Prime Minister Boris Johnson will visit India in April to boost UK opportunities in the region and to create a democratic counterweight to China, Reuters reported. With an aim to expand its influence in the Indo-Pacific region while preserving its strong ties with the United States, the British government will be laying out the country`s post-Brexit defence and foreign policy priorities on Tuesday.

Calling the Indo-Pacific "increasingly the geopolitical centre of the world", the government also highlighted a British aircraft deployment to the region ahead of Prime Minister Boris Johnson`s previously postponed visit to India in April, reported Reuters. UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson was supposed to be the chief guest at Republic Day, but due to the surge in COVID-19 cases in the UK and the spread of a new strain, he cancelled his visit. Johnson is scheduled to visit India in April.