PM Modi to visit UK and Maldives amid push to deepen strategic ties
New Delhi, July 20: At the invitation of UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will embark on an official visit to the United Kingdom from July 23 to 24, 2025, his fourth visit to the country. According to a press release by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Modi and Starmer will hold wide-ranging discussions on the full spectrum of India-UK bilateral relations, including global and regional issues of mutual concern.
Prime Minister Modi is also expected to meet King Charles III during the visit. Key areas of focus will include trade and economy, technology and innovation, defence and security, climate change, healthcare, education, and people-to-people ties, as the two sides review the progress of their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
In the second leg of his tour, Modi will undertake a State Visit to the Maldives from July 25 to 26 at the invitation of President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu. This will be Modi’s third visit to the archipelago and the first by any head of government since President Muizzu assumed office. He will be the Guest of Honour at the Maldives’ 60th Independence Day celebrations on July 26.
During the visit, the two leaders will assess the implementation of the “India-Maldives Joint Vision for a Comprehensive Economic and Maritime Security Partnership,” a framework agreed upon during President Muizzu’s state visit to India in October 2024. The MEA noted that the visit underscores the special place Maldives holds in India’s ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy and its broader maritime strategy, Vision MAHASAGAR.
According to Maldivian media, Modi and Muizzu are expected to jointly inaugurate several bilateral projects and oversee the signing of multiple Memoranda of Understanding aimed at deepening cooperation in key sectors. The Maldivian President’s Office described the visit as one of “profound significance,” coinciding with both the 60th anniversary of Maldives’ independence and six decades of formal diplomatic relations with India.
Relations between the two nations had soured after Muizzu took office in late 2023 on a campaign promise to expel Indian troops. Tensions further escalated when senior Maldivian officials made derogatory remarks about India and PM Modi. Despite the initial chill, both sides have taken steps toward reconciliation, with two high-level visits by President Muizzu to India and ongoing cooperation in key areas. Notably, a $400 million currency swap deal between the Maldives Monetary Authority and the Reserve Bank of India in October 2024 helped stabilise Malé’s foreign exchange reserves, offering vital economic support.
Modi’s upcoming visit is seen as a key moment to reset ties and renew strategic trust, with both governments expressing commitment to strengthening the long-standing India-Maldives partnership.
