PM Modi set to visit UK and Maldives to strengthen trade and diplomatic ties

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to embark on a crucial two-nation visit to the United Kingdom and the Maldives from July 23 to 26, focused on strengthening India’s global partnerships through trade and diplomacy.

Also Read:20 years on the run: Woman arrested by CBI for Rs 8 crore bank fraud in Bengaluru

In the first leg of his trip, PM Modi will visit the United Kingdom on July 23–24, where he will officially sign the long-awaited India-UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA). This landmark deal, the result of over three years of negotiations, aims to eliminate tariffs on 99% of Indian exports to the UK and boost British exports like whisky and automobiles into the Indian market. The agreement is expected to broaden bilateral trade, improve market access, and deepen security ties between the two countries.

Following the UK leg, PM Modi will travel to the Maldives on July 25-26 to attend the 60th National Day celebrations as the Chief Guest. This marks Modi’s first visit to the Maldives under President Mohamed Muizzu’s administration, amid recent tensions caused by the “India Out” campaign and shifting diplomatic alignments toward China. The visit aims to rebuild strained relations, reinforce India’s "Neighbourhood First" policy, and strengthen strategic cooperation in the Indian Ocean Region.