UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab is on a four-day India visit and met India's external affairs minister S Jaishankar for talks that lasted for 4 hours at Delhi's Hyderabad house. Also read: Ahead of PM Johnson's visit, Dominic Raab, Jaishankar seek to deepen India, UK ties EAM, reacting to the announcement made of Raab that PM Boris has accepted the invitation to come to India said, "It would in a way symbolic of a new era, a new phase of our relationship, it will also really drive us to put in place mechanism, platforms which would realize the expectations that both PM Modi and PM Johnson have of the relationship." During the Raab-Jaishankar talks, both sides focused on the strengthened UK-India relationship over the next 10 years. Raab said, " As COP26 President and G7 President next year we will work closely with our Indian friends, as they return to the UN Security Council, to boost trade, promote peace and work together as a force for good throughout the Indo-Pacific." While on every field both sides are working, the key areas are people to people, trade, defense and security, climate change, and health. The British Foreign Secretary will meet Prime Minister Modi on Wednesday to discuss a ‘10-year roadmap’ with emphasis on the collaboration on Trade, dealing with the coronavirus crisis, and tackle climate change. Both sides are working on a Free Trade Agreement, something the post-Brexit UK is very keen on. Trade between the UK and India stands at £24 billion and grew at 11% last financial year. While there are 842 Indian companies in the UK with a combined turnover of £41.2 billion, 400 British companies are present in India. On the COVID pandemic, a billion doses of the UK’s Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine being manufactured at India’s Serum Institute in Pune. Amidst the pandemic, the UK got 11 million masks, 3 million packets of Paracetamol from India which emerged as the Pharmacy of the world. When it comes to defense and security, UK will send HMS Queen Elizabeth Carrier Strike Group to the Indo-Pacific region next year even as both sides have vowed to increase cooperation.

UK PM Boris Johnson calls India 'indispensable partner' ahead of Delhi visit next month