PM Modi ‘honored’ to take part in Maldives' Independence Day festivities

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi says he is “honored” to be taking part in Maldives’ 60th Independence Day celebration during his upcoming visit to Male’.

PM 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.

In a post on X on Wednesday, PM Modi highlighted on his upcoming Male’ visit.

“I am honored to be taking part in the 60th Independence Day celebrations of the Maldives,” he said.

PM Modi noted that this year also marks the 60th anniversary of formal diplomatic relations between Male’ and New Delhi.

“The talks with President Muizzu will certainly add momentum to bilateral ties across diverse sectors,” he said.

Day after tomorrow, 25th July, I will be in the Maldives at the invitation of the President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu. I am honoured to be taking part in the 60th Independence Day celebrations of the Maldives. This year we also mark 60 years of India-Maldives diplomatic relations. The…

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 23, 2025

According to the President Muizzu’s Office, PM Modi will also be inaugurating several joint projects, and overseeing the exchange of “a number of Memoranda of Understanding aimed at deepening cooperation across various sectors of mutual interest” during his visit. He is also reportedly scheduled to meet with senior officials from the main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP).

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.