S Jaishankar to visit UK, Ireland today to enhance ties

He will visit the nations from March 4 to March 9.

"During the visit, EAM will be holding discussions with his counterpart, Foreign Secretary David Lammy and will meet several other dignitaries as well as Indian community members," read the statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs.

Comprehensive Strategic Partnership

The Ministry of External Affairs said India and the UK share a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

The partnership has strengthened across diverse areas, including defence and security, trade and economy, health, education, and people-to-people ties.

India and Ireland share friendly bilateral relations based on shared democratic values, cultural ties and growing economic engagements.

Ireland Visit

S Jaishankar will meet his Irish counterpart Simon Harris, and other dignitaries and members of the Indian community during his visit to Ireland on March 6 - 7.

"EAM’s visit will provide renewed impetus to India’s friendly ties with both UK and Ireland," MEA said.

Ukraine Factor

He is visiting the UK at a time when Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was engaged in a verbal spat with his American counterpart, Donald Trump, during their meeting in the White House last week.

He was warmly welcomed in the UK by British PM Keir Starmer, where he reached after concluding his US trip.

It is still not clear whether the Ukraine issue will feature during the meeting between Jaishankar and Lammy.

During Zelenskyy's visit, Keir Starmer announced an additional £1.6bn ($2bn) of UK export finance to help Ukraine buy more than 5,000 air defence missiles, media reports said.

Keir Starmer announced a loan of  2.2 billion British pounds ($2.8 billion) to support Ukraine.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer chaired a crucial meeting with European leaders to discuss Ukraine.