Britain’s Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer attends a bilateral meeting with India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the G20 summit at the Museum of Modern Art in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. File
| Photo Credit: Reuters
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will embark on a two-nation tour of the United Kingdom and the Maldives from July 23 to July 26, the Ministry of External Affairs announced on Sunday (July 20, 2025). During the visit to the U.K., Prime Minister Modi is expected to unveil the bilateral trade pact that the two sides announced on May 6.
“During the visit, Prime Minister Modi will hold wide ranging discussions with Prime Minister Keir Starmer on the entire gamut of India-U.K. bilateral relations. They will also exchange views on issues of regional and global importance,” said the Ministry of External Affairs in the official announcement. During the visit PM Modi is scheduled to meet King Charles III.
Prime Minister Modi had announced the trade deal with the U.K. on May 6 describing it as “ambitious and mutually beneficial”. Before announcing the deal on the social media, he had held a telephone conversation with Prime Minister Starmer. The negotiation for the deal that witnessed several twists because of change of multiple governments in the U.K. started in 2022.
The Government of the U.K. has described the deal as “the biggest and most economically significant bilateral trade deal”. Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal paid a two-day visit to the U.K. in June to lay the grounds for the unveiling of the India-U.K. Free Trade Agreement (FTA).
The Ministry of External Affairs said that during the visit, Mr. Modi will review the state 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.”
On the invitation of President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, Prime Minister Modi’s state visit to the Maldives will begin on 25 July. Mr Modi will be the “Guest of Honour” at the 60th anniversary celebrations of the independence of Maldives on 26 July.
“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”, said the Ministry of External Affairs in the statement.
Published – July 20, 2025 02:48 pm IST
