Following the conclusion of his two-day trip to the United Kingdom, Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Male on Friday, where he received a warm welcome from Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu and senior cabinet officials, including the Foreign Minister, Defence Minister, Finance Minister, and the Minister of Homeland Security.

Modi is set to visit the Maldives at the invitation of President Mohamed Muizzu from July 25 to 26. He will also serve as the chief guest at the 60th Independence Day celebrations of the Maldives in the capital, Malé, on Friday.

This visit is significant as it represents the first high-level interaction between the two nations since Muizzu’s election in 2023, which brought a noticeable change in Malé’s foreign policy direction.

The two leaders are anticipated to engage in bilateral discussions centered on strategic collaboration, economic partnerships, and maritime security.

PM Modi’s Maldives visit: Key agenda
During his time in the Maldives, Modi will engage in comprehensive discussions with President Mohamed Muizzu and launch several development projects supported by India in the island nation, as stated by the external affairs ministry.

“The prime minister’s state visit also marks the first official visit of a head of government that President Muizzu is hosting since he took office in November 2023,” Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri noted.

According to Misri, the India-Maldives Joint Vision for a Comprehensive Economic and Maritime Security Partnership, which was finalized last year, continues to be a crucial framework, and progress on this front is expected during the visit.

In addition, several MOUs will be signed between India and the Maldives during PM Modi’s visit to the island nation, as mentioned by G Balasubramanian, the High Commissioner of India to the Maldives.

“We will have bilateral meetings at the level of both the Prime Minister and the President at the Presidency, followed by the signing of various MOUs and the inauguration of several projects that have received Indian support, whether through lines of credit, buyer’s credit, or grants. Many of these projects will be handed over or inaugurated. The following day will include additional meetings, and in the evening, the Independence Day celebrations will take place, which our Prime Minister will attend as the guest of honor, after which the visit will conclude,” he stated.

The Prime Minister’s trip to the Maldives is regarded as a significant move to restore relations between the two nations, which had faced considerable tension following the inauguration of President Mohamed Muizzu — perceived as favoring China — in November 2023.