UK India trade: In post-independent India, there existed two distinct groups of people. One group harbored a deep-seated resentment towards the British colonizers, who had inflicted tremendous suffering upon them. The other group, however, continued to hold the British in high regard, despite the atrocities committed during the colonial period, and still considered them to be masters.
Despite their differences, these two groups could not stitch diplomatic ties with the United Kingdom. This is because diplomatic ties are founded upon trust between the leadership and people of one nation and those of another.
In the early years of India’s independence, while it was hardly balancing the two giants, America and the Soviet Union, it was the major force within the non-alignment movement, which initially sought to avoid the Cold War. This contrasted with Britain’s position as a founding member of NATO and a key ally of the United States.
But, courtesy of the Bhura babus, India became a part of the commonwealth of nations, even after becoming a republic. Still, it took almost 50 years to upgrade the India-United Kingdom partnership to a strategic one. It could only happen in 2004. India’s multifaceted bilateral relationship with the UK intensified with its upgrade to a strategic partnership.
Today, India is a key partner of the UK, and the partnership has expanded to realms of trade and security too. However, no diplomatic relationship can flourish if it’s one-sided. Why do I say this? Let’s find out.
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India trade: UK looking the other way around
India has witnessed a fresh revival of the Khalistan movement in the past year outside its borders. From the UK to the US to Australia to Canada, all the western nations are marred with Khalistani sympathisers, and on their soil, there has been a resurrection of the Khalistan movement.
In recent weeks, in the aftermath of Punjab Police’s chase of separatist Amritpal Singh, the Indian missions have witnessed protests. The most violent being at the India House in London, where the protestors, or shall I say the Khalistani sympathisers, not only broke the window panes but also tried to bring down the Indian tricolour. The intervention of an Indian officer posted as the commission however did not let that happen.
So, while a man climbed up the walls of the Indian commission, what were the forces in London doing? As we all know, the responsibility of providing security to foreign missions lies on the shoulders of the host nation. What followed after that? A week of diplomatic tensions between the UK and India.
India withdrew security barricades from outside the British High Commission in New Delhi. The British envoy was also summoned by the Indian government to seek answers over actions taken against the separatist elements who vandalised the India House in London.
Britain did a security ramp-up. The British Foreign Secretary, James Cleverly, said that the country will review security at the Indian High Commission in London following “unacceptable acts of violence” towards the mission’s staff. Well, you might be thinking that the relationship would have been back on track. It could have been that the UK would not have shown its true colours.
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Still, the UK just wants the FTA
While there exist diplomatic tensions between India and the UK, all that the United Kingdom wants is India’s money and market. Well, old habits die hard, and the UK doing this is just a presentation of its old colonial mindset. Why’s that? It is because the UK government has recently said that the free trade agreement negotiations between India and UK and the tensions in the bilateral relationship over India’s concerns about security at the Indian High Commission were two distinct issues.
Yes, keep no doubts; you have heard me right. The spokesperson for UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak told the press, “The two issues are unconnected.” What’s more, the UK spokesperson said, “Trade talks with India continue. And both sides want to see us achieve a full free trade agreement.” The spokesperson also mentioned that the free trade agreement between the two countries would enhance the relationship between the two countries.
Yes, we do agree; agreements are meant to do so. But at what cost? Because if the UK wants to achieve a free trade agreement, subverting India’s security interests, there is no chance that India will move forward with it. Further, securing the free trade agreement won’t help the UK sustain its economy, which is in the doldrums, if it allows itself to play pawn at the hands of Islamists and Khalistans.
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UK’s economy is in the doldrums
India recently surpassed its former colonizer, Britain, to be the fifth largest economy in the world. This clearly speaks volumes about not only India’s growth but also highlights that the entire Europe, along with the United Kingdom, can almost be traced back to its cutting and gathering days, and any time soon, the Brits will be seen doing agriculture for their livelihood. The UK’s economy is in the doldrums, with businesses facing all-time high costs and taxes.
If the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is to be believed, the UK happens to be the major economy that will contract this year. Further, inflation continues to erode pay, worsening a longstanding decline in living standards; supply chains remain fragile; and the country is experiencing the worst wave of strike action in 30 years.
Financial market turbulence could make matters worse, and the country wants to save its fortunes by signing an FTA with India, which would definitely give it the much-needed boost. Now, you can connect the dots and understand the UK’s push behind an FTA with India.
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India to put forth its interests
So, with all this said, you must have heard Indian minister Piyush Goyal say that the negotiations for the FTA are going very well with the UK. You have got it right; he did say that “trade stands on its own legs.” But what you might have missed is that the union minister has made it very clear that India will take into consideration respect for her sovereignty and territorial integrity and will not tolerate any interference in its internal affairs.
External affairs minister Dr. Jaishankar had also said that India would not accept differential standards of security, accusing the UK of not meeting its obligation to provide security to the diplomats of the mission. He had explicitly mentioned that many countries are very causal about security: “They have a different view about their own security and a different view about other people’s security, but I can tell you as a foreign minister that we are not going to accept this kind of differential standard.”
Now, you tell me, after listening to the trade and commerce minister and the foreign affairs minister, isn’t it clear that India is not going to bow down this time, and that what comes first is the country’s national interest? No deal can be cracked until you stop being puppets at the hands of Khalistanis and Islamists. This is a message India is sending out clearly.
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