PM to visit UK, Maldives; boosting ties, FTA on table

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will pay a four-day visit to the United Kingdom and the Maldives from July 23 in a high-stakes diplomatic tour focused on improving bilateral ties and signing the landmark Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Britain.

The PM’s visit to the Maldives is significant as it comes after the bilateral ties had come under severe strain after President Mohamed Muizzu came to power in November 2023.

In the first leg of the trip, the PM will visit the UK from July 23 to July 24, where he will sign the FTA. The agreement is poised to impact 99 per cent of Indian exports to the UK by reducing tariffs, thereby facilitating British exports such as whisky and cars to India. This will be PM Modi’s fourth visit to the UK.

“PM Modi will hold bilateral discussions with his UK counterpart, Keir Starmer. Besides, he is also expected to call on King Charles III," said the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in a statement.

“The two sides will also review the progress of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with a specific focus on trade and economy, technology and innovation, defence and security, climate, health, education and people-to-people ties," the MEA said.

From the UK, the PM will fly to the Maldives on July 25. It will be his first visit to the island nation since Muizzu came to power.

The visit is seen as a critical opportunity to address lingering concerns, foster mutual cooperation and reaffirm India’s ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy in the Indian Ocean Region. The focus will be on rebuilding trust and establishing a more robust partnership, crucial for regional stability and India’s strategic interests. PM Modi’s last bilateral visit to the Maldives was in June 2019.

“The PM will undertake a state visit to the Maldives on July 25-26 on the invitation of President Mohamed Muizzu. This will be the PM’s third visit to the Maldives and the first visit by a head of state or government to the Maldives during the presidency of Muizzu," the MEA said.

The PM will be the ‘Guest of Honour’ at the celebrations of the 60th anniversary of the Independence of Maldives, the readout said.

It also said during the visit, the PM will meet Muizzu and hold discussions on issues of mutual interest. “The two leaders will also take stock of the progress in the implementation of the India-Maldives Joint Vision for a ‘Comprehensive Economic and Maritime Security Partnership’, adopted during the state visit of Muizzu to India in October 2024."

During his visit to India last year, Muizzu had called India a “valued partner” in an effort to mend ties that were strained by his anti-India rhetoric during his election campaign.

Muizzu’s pro-China stance and campaign to drive out Indian troops stationed in the archipelago nation threatened traditionally strong ties between the two Indian Ocean nations.

After his election win in late 2023, the Maldivian leader, however, signalled a willingness to engage with India.

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