PM Modi set to inaugurate Maldives-India projects in upcoming visit

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be inaugurating several joint projects between Maldives and India during his upcoming visit to Male’, according to the Maldivian government.

In a statement on Sunday, the President’s Office confirmed that PM Modi will be making a state visit to the Maldives from July 25-26, at the invitation of Maldivian President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu.

According to the President’s Office, President Muizzu and PM Modi will hold “high-level discussions on key bilateral and regional issues, following by the inauguration of several joint projects.”

The President’s Office said they will also oversee the exchange of “a number of Memoranda of Understanding aimed at deepening cooperation across various sectors of mutual interest.”

PM Modi’s visit will coincide with Maldives’ 60th Independence Day on July 26, as well as the 60th anniversary of the establishment of formal diplomatic relations between the Maldives and India.

President’s Office said this makes the visit one of “profound significance.”

Elected to office on a pledge to expel Indian troops from the Maldives, relations between Male’ and New Delhi had been strained in the early days of President Muizzu’s administration.

Things escalated further three months into office when three deputy ministers made disparaging remarks regarding India and Indian Prime Minister Modi following a social media post promoting India’s Lakshadweep as an alternative tourist destination to the Maldives.

Speaking to reporters after concluding a state visit to China the same month, President Muizzu said that Maldives wasn’t any country’s backyard and that the country cannot be bullied just because its small – remarks that were widely believed to be directed at India.

But despite the earlier turmoil, officials from both Male’ and Delhi repeatedly expressed keenness to repairing relations, and engaged in several high-level visits, including two by President Muizzu himself.

Assistance by New Delhi, including a USD 400 million currency swap agreement signed between the Maldives Monetary Authority (MMA) and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) back in October 2024 has also been crucial boosting Maldives’ foreign exchange (FX) reserves, thereby alleviating imminent external liquidity strains.

The upcoming visit by Modi, which will mark his first during the incumbent administration, is expected to cement the ties between Male’ and New Delhi.

This visit carries profound significance as it coincides with the 60th anniversary of the Maldives’ independence and the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Maldives and India.