Why is the FTA with UK and Maldives important for India?

In 2023, Maldives’ new President Mohamed Muizzu launched an “India Out” campaign, expelling Indian troops and straining decades-old ties. But India’s bold response, boosting Lakshadweep tourism, cutting aid, and isolating Maldives economically, left the island nation in crisis. Now, Muizzu has invited PM Modi as chief guest for Maldives’ Independence Day, signaling a dramatic U-turn. Meanwhile, Modi secures a historic UK FTA, proving India’s global rise.

New Delhi: The Maldives, where slogans of "India Out" were being raised some time ago, a small country located in the Indian Ocean whose population is less than 6 lakhs, had created a diplomatic crisis for a huge country like India in 2023.

The newly elected president of Maldives, Mohammad Moizzu, adopted an anti-India stance as soon as he came to power and started a campaign to expel Indian soldiers from the country.

Removing only 88 soldiers, who were present there only for humanitarian and technical assistance, became Moizzu's election priority. Earlier, the cordial relations between India and Maldives that had been going on for years suddenly turned into tension.

PM Modi and Indians single handedly destroyed Maldives economy

But India responded to this provocation in a very diplomatic and strategic way. Prime Minister Modi visited Lakshadweep and gave a clear message that India has an alternative to the Maldives. After this, Maldives tourism suffered a major setback.

And all Indians, from every field, stood with their PM and even cancelled and suffered huge losses but instead visited Lakshadweep. This not only damaged the tourism industry of the Maldives but also bolstered tourism in Lakshadweep.

While nearly 200,000Indian tourists visited the Maldives in 2023, the number fell to just 37,000 in 2024. This caused a huge loss to the Maldives' tourism-based economy.

India took other steps as well—cutting aid funds, economic pressure, and maintaining diplomatic distance. Meanwhile, Maldives began to understand that distancing itself from India was proving to be a costly affair.

The world bows down to India.

Now the same President Mohammed Moizzo, who became the face of "India Out," has invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi as the chief guest on his Independence Day on July 26. Not only this, talks for a free trade agreement have also started between the two countries.

This turn is not only a victory of India's diplomacy but also a befitting reply to those critics who used to call India's foreign policy a failure.

Prime Minister Modi is on a foreign trip from July 23 to July 26. He has been welcomed with huge honours in Britain, where the India-UK Free Trade Agreement will be formally announced. After this, on 25-26 July, he will participate in the 60th Independence Day of Maldives.