COVID Spike: Boris Johnson’s Duration Of India Trip Reduced

New Delhi: British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, scheduled to visit India in the last week of April, has reduced the length of his trip due to the alarming COVID-19 situation in the country.

His spokesman said Johnson will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his short stay in India, Reuters reported. The revised scheduled of Johnson’s visit and other details will be made known soon.

Among other issues expected to be discussed are defence and security pacts, China and the coronavirus pandemic.

It may be recalled that Johnson had agreed to India’s invitation to be the chief guest at the Republic Day parade this year. However, the trip was postponed amid the grave COVID situation in his country and growing concerns over the UK variant of COVID-19.

“It is very exciting that he is coming. He was planning to come in January, but the COVID situation in the UK put paid to that… but he is very keen to come and we are really looking forward to what we hope will be a very significant marking of a new kind of relationship,” British High Commissioner to New Delhi Alex Ellis had said last month.

This will the UK PM’s first major foreign trip post Britain’s exit from the European Union.