Modiji’s UK and Maldives Visits Signal India’s Expanding Global Footprint

In a week of high-level diplomacy, Prime Minister Narendra Modi concluded two critical foreign visits—to the United Kingdom and the Maldives—signaling India’s growing global stature. These twin engagements encompassed groundbreaking trade partnerships and renewed regional influence, positioning India at the heart of international economic and strategic conversations.

PM Modi, Keir Starmer and Mohammad Muizzu (Images via X/ @Narendra Modi)

A Trade Milestone with the United Kingdom

During his visit to London on July 24, 2025, Prime Minister Modi, along with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, oversaw the signing of the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA). This landmark pact is considered one of the most ambitious trade deals signed by India to date. With provisions extending across 26 sectors, including tariffs, services, digital commerce, public procurement, and intellectual property rights, CETA is set to reshape the Indo-British economic relationship.

The agreement eliminates tariffs on nearly 99% of Indian exports to the UK, a move expected to benefit Indian industries such as textiles, apparel, pharmaceuticals, and agriculture. In return, India has opened nearly 91% of its market access to UK exports, spanning high-value sectors like whisky, electronics, and automobiles. The deal holds particular promise for India’s vast micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), which can now more competitively access Western markets.

Beyond trade, the deal includes provisions for greater mobility of professionals, particularly in sectors like yoga instruction, IT services, and healthcare. A side agreement on social security coordination is also in the pipeline, which will protect Indian workers from double taxation in the UK—particularly beneficial for those on temporary assignments. Both countries have projected that this deal could help double bilateral trade, currently at $56 billion, by the end of this decade.

Strategic Realignment with the Maldives

Following the UK leg, Prime Minister Modi landed in Malé on July 25 as the Guest of Honour at the Maldives’ 60th Independence Day celebrations. His presence marked a significant diplomatic reset between the two nations, following tensions that arose after the 2023 election of President Mohamed Muizzu, whose administration initially embraced a more China-leaning posture.

In a gesture of goodwill and renewed partnership, India announced a $565 million line of credit to the Maldives. This financial support will be directed toward key development areas such as infrastructure, housing, water supply, education, and defense modernization. In addition, Modiji gifted heavy transport vehicles to the Maldivian defense forces and inaugurated several India-funded development projects, including upgrades to the Hanimaadhoo International Airport.

Perhaps most notably, India and the Maldives initiated formal negotiations for a bilateral Free Trade Agreement (FTA). Discussions also began on new cooperation pacts in sectors including healthcare, fisheries, digital connectivity, tourism, and disaster management. The reset in ties was reflected not only in the ceremonial welcome given to Modiji—where children greeted him with chants of “Vande Mataram”—but also in the renewed emphasis on mutual respect and non-interference.

This visit reestablished India as the Maldives' “first responder” and most trusted development partner, countering earlier perceptions of distancing. It also signaled India’s enduring commitment to stability in the Indian Ocean Region, a crucial area of competition between India and China.

Strategic Depth and Global Significance

These two visits—though geographically and diplomatically distinct—are linked by a common theme: India’s assertive global engagement. In the United Kingdom, India positioned itself as a serious economic partner in Western trade blocs, signaling confidence and capability in global rule-making. The CETA pact reflects India’s growing clout not only in trade but also in setting norms around services, mobility, and digital economies.

Meanwhile, in the Maldives, India exercised regional leadership through developmental diplomacy. At a time when China continues to deepen its maritime influence via the Belt and Road Initiative, Modiji’s visit served as a strategic counterbalance. By providing infrastructure aid, defense cooperation, and economic relief, India reaffirmed its role as a benevolent and stabilizing force in South Asia.

Together, these visits show India’s unique ability to simultaneously engage with global powers like the UK while nurturing its leadership role in its immediate neighborhood. Modiji’s diplomacy successfully blended hard economics with soft power, trade pragmatism with cultural connection, and regional commitment with global ambition.

Conclusion: A Week That Redefined India’s Foreign Policy Arc

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s back-to-back visits to the United Kingdom and the Maldives were more than symbolic engagements—they were active expressions of India’s evolving foreign policy strategy. The CETA agreement with the UK reaffirms India’s arrival as a competitive global economic force. Simultaneously, the Maldives outreach restores New Delhi’s role as a trusted regional guardian in the Indian Ocean, offsetting geopolitical imbalances.

At a time of shifting global alliances and emerging multipolarity, India’s ability to project power through trade, diplomacy, and developmental cooperation showcases a confident and rising nation. As New Delhi builds bridges with both the West and its neighbors, the message is clear: India is no longer just a participant in the global order—it is shaping it.

(Sources: OpIndia, The Hindu, Times of India)