UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson will travel to India in the coming week to discuss issues related to trade and security with his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi, marking his first visit to the subcontinent as a leader.

“As we face threats to our peace and prosperity from autocratic states, it is vital that democracies and friends stick together,” the embattled Johnson said ahead of his visit to India, with calls for his resignation in the UK still ringing in his ears.

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“India, as a major economic power and the world’s largest democracy, is a highly valued strategic partner for the UK in these uncertain times,” the British Prime Minister added, ahead of what his office described as “in-depth” talks scheduled for April 22 in Delhi.

According to Johnson’s office, the 57-year-old will discuss “strategic defence, diplomatic and economic partnership” between the UK and India with PM Modi in a bid to bolster “security co-operation” in the Asia-Pacific, where tensions are also high due to frictions between China and Taiwan.

However, Johnson’s trip to India may be more complicated with the two countries at loggerheads over their stances on the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine.

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While the UK has imposed a series of sanctions on Moscow and has also supplied various weapons to Ukraine to help the defending forces in the fight against the invaders, India has, thus far, abstained from voting against Russia at the United Nations (UN), and has also agreed to buy oil from Moscow despite Western sanctions.

British trade minister Anne-Marie Trevelyan had earlier said that Johnson was disappointed with India’s stance, and it remains to be seen how the 57-year-old handles the sensitive issue during his visit to Delhi.