During his official visit to the United Kingdom, Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar held a meeting with the newly appointed UK Foreign Secretary, David Cameron, on November 13. The encounter followed Cameron’s unexpected return to UK politics after a cabinet reshuffle. While the details of the discussion were not immediately disclosed, Jaishankar shared on social media that talks included the Ukraine conflict and the “situation in West Asia,” likely referring to the Israel-Palestine issue. The Indo-Pacific region was also a topic of discussion.
Jaishankar expressed pleasure at meeting Cameron on his first day in office, congratulating him on his appointment. The two leaders engaged in a comprehensive conversation about realizing the full potential of the strategic partnership between India and the UK. They exchanged views on West Asia, the Ukraine conflict, and the Indo-Pacific region, with Jaishankar looking forward to close collaboration.
Against the backdrop of the conflict between Israel and Hamas, both India and the UK have refrained from immediately calling for a ceasefire but have advocated for de-escalation and the adherence to international law. Notably, on October 28, India abstained from a UN vote for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, while the UK opposed the resolution. However, both countries voted in favor of a UN resolution on November 9 condemning Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and the occupied Syrian Golan.
