PM Modi Meets Rishi Sunak, Calls Former UK PM a ‘Great Friend of India’

Sunak and Family Visit Parliament, Meet Jaishankar and Sitharaman to Discuss Strengthening India-UK Ties

February 19, 2025: New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi met former UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his family on Tuesday, highlighting the strong bond between the two nations. Calling Sunak a “great friend of India,” PM Modi shared a warm conversation with him, discussing various subjects, including strengthening India-UK relations.

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“It was a delight to meet former UK PM, Mr. Rishi Sunak and his family! We had a wonderful conversation on many subjects. Mr. Sunak is a great friend of India and is passionate about even stronger India-UK ties,” PM Modi wrote on X.

Sunak reciprocated the sentiment, sharing his appreciation for the warm welcome he and his family received. “Wonderful to catch up with my friend @narendramodi. Thank you for so warmly welcoming my family, too! Always exciting to hear your vision for India, and so important the UK-India relationship goes from strength to strength,” he wrote.

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Sunak’s Visit to Parliament and Historic Landmarks

Rishi Sunak, along with his wife Akshata Murty, daughters Krishna and Anoushka, and mother-in-law Sudha Murthy, visited the Indian Parliament. They were welcomed by Lok Sabha Secretary General Utpal Kumar Singh and Rajya Sabha Secretary General PC Mody. The Sunak family explored the Parliament House Complex, visiting the Constitution Hall, Samvidhan Sadan, and other historic sites.

During his India visit, Sunak also toured iconic heritage landmarks, including Fatehpur Sikri and the Taj Mahal in Agra.

Meetings with Jaishankar and Sitharaman

Sunak engaged in discussions with Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, exploring ways to strengthen market-based financial ties between India and the UK. Sitharaman emphasized the importance of leveraging the Commonwealth to advocate for issues relevant to the Global South in the G7 agenda.

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar also met Sunak, acknowledging his continuous support in enhancing India-UK relations.

Strengthening India-UK Relations

Sunak, who served as the UK Prime Minister from October 2022 to July 2024, has been a strong advocate of deepening bilateral ties between India and the UK. His visit reaffirmed both nations’ commitment to economic collaboration and diplomatic cooperation.

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India-UK relations, Rishi Sunak, PM Modi, Akshata Murty, Sudha Murthy, Nirmala Sitharaman, S Jaishankar, Taj Mahal, Parliament Visit, Indo-British Diplomacy, India Economy, G7, Global South