Portrait of Rishi Sunak
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Rishi Sunak on India

India-UK strategic partner (strong)

TL;DR

Rishi Sunak strongly views the UK-India relationship as hugely promising, particularly in technology, trade, and global governance.

Key Points

  • He hailed India's "enormous optimism and trust for AI" in 2025, contrasting it with skepticism elsewhere.

  • As Prime Minister, he was part of a UK government showcase in Delhi in February 2026 emphasizing AI partnership.

  • He stressed that relationships based on trust are more powerful than "transaction-based politics" when discussing international trade issues involving India, October 2025.

Summary

Rishi Sunak has consistently expressed a positive and forward-looking view of India, framing the India-UK partnership as a central pillar of future global cooperation. As former Prime Minister, he emphasized the need for deeper collaboration across business, technology, and education, noting India’s "energy and ambition" in a multipolar world. This positive stance is underscored by his engagement at high-level summits and the UK government's focus on strengthening bilateral ties, exemplified by showcasing joint leadership in AI development. He has also commented on geopolitical issues involving India, advocating for trust-based relationships over purely transactional politics when discussing international trade dynamics.

His personal background, being of Indian origin, often surfaces in discussions, but his professional positions have centred on leveraging the strategic importance of India. He highlighted the importance of the UK-India Free Trade Agreement and participated in high-profile events in New Delhi to underscore this commitment. His perspective is that the world is shifting toward multipolarity, with India serving as a key example, necessitating strong alliances built on mutual trust rather than shifting trade norms.

Frequently Asked Questions

Rishi Sunak holds a strongly positive view of the UK-India relationship, describing it as "hugely promising for the future." He has consistently championed deeper ties, particularly in the technology and trade sectors, viewing the partnership as critical in the evolving global landscape.

Yes, as a former Prime Minister, he commented on international trade issues that affected India, emphasizing the value of building relationships based on trust rather than transactional politics. He also highlighted the significance of the UK-India Free Trade Agreement.

Rishi Sunak has praised India’s outlook on technology, specifically noting its "energy and ambition" regarding Artificial Intelligence. He participated in an event that showcased UK-India collaboration and leadership in the AI space.