Rishi Sunak jets in to smooth relations ahead of UK-India trade talks – POLITICO

But now the former British leader, who remains an MP, has been making amends ahead of Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds’ trip next week to officially begin talks.

Modi, reunited with Sunak, took to X to call him a “great friend of India,” who is “passionate about even stronger India-U.K. ties.”

Sunak, who visited Modi with his family — including his mother-in-law, Sudha Murthy, co-founder of Indian tech giant, Infosys — also met with Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar. Jaishankar posted on X to say it was “nice to meet” Sunak, and he “appreciate[s] his constant support for strengthening relations.”

‘Complex’ talks ahead

A U.K. official, granted anonymity to speak candidly, was quick to stress that Sunak wasn’t working on the U.K. government’s behalf.

But the official noted it was common for politicians and business leaders to use their personal networks to support and advocate for closer economic ties. They also highlighted that standard protocol would have been followed to support the former PM while traveling. 

Meanwhile, Trade Secretary Reynolds is gearing up for his own trip to India. He is due to fly out this Sunday, with Investment Minister Poppy Gustafsson also scheduled to arrive early next week. Gustafsson will attend the U.K.-India AI Conference, hosted at the headquarters of Infosys, the Indian tech firm owned by Sunak’s in-laws.

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