Dominic Raab says Rishi Sunak needs to 'improve his game' in India

Dominic Raab asked if Downing Street is doing enough to provide «great shopping opportunities»? in proposal Photo: Getty Images Europe

Dominic Raab urged Rishi Sunak to 'improve our game' in Britain's relationship with India with new trade and defense deals.

The former foreign secretary suggested that her historic ties and prime minister of Indian origin, the UK should get more out of its relationship with the country.

Boris Johnson, the former prime minister, hoped to reach an agreement by Diwali last year. but talks stalled.

In an article for The Telegraph, Mr Raab questioned whether Downing Street was doing «enough» to provide «tremendous shopping opportunities» on offer.

“Given the UK’s historic ties to India and our first British Prime Minister of Indian heritage, are we doing enough to maximize the value of this important relationship?” he said.

“The UK continues to have a unique opportunity to reap the benefits of a deeper friendship with India. To do this, we need to increase the level of our game throughout the government.”

Mr Raab, a close ally of the prime minister, helped Sunak in a failed bid to become Conservative leader last year and served as his foreign minister until he was forced to resign in April amid allegations of intimidation by civil servants. which he denied.

He warned that the UK risked falling behind France in the race for new business due to a lack of urgency and a «ossified» civil service.

He also suggested that the UK also spearheaded the process of excommunication New Delhi got rid of dependence on Russian weapons.

“India is the fifth largest economy in the world and is projected to overtake the euro area within 30 years, so the trade opportunities are huge,” he wrote.

Dominic Raab is a close ally of Rishi Sunak and was his Foreign Minister until April. Credit: PA

Mr Raab said No. 10 should urgently accelerate Britain's plans to join the Quad security alliance, which currently includes the US, Japan, India and Australia.

He said it would provide an opportunity to start weaning India, the world's largest importer of military equipment, from importing Russian weapons.

The West also needs New Delhi's help to counter Beijing, he said, while acknowledging that she will not be «shackled» by such new connections.

«It can be maddening, as in the case of India's refusal to condemn Putin's invasion of Ukraine,» he wrote.

“But as a leading member of the non-aligned group, it has far-reaching influence among developing countries. This could be useful to the West in areas of mutual interest such as China.”

Mr Raab pointed to the fact that France had won the race to supply India with new fighters and the country had placed an order for the Rafales.

He said it was because of the «ossified Whitehall bureaucracy» that gave Paris «an edge over British aerospace firms» in the competitive international market.

Countries stuck in trade talks after Brexit< p >The UK has been in trade talks with India since leaving the EU to strike a deal that could boost British exports to the country by £16.7bn by 2035.

Both sides are said to be all a number of issues are still far apart on the issue, including the tariffs New Delhi levies on imports of cars and alcohol.

Earlier this month, the 10th round of negotiations ended without a breakthrough, and the 11th round of negotiations should take place in the next few weeks.

Lord Offord of Garwell, export minister, said the UK is demanding more concessions from India on key government demands.

«Both countries have sat down at the negotiating table with an ambitious set of demands and a willingness to work together to reach a mutually beneficial deal,» he said.

“We are continuing negotiations and the Secretary of State will only sign when we have a fair, mutual and ultimately the best interest of the British people and economy.”

Both The countries said the deal would aim to double bilateral trade, which stood at £36bn last year, by the end of the decade.

Joe Biden rolled out the red carpet this week welcoming Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the White House for a historic visit.

The couple announced a flurry of new trade, investment and security deals, which are designed to intensify cooperation between the two countries.

The US President said that the ties between Washington and New Delhi will prove to be «a defining relationship of the 21st century.» .