PM Modi to Visit UK, Maldives Next Week; Trade Deal, Diplomatic Reset on Agenda
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will embark on a crucial two-nation tour to the United Kingdom and the Maldives next week, from July 23 to 26, aiming to sign a landmark trade pact in London and reset strained diplomatic relations in Maldives
The first leg of the tour will take PM Modi to the United Kingdom from July 23-24, where the primary agenda is the signing of the historic India-UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA). This agreement is the culmination of three years of intensive negotiations between the two countries.
The FTA is poised to have a major impact on bilateral commerce, with officials noting it will reduce tariffs on 99 per cent of Indian exports to the UK. It will also facilitate British exports of key products like whisky and cars to the vast Indian market, significantly enlarging the overall trade basket.
By dismantling trade barriers, both nations aim to forge a more comprehensive economic partnership, which is also expected to deepen their existing security and strategic collaboration.
Following the UK visit, the Prime Minister will travel to the Maldives for a two-day visit on July 25-26. He will be the Chief Guest at the island nation’s 60th National Day celebrations, a significant diplomatic gesture.
This visit is particularly noteworthy as it marks PM Modi’s first trip to the Maldives since the government of President Mohamed Muizzu took office and the first since relations soured following the “India Out” campaign, which was backed by some of the Maldives’ current leaders. His last visit to the country was in June 2019.
The presence of the Prime Minister in Male is being seen as a concerted effort to reset and strengthen the India-Maldives relationship, fostering goodwill and reinforcing mutual cooperation after a period of strain.
The visit signals a positive turn in relations, following Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu’s own trip to India in October 2024, where he expressed a clear interest in mending ties and advancing collaborative projects with New Delhi.
