In a significant diplomatic stride, Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives at Velana International Airport in the Maldives, marking the beginning of the second leg of his two-nation visit. Upon landing in Male, the Prime Minister received a warm welcome by President Muizzu, Foreign Minister, Defence Minister, Finance Minister and Minister of Homeland Security. This two-day state visit (July 25–26), at the invitation of Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu, is being hailed as a crucial moment in India’s regional diplomacy, aligning with its Neighbourhood First policy and the MAHASAGAR vision, Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions.
The Prime Minister’s visit to the Maldives comes immediately after concluding a landmark visit to the United Kingdom, where he oversaw the signing of the historic India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA). Modi, who called the trip a “landmark” one, held wide-ranging discussions with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer at Chequers and also met King Charles III at the Sandringham Estate to discuss the trajectory of bilateral ties. “A landmark visit to the UK concludes, elevating India-UK trade and economic ties to new heights. PM Narendra Modi emplanes for the second leg of his tour, Maldives,” the Ministry of External Affairs posted on X.
#WATCH | PM Narendra Modi lands in Male, Maldives, to a warm welcome by President Mohamed Muizzu, the country's Foreign Minister, Defence Minister, Finance Minister and Minister of Homeland Security. pic.twitter.com/blw3o0uonP
— ANI (@ANI) July 25, 2025
Diplomatic Reset and High-Level Engagements Mark Modi’s Maldives Visit
In the Maldives, PM Modi is scheduled to attend the 60th Independence Day celebrations of the island nation as the Guest of Honour on July 26, a symbolic gesture that also marks 60 years of diplomatic relations between India and the Maldives. This is notably the first state visit being hosted by President Mohamed Muizzu since assuming office in November 2023, underlining the importance attached to India-Maldives relations at a high political level.
PM Modi reaches Republic Square for the official welcome ceremony at around 3 PM IST, followed by a bilateral meeting with President Muizzu. The two leaders are expected to hold delegation-level talks, exchange Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs), and jointly inaugurate several India-assisted development projects via virtual mode around 5 PM IST. Press statements will be issued after the inauguration, and a banquet hosted by President Muizzu will cap the day’s official engagements.
Strategic Reset and Developmental Partnership Anchor India-Maldives Ties
The significance of this visit extends beyond ceremony. It comes at a time when India-Maldives relations are witnessing a reset after a period of diplomatic strain. In late 2023, shortly after assuming office, President Muizzu had signalled a shift in foreign policy with his “India Out” rhetoric and overtures towards China. However, the current visit reflects a positive turn in the bilateral dynamic.
Former Maldivian Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid, ahead of the visit, welcomed Modi’s arrival and expressed satisfaction at the improvement in bilateral relations. He attributed the recent strain to “election rhetoric” and emphasized the mutual benefit of renewed engagement.
#WATCH | Indian diaspora extends a warm welcome to PM Modi on his arrival in Maldives
(Video source: ANI/DD) pic.twitter.com/9vsdx9uBWs
— ANI (@ANI) July 25, 2025
India continues to be one of the Maldives’ most significant partners, with nearly $500 million in bilateral trade. Indian investors are active in key sectors such as tourism and infrastructure. Notably, both countries are engaged in talks to negotiate a Free Trade Agreement and an Investment Treaty, signalling long-term economic cooperation. Areas like renewable energy and fisheries have also emerged as new frontiers of collaboration.
Underscoring India’s proactive regional policy, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri remarked, “The Maldives is a very close partner in our neighbourhood, a very important partner in India’s Neighbourhood First policy, and as part of the MAHASAGAR vision of India, which is Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions.”
India has also played a pivotal role as a traditional development partner to the Maldives. Through a mix of grants, concessional lines of credit, buyer’s credit facilities, and capacity-building initiatives, India has remained deeply invested in the Maldives’ progress. During this visit, PM Modi is expected to inaugurate multiple such development projects.
India’s High Commissioner to the Maldives, G Balasubramanian, echoed the strategic value of this engagement, calling the Maldives a key partner in India’s neighbourhood vision and a critical pillar in regional security architecture.
The bilateral agenda is now anchored in the joint vision for a ‘Comprehensive Economic and Maritime Security Partnership,’ finalised last year, which serves as a framework for advancing shared priorities in economic growth and maritime stability.
Prime Minister Modi’s visit to the Maldives is not only a symbolic restoration of bilateral warmth but a strategic assertion of India’s regional leadership, driven by the ideals of security, cooperation, and shared prosperity across the Indian Ocean region.
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