India, July 13 -- The newly minted UK-India Free Trade Agreement (FTA) isn't just about boosting £36 billion in bilateral trade. It's a masterstroke in strategic repositioning for both nations in an era defined by supply chain fragmentation and democratic anxiety. At a time when the U.S. and EU are retreating behind industrial subsidies and China is openly weaponizing trade, this pact signals a bold bet on democratic resilience, economic complementarity, and a shared vision for the 21st century. While critics obsess over market access minutiae, they're missing the bigger picture: this is Britain's most consequential post-Brexit partnership, and arguably India's most potent Western alliance since independence.
Compared to the UK's rela...