Prime Minister Narendra Modi will undertake the United Kingdom and Maldives visit between July 23 and 26, a substantive diplomatic foray to intensify India's trade relations and bilateral partnerships at the regional level, as per a report submitted by India Today.
The tour will begin from the UK on July 23 and 24, where he will seal the long-awaited India-UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA). As per reports by various media reports, the pact aims to double bilateral trade to $120 billion by 2030.
The long-pending FTA, which has been under negotiation for almost three years, is near completion. It's a turning point for both the countries—now the world's fifth and sixth-largest economies.
After the signing, the agreement will need to be approved by India's Cabinet and ratified by the UK Parliament before it becomes legally effective. Full operationalization will probably take about a year.
Modi will subsequently go to the Maldives on July 25 and 26, where he has been invited as the Chief Guest for the nation's 60th National Day celebrations. This is his first visit since President Mohamed Muizzu took office and comes during attempts to de-escalate recent diplomatic tensions between the two countries.
There had been tensions in the bilateral relationship after the "India Out" campaign in the Maldives. But stressing that the relationship between the two nations is "built on respect and shared interests," President Muizzu noted that India is playing a pivotal role as one of the biggest trade and development partners of the Maldives during his October 2024 visit to India, as reported by a national English daily.
Modi’s upcoming visit is widely seen as a chance to reset the diplomatic tone and reaffirm mutual commitment to partnership and cooperation.
In May this year, India signed 13 Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with the Maldives, including a grant of MVR 100 million to bolster ferry infrastructure and maritime connectivity. These initiatives aim to support sustainable development and improve livelihoods in the island nation.
The Maldives are strategically crucial in India's maritime vision, particularly under the SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) paradigm and 'Neighbourhood First' policy. This was reaffirmed by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh earlier this January, as he said, "The Maldives held a special place under Neighbourhood's First Policy of India, which was looking to ensure stability and prosperity in the region of the Indian Ocean."
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