Prime Minister Narendra Modi and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer issued a joint statement this morning, October 9th, 2025, announcing a marked improvement in bilateral ties and highlighting a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) as key to reducing import prices. The statement was released at approximately 10:00 AM UTC. During the joint statement, PM Modi specifically mentioned the FTA's role in bringing down import costs, according to reporting from the provided social media source. Further details on the specific clauses or implementation timeline of the FTA were not immediately available. The announcement follows reports from yesterday, October 8th, 2025, indicating that Indian Air Force flying instructors would begin training Royal Air Force personnel. While the previous report from @Platypuss_10 on October 9th, 2025, did not include specific numbers or timelines, this new joint statement suggests a broader enhancement of the defense and economic partnership between India and the United Kingdom. These developments occur in the context of annual Air Force Day celebrations, which took place on October 8th, 2025, in Hindon, Ghaziabad, India. Previous reports noted a "non-mediocre" food menu at these celebrations, according to Shiv Aroor on October 9th, 2025.
