Indian PM Modi arrives in Maldives on two-day state visit

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was welcomed by Maldivian President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu at the national airport on Friday morning, as he arrived on a two-day state visit to the Maldives.

The plane carrying PM Modi, who is also set to be the guest of honor of Maldives’ 60th Independence Day celebrations, landed at the Velana International Airport (VIA) in the Maldivian capital at around 09:15 am Friday.

PM Modi was received at the airport by President Muizzu, Foreign Minister Dr. Abdulla Khaleel, and other senior Maldivian government officials.

The official reception to welcome PM Modi on this state visit will be held at the Republic Square in Male’ City in the afternoon.

Following the reception, the two will head to the President’s Office for official discussions on issues of mutual interest.

They 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. PM Modi is also reportedly scheduled to meet with senior officials from the main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP).

On Saturday, PM Modi is set to take part in Maldives’ 60th Independence Day celebration.

In a post on X on Wednesday, he said he was honored to be taking part in the celebrations.

He also 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.

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 visit by Modi, which marks 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.