After wrapping up his two-day visit to the United Kingdom, Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Malé on Friday, where he was accorded a grand welcome by Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu and senior members of the country’s cabinet. Among those present to receive him were the Foreign Minister, Defence Minister, Finance Minister, and the Minister of Homeland Security, reflecting the significance of the visit.
This marks PM Modi’s third official visit to the Maldives as Prime Minister and notably, he is the first foreign head of state to visit the country since President Muizzu assumed office. The visit comes at the invitation of President Muizzu, with Prime Minister Modi set to participate as the Guest of Honour at the Maldives' 60th Independence Day celebrations on July 26.
In anticipation of his arrival, Malé was adorned with vibrant decorations. In commemoration of the event, important landmarks like Republic Square and the main roads from Malé International Airport were festooned, and the streets were lined with vibrant banners, enormous posters, and Indian flags. The joyous atmosphere demonstrated how thrilled the public and officials were about the well-known visit.
A large group of Indian diaspora members cheered the prime minister and waved the Indian Tricolour along the motorcade route. The warm reception underscored the strong people-to-people relations between the two nations.
During his two-day visit, Prime Minister Modi is expected to have extensive talks with President Muizzu, with a focus on enhancing bilateral cooperation. He is also anticipated to inaugurate several development projects across the Maldives that are backed by India in order to further support infrastructure and capacity-building initiatives.
The visit is being closely watched as a potential reset because of the tense relations between India and the Maldives since President Muizzu took office. In his departure statement, PM Modi highlighted the importance of the visit, noting that 2025 marks 60 years of diplomatic ties between the two countries.
“I look forward to my meetings with President Muizzu and other political leaders to take forward our shared vision for a Comprehensive Economic and Maritime Security Partnership, and to deepen our cooperation for peace, prosperity and stability across the Indian Ocean Region,” he said.
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