Indian PM Modi to meet Maldives opposition leaders on Male’ trip

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is scheduled to make a state visit to Maldives in the upcoming weekend, will be meeting with the leaders of the main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) during the trip.

Modi is scheduled to make a state visit to the Maldives from July 25-26, at the invitation of Maldivian President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu. He is also set to be the guest of honor of Maldives’ 60th Independence Day celebrations, which coincides with his visit.

A credible source told Sun on Wednesday that Modi will meet with senior officials of the MDP during the visit. He requested meetings with former Maldivian presidents Mohamed Nasheed and Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, both of whom had fostered close ties with India during their administration. However, Solih will reportedly not be able to meet Modi as he is currently overseas for medical treatment.

However, the Indian government has yet to provide official confirmation of the meetings.

When questioned by reporters whether Modi will meet Maldivian opposition leaders during his trip, Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said they were making arrangements for the people Modi will meet during his time in Male’.

But he did not explicitly deny plans to meet MDP officials.

Indian External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar had also met with MDP leaders during his visit to Male’ back in August.

The MDP had held close relations with India during its two administrations, the first one under Nasheed from 2008 to 2012, and the second one under Solih from 2018 to 2023. Both administrations were often slammed for its over reliance on the Indian government.

But, 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 third visit to the Maldives but his first during President Muizzu’s administration, is expected to cement the ties between Male’ and New Delhi.