Bonhomie and friendship were on full display at the COP26 Climate Summit in Glasgow, Scotland, between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his British counterpart Boris Johnson. The hugs and freewheeling chat between the two leaders were enabled by ironing out the vaccine recognition issue that had become a sore point for India days ahead of the summit.

India and the UK had a huge diplomatic wrangle recently following London’s refusal to recognise Covishield/AstraZeneca vaccines administered in India and putting Indian travellers through mandatory quarantine and testing. New Delhi had threatened with reciprocal action, and eventually followed through. London finally gave in and announced waiver from mandatory quarantine to travellers vaccinated (by UK or WHO recognised vaccines) in India as well.

As the host of the COP26 summit, Boris Johnson made a special gesture by inviting PM Modi onto the stage during the opening ceremony, alongside UN Chief Antonio Guterres. The leaders later came together for a separate meeting where the focus was on all aspects of bilateral, regional and global issues.

“They agreed to further strengthen cooperation on bilateral defence and security and on international issues, including the situation in Afghanistan,” the UK Prime Minister’s office mentioned in a statement.

While Afghanistan was discussed in great detail, “Counter-Terrorism, Indo-Pacific, supply chain resilience and post-Covid global economic recovery” were also discussed, according to India’s Ministry of External Affairs.

The two sides also reviewed the implementation of Roadmap 2030 priorities, particularly in trade and economy, people-to-people, health, defence and security areas.

“They expressed satisfaction at the progress in delivering the Enhanced Trade Partnership including steps taken towards the launch of FTA negotiations,” said MEA statement.

Both leaders explored the potential UK-India free trade deal, and Prime Minister Johnson “reiterated the UK’s commitment to deepening trade, investment and business ties between our two countries”, said the UK PMO.

India and the UK have been at the forefront of the fight against climate change and decided to work closely with the UK on “climate finance, technology, innovation and adaptation green hydrogen, renewables and clean technologies including joint initiatives under ISA and CDRI”, said the MEA.

PM Boris Johnson highlighted India’s leadership on climate change and they discussed ways to work together on global approaches, including scaling affordable green technology.

“Prime Minister Modi welcomed the new UK India Green Guarantee to unlock World Bank funding. The Prime Minister hoped to see India submit an ambitious emissions reduction target at COP26, as a key player in the international effort to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees. He offered the UK’s support as India transitions away from coal to renewable energy,” said the UK PMO.

PM Modi also congratulated Boris Johnson for successfully organising the COP26 summit and for his personal leadership in championing global action for climate change mitigation and adaptation.