Modi is the first foreign head of government invited by President Mohamed Muizzu
PM Modi is the guest of honour at the Maldives’ 60th Independence Day celebrations, reflecting renewed strategic trust.
PM Modi’s visit to the Maldives on July 25, 2025, marks a major thaw in India–Maldives relations after 18 months of tensions stemming from the “India Out” campaign
Just days after concluding a diplomatic visit to the United Kingdom, Prime Minister Narendra Modi landed in the Maldives on July 25, 2025, marking a highly symbolic and strategically significant visit. After finalizing the historic India–UK Free Trade Agreement and holding high-level talks with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and King Charles III, PM Modi proceeded directly to the Maldives — underscoring the island nation's growing importance in India’s foreign policy agenda.
This two-day state visit, at the invitation of President Mohamed Muizzu, is PM Modi’s first trip to the Maldives since the country’s 2023 general elections. It coincides with the Maldives’ 60th Independence Day on July 26, where PM Modi will become the first foreign head of government to be hosted by President Muizzu and will attend the national celebrations as the guest of honour — a historic gesture.
The significance of this visit goes far beyond ceremonial diplomacy. It marks a decisive diplomatic thaw after nearly 18 months of strained relations, triggered largely by President Muizzu’s controversial “India Out” campaign during the 2023 elections. Backed by former President Abdulla Yameen’s party, the campaign called for the reduction of Indian influence in the Maldives, leading to a deterioration in bilateral ties.
Upon assuming office in late 2023, President Muizzu appeared to shift the Maldives’ foreign policy orientation closer to China, breaking the longstanding tradition of visiting India as a first overseas trip. Tensions escalated further in early 2024 with derogatory remarks by Maldivian ministers against India and a formal request for the withdrawal of Indian military personnel stationed in the Maldives.
However, by mid-2024, signs of strategic recalibration began to emerge. Confronted with mounting economic pressures, limited support from China, and acknowledging India’s critical role in regional stability, the Muizzu administration began engaging more pragmatically. India, in response, showed diplomatic restraint and maturity by replacing 76 Indian military personnel with civilian technicians from HAL, approving record export quotas of essential goods, and increasing bilateral aid by ₹120 crore in the 2025 Union Budget.
The turnaround culminated in President Muizzu’s visit to India in October 2024, during which both nations adopted a joint “Vision for Comprehensive Economic and Maritime Security Partnership.” Since then, cooperation has strengthened in key areas such as trade (crossing USD 548 million in 2023), infrastructure (including the Greater Malé Connectivity Project), and defense (joint training and naval exercises).PM Modi’s Maldives Visit Signals Major Diplomatic Reset on 60th Independence Day
The 60th Independence Day celebrations on July 26 now serve as a symbolic backdrop to what experts are calling one of South Asia’s most significant diplomatic resets. PM Modi’s presence at these celebrations affirms a new chapter in India–Maldives relations — not merely as a ceremonial guest, but as a strategic partner committed to regional peace, development, and maritime security.
By making the Maldives his first major South Asian destination after the U.K., PM Modi is sending a clear message: India remains steadfast in its ‘Neighborhood First’ policy and committed to the broader MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions) vision. [Rh/Eth/VP]