Prime Minister Narendra Modi will embark on a two-nation tour on Wednesday, visiting the United Kingdom and the Maldives from July 23 to 26, aiming to strengthen India’s global diplomatic engagements.
At the invitation of UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Prime Minister Modi will undertake an official visit to the United Kingdom from July 23 to 24. This will be his fourth visit to the UK, reflecting the growing warmth and depth of the bilateral relationship.
India and the United Kingdom share historical ties that have evolved into a robust and mutually beneficial partnership. A major milestone in the relationship was achieved during the India-UK virtual summit on 4 May 2021, when Prime Minister Modi and then UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson established a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and adopted an ambitious India-UK Roadmap 2030. This roadmap continues to steer cooperation across various sectors including trade, security, education, technology, and climate change.
The visit also comes in the wake of the recent general elections in the UK held on 4 July 2024, where the Labour Party returned to power after 14 years, winning 412 out of 650 seats. Keir Starmer assumed office as Prime Minister, and PM Modi extended his congratulations during a telephonic conversation on 6 July, also inviting him for an early visit to India.
In its election manifesto, the Labour Party pledged to pursue a new strategic partnership with India, focusing on the conclusion of a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and deepening cooperation in critical sectors. The two leaders had earlier met on the sidelines of the G20 Leaders’ Summit in Brazil in November 2024 and briefly interacted again during the G7 Summit in Canada in June 2025.
Following the terrorist attack in Pahalgam in April 2025, Prime Minister Starmer had spoken to PM Modi to convey his condolences and support. On 6 May 2025, both leaders held a telephonic conversation and announced the successful conclusion of the India-UK FTA and the Double Taxation Avoidance Convention, marking a historic development in bilateral ties.
High-level exchanges have been a consistent feature of India-UK relations. President Droupadi Murmu visited London in September 2022 to attend the State Funeral of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and met King Charles III during her visit. Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar represented India at the Coronation of King Charles III in May 2023 and engaged with global leaders during his visit. He also addressed members of the Indian community and interacted with Indian-origin UK MPs and students.
Prime Minister Modi had earlier met former UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on multiple occasions, including during the G20 Summit in India in September 2023 and at the G7 Summit in Italy in June 2024. Their discussions covered progress on the India-UK FTA and other key areas under the Roadmap 2030. Sunak’s official visit to India in 2023 and bilateral engagements in Japan and Bali further contributed to the growing momentum in the relationship. Notably, the Young Professionals Scheme was launched following their meeting in Bali in 2022, enhancing mobility for youth between the two countries.
In April 2022, then UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson visited India and held wide-ranging discussions with PM Modi. The visit saw the announcement of an ‘Open General Export Licence’ for Indian companies and the signing of MoUs in nuclear energy and global innovation, along with a joint statement on cyber cooperation.
Earlier, in November 2021, Prime Minister Modi had visited the UK to attend the COP26 World Leaders’ Summit in Glasgow, where he and Prime Minister Boris Johnson jointly launched the One Sun, One World, One Grid (OSOWOG) initiative under the International Solar Alliance and the Infrastructure for Resilient Island States (IRIS) initiative under the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure.
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla visited the UK in January 2025 and held bilateral talks with the Speaker of the House of Commons, Lindsay Hoyle, underscoring the strong parliamentary ties between the two democracies.