Prime Minister Narendra Modi departed for his four-day official visit to the United Kingdom and the Maldives this afternoon.  In the first leg of his tour, he will reach London later tonight. During the visit, Mr Modi will hold discussions with his UK counterpart, Keir Starmer and call on King Charles III. The wide-ranging talks with British Prime Minister will be on strengthening the historical relations between both the countries. The signing of the Free Trade Agreement, FTA, is also on the cards.     

Our correspondent covering the visit reports that Over the years, India-UK historical ties have transformed into a robust, multi-faceted and mutually beneficial relationship. Both countries have seen sustained and frequent high-level political engagements. The proposed signing of Free Trade Agreement (FTA) will add further to their relations as it would cover many sectors, including trade and defence. Prime Minister Modi has met UK Prime Minister Mr. Keir Starmer twice over the past one year, including on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Brazil in November 2024 and then during the G7 Summit in June 2025. This is his fourth visit to the United Kingdom since Mr. Modi became the Prime Minister in 2014. The Indian diaspora is also eager to meet Prime Minister Modi today. Mr. Modi will also be paying a courtesy call on King Charles tomorrow. They both have la ot many things in common, including holistic health and the environment.