Prime Minister Boris Johnson will travel to India this week after a protracted wait in order to enhance security relations with the nation.

On Friday, he will meet with his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi in New Delhi, where they will discuss defence and trade.

After earlier visits were postponed owing to Covid, this will be Mr Johnson’s first significant journey to India as Prime Minister.

Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the UK has been attempting to encourage India to lessen its dependence on Moscow.

Foreign Secretary Liz Truss visited India last month in an attempt to persuade the country to impose tougher sanctions on Russia and work more closely with the US on trade, defence, energy, and food security.

Since Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, India has not explicitly criticised Russia, and it did not denounce the invasion during a United Nations vote on the topic.

On Thursday, Mr Johnson will go to Gujarat, India’s fifth-largest state, where he is anticipated to announce a big investment in vital industries in both the UK and India, as well as new research, health, and technology collaborations.

The prime minister said ahead of his visit: “As authoritarian governments pose a danger to our peace and prosperity, it is critical that democracies and allies stand together.

“In these uncertain times, India, as a significant economic power and the world’s largest democracy, is a highly important strategic partner for the UK.

“From job creation and economic growth to energy security and defence, my visit to India will deliver on the issues that matter most to the people of both our countries.”

Mr Johnson cancelled a trip to India in April of last year after the south Asian country was put to the UK’s red list, requiring visitors returning from there to stay in a hotel for ten days. Despite India’s rising coronavirus incidence and the new delta form, the authorities initially insisted on the trip going ahead. Instead, in response to inquiries about why India had not been placed on the red list, Mr Johnson said he would talk with the Indian prime minister via the internet. Due to the UK closure, a trip to India in January 2021 was also cancelled.