UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, during his first visit to India, praised the country’s economic rise and dismissed US President Donald Trump’s earlier remark labelling India’s economy as “dead.” Standing alongside Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Starmer said India was firmly on track to become the world’s third-largest economy by 2028, having already surpassed Japan to take the fourth spot.
Opening his address with “Namaskar doston,” Starmer congratulated Modi for his vision of Viksit Bharat and pledged the UK’s partnership in India’s growth journey. “Everything I have seen since I arrived here is absolute proof that you are on track to succeed,” he said.
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Starmer’s remarks, made in the presence of a 100-member delegation of CEOs and cultural leaders, were seen as a strong counter to Trump’s July statement, in which he dismissed India’s economy amid tensions over Russian oil imports. India’s 7.8% growth in the April–June quarter has since proven its resilience.
The UK Prime Minister also reaffirmed Britain’s support for India’s bid for a permanent seat in the UN Security Council, saying, “We want to see India take its rightful place.” His stance adds the UK to the list of major nations , including Russia, France, and Germany , backing India’s inclusion.
