Prime Minister Narendra Modi will travel to the United Kingdom and the Maldives from July 23 to 26, the government said on Sunday. While India and the UK are likely to formally sign the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) during the visit, Modi will be the guest of honour at the Maldives’ Independence Day celebrations.

This will be Modi’s first trip to the two countries after the change in leadership there.

“At the invitation of the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Keir Starmer, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will pay an official visit to the United Kingdom from July 23-24, 2025,” the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement.

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“During the visit, Prime Minister Modi will hold wide ranging discussions with Prime Minister Starmer on the entire gamut of India-UK bilateral relations. They will also exchange views on issues of regional and global importance. Prime Minister is also expected to call on His Majesty King Charles III. During the visit, the two sides will also review the progress of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) with a specific focus on trade and economy, technology and innovation, defence and security, climate, health, education and people-to-people ties,” it said.

This will be Modi’s fourth visit to the UK, but the first since Starmer came to power after he led the Labour landslide to end 14 years of Conservative rule in July last year. Since then, the two leaders have met a couple of times on the sidelines of multilateral meetings — at the G20 Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in November last year, and the G7 leaders’ summit in Kananaskis in Canada in June this year.

While the India-UK Free Trade Agreement was finalised in May this year, the pact is expected to be signed during Modi’s visit. The FTA, finalised after three years of negotiations, is expected to benefit 99 per cent Indian exports from tariff and will make it easier for British firms to export whiskey, cars and other products to India besides boosting the overall trade basket.

In the second leg of his visit, Modi will go to Maldives for the first time since President Mohamed Muizzu came to power in November 2023. “Prime Minister Modi will be the ‘Guest of Honour’ at the celebrations of the 60th anniversary of the Independence of Maldives on July 26,” the MEA said.

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This will mark a turnaround in the relationship which started on a confrontational note. Earlier, Muizzu had asked India to withdraw Indian military personnel associated with the aviation platforms — two choppers and an aircraft — and they had to be replaced by technical personnel. Muizzu visited India in October last year, and the two sides moved forward to mend ties. Modi’s visit will be aimed at taking this forward.

“In the second leg of his visit, PM will undertake a State Visit to Maldives from July 25-26, 2025 on the invitation of the President of the Republic of Maldives, Mohamed Muizzu. This will be Prime Minister’s third visit to Maldives, and the first visit by a Head of State or Government to Maldives during the Presidency of Mohamed Muizzu,” the MEA said.

“Prime Minister Modi will meet Mohamed 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 the President of Maldives to India in October 2024,” it said.

It said the visit reflects the importance India attaches to its maritime neighbour, Maldives, which continues to hold a special place in India’s ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy and Vision MAHASAGAR. It will provide an opportunity for both sides to further deepen and strengthen the close bilateral relationship, it said.