India, Nov. 5 -- "Beyond the words on the page of the agreement is the spirit and the confidence that has given to our two great countries to work even more closely together," noted Keir Starmer, the British Prime Minister, during his recent visit to Mumbai. He was referring to the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) the two countries signed. The agreement promises to augment bilateral trade volume by £25.5 billion every year from its current standing at £44.1 billion. The UK-India Technology Security Initiative adds collaborative substance in the critical minerals and Artificial Intelligence space. But the spirit of this story, as Starmer hinted, is fundamentally political.

India's ties with Britain are undergoin...