India, July 23 -- Prime Minister Narendra Modi will travel to the Maldives from the UK after a two-day visit in which a free trade deal is set to signed. But the significance of the Maldives trip on July 25 and 26, too, cannot be ignored since it marks a major turnaround.

Modi will be the first foreign head of government to be hosted by President Mohamed Muizzu, that too as the guest of honour at the Maldivian Independence Day celebrations.

India-Maldives ties had turned frosty because of some policies of Muizzu, who came to power on the back of an "India Out" campaign in late 2023.

"There will always be events that will impact or try to intrude on the relationship," India's foreign secretary Vikram Misri acknowledged during Tuesday's ...