British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will reportedly be visiting India this month with the Russia-Ukraine conflict in the backdrop. The state visit is expected to be scheduled for late April, media reports suggest.

While the Prime Minister’s office has not given an official confirmation for the visit so far, the trip is likely to focus on key issues like strengthing bilateral ties of the countries and finalising the India-UK Free Trade Agreement. 22nd April is expected to be the date Prime Minister Johnson arrives.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his British counterpart Boris Johnson reportedly spoke about an in-person meeting in a telephonic conversation last month. 

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A Downing Street spokesperson said in a statement last month, “The leaders welcomed India and the UK’s strong and prosperous relationship, and agreed to continue to build on trade, security and business ties in the coming weeks and months. They looked forward to meeting in-person at the earliest opportunity”, according to reports from PTI.

The British Prime Minister planned to visit India twice last year, however, was forced to call off the visit as COVID-19 cases went up across the globe.

While speaking at a formal launch of the India-United Kingdom Free Trade Agreement, Prime Minister Johnson said, “A trade deal with India’s booming economy offers huge benefits for British businesses, workers and consumers.”

He added, “We are seizing the opportunities offered in growing economies of the Indo-Pacific to cement our place on the global stage and deliver jobs and growth at home”, according to reports from PTI.

The two leaders last met in-person on the sidelines of the COP26 Climate Summit in Glasgow in November last year, when their bilateral talks during the World Leaders’ Summit focussed on the India- United Kingdom climate partnership as well as a review of the 2030 Roadmap which they had signed during a virtual summit in May 2021.