New Delhi, July 19, 2025 –
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to embark on a significant international tour from *July 23 to 26, covering both the *United Kingdom and the Maldives, according to official sources. The visit is expected to bolster trade ties, improve bilateral relations, and revive diplomatic engagement with the island nation following recent tensions.
UK Visit to Cement India-Britain Trade Deal
Modi’s first stop will be *London, where he is set to participate in high-level talks concerning the much-anticipated **India-UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA). The discussions, which have been underway for several months, are likely to culminate in a formal *trade pact signing, marking a pivotal moment for both economies post-Brexit.
Officials confirmed that strategic discussions on defense, immigration, education, and climate change will also take place with top UK government representatives. This visit aims to strengthen the evolving partnership between India and Britain on multiple global platforms.
Maldives Visit on July 25–26: Chief Guest for 60th National Day
After concluding his UK tour, Prime Minister Modi will head to the Maldives on *July 25 and 26, where he will attend the *60th National Day celebrations of the island nation as the *Chief Guest. His presence is seen as a symbolic gesture of goodwill, signaling a reset in *India-Maldives relations.
Background: Diplomatic Strain Over Past Comments
This high-profile visit comes months after a diplomatic rift sparked by *controversial remarks made by Maldivian ministers about PM Modi and the Indian tourism industry. The backlash was swift on Indian social media, where hashtags like *#BoycottMaldives trended widely. The incident led to a sharp drop in Indian tourist footfall—one of the main pillars of the Maldivian economy.
The Maldives, heavily reliant on foreign tourism, faced economic hardship due to the sudden decline in Indian visitors. Diplomatic ties also experienced visible strain as both governments maintained a cautious distance in the aftermath.
Resetting Diplomatic Relations
Now, Modi’s upcoming visit is being seen as an effort to normalize and rebuild strained ties between the two countries. Political analysts suggest that the visit could open new avenues for cooperation in defense, climate resilience, tourism, and infrastructure development in the Indian Ocean region.
Visit Overview:
- UK (July 23–24):
- Final round of FTA negotiations
- Diplomatic and strategic meetings with UK officials
- Maldives (July 25–26):
- Attending 60th National Day celebrations as Chief Guest
- Possible bilateral talks to mend strained relations
Key Highlights:
- UK Visit (July 23–24, 2025):
PM Modi will attend final negotiations on the India–UK Free Trade Agreement.
A formal FTA signing is expected during the visit.
Strategic talks to be held on defense, education, climate, and immigration with UK officials. - Maldives Visit (July 25–26, 2025):
Modi will be the Chief Guest at Maldives’ 60th National Day celebrations.
Visit aims to reset strained diplomatic ties following last year’s controversy.
Bilateral discussions may include tourism, climate change, and infrastructure cooperation. - Background Context:
Diplomatic tensions rose last year after Maldivian ministers’ remarks on Modi triggered backlash in India.
#BoycottMaldives trended widely on social media, affecting Maldivian tourism.
Maldives suffered economic losses due to reduced Indian tourist footfall. - Strategic Importance:
Visit expected to strengthen regional diplomacy, economic ties, and India’s role in the Indian Ocean region.