Prime Minister Modi is holding bilateral talks with the leaders of the United Kingdom and the United Arab Emirates on the sidelines of the G7 summit

Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a meeting with his British counterpart Keir Starmer on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Evian-les-Bains, France. | Photo credit: Special arrangement

Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a bilateral meeting with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Evian on Tuesday (June 16, 2026).

“I had a wonderful meeting with Prime Minister Keir Starmer in Evian. The past year has been excellent in terms of India-UK relations. The trade deal has opened up many avenues of economic cooperation,” Mr Modi said, adding that the conversation focused on further strengthening ties between Britain and India. The agreement, although signed, has not yet been operationalized.

Read: G7 Summit Day 1 LIVE Update

The meeting comes at a time when Mr Starmer’s political future is in doubt – with a by-election on Thursday (18 June 2026) which could return a potential contender for his post, Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, back to the UK Parliament. Under Mr Starmer, the Labor Party has undergone a reset and renewal of its ties with the Indian government (especially the Modi government) and the Hindu British, among whom it has been losing steam. The Starmer government also finalized and signed a free trade agreement with India in July 2025, after years of negotiations.

Mr Starmer and Mr Modi began by reflecting on Sunday’s peace deal between the United States and Iran and paid tribute to the efforts of President Trump and all partners involved to secure a way forward,” a Downing Street spokesman said. The two leaders agreed that the Strait of Hormuz should now be opened toll-free and with full freedom of navigation, the spokesman said.

PM thanks SAE

Mr. Modi also met the Ruler and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan (MbZ). The discussions included ways to strengthen the partnership, according to Mr. Modi. The Prime Minister said he thanked the UAE for taking care of the Indian expatriate community. The UAE has been hit by Iran several times in recent months since the West Asian conflict began in late February, with one Indian killed in March.

Mr Modi met MbZ in May when India and the UAE announced a significant expansion of security and defense cooperation. Ties have deepened in recent years, with a trade deal signed in 2022 and in light of Pakistan’s mutual defense agreement with Saudi Arabia. The UAE has also agreed to participate in building India’s strategic reserves of crude oil, LNG and LPG.

Published – 17 Jun 2026 0:16 IST