2025, Vol. 7, Issue 11, Part A

The United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the European Union has compelled it to redefine its global engagement under the vision of “Global Britain.” This paper critically examines how India fits into this reimagined foreign and economic policy framework. It explores the evolving nature of India-UK relations in the post-Brexit era through the lenses of trade diplomacy, strategic cooperation, and soft power. The study investigates how shared democratic values, common geopolitical interests in the Indo-Pacific, and growing economic complementarities have positioned India as a cornerstone of Britain’s external strategy beyond Europe.

The research employs a qualitative methodology, drawing on policy documents such as the Integrated Review (2021), the UK-India Roadmap 2030, and data from trade ministries, think tank reports, and peer-reviewed literature. A comparative policy analysis and case study approach are used to assess progress in bilateral trade negotiations, investment flows, defense collaboration, and educational linkages.

Findings suggest that while India is central to the UK’s ambition to project itself as a global trading nation, structural challenges such as immigration policies, regulatory mismatches, and differing economic priorities continue to constrain the full potential of this partnership. The paper concludes that sustained engagement, policy alignment, and mutual recognition of strategic priorities will be essential to transform the Global Britain vision into a tangible economic and geopolitical partnership with India.