Indian PM Modi to visit Maldives over Independence Day holiday

Indian media outlets have reported that there is a high possibility of the country’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi visiting the Maldives over the upcoming Independence Day holiday.

According to Indian news outlet, Times of India (TOI), Maldivian President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu extended an invitation to Modi to visit the Maldives through Maldivian Foreign Minister Abdulla Khaleel, who traveled to Indian on an official visit last week; an invitation which the media outlet said India was considering favourably. 

TOI states the dates being considered for Modi’s visit are the Independence Day holiday, which is in July. If the visit is confirmed, it will mark the first visit to Maldives by Modi since President Muizzu assumed office in November 2023.

Relations between Male’ and New Delhi had been strained in the early days of President Muizzu’s presidency, who had come to power on the promise of removing Indian troops based in the Maldives. As pledged, one of the first things he did as the President was to demand India withdraw its troops from the Maldives. Subsequently, the new administration was labeled ‘Pro-China’ by foreign media.

Things escalated further after three Maldivian 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. This birthed a campaign in India, calling to boycott Maldivian tourism.

On the same month, President Muizzu while speaking to the media after a state visit to China, said Maldives is not any country’s “backyard” and cannot be bullied just because it is small.

Despite the turmoil, officials from both Male’ and Delhi repeatedly expressed keenness to maintain relations and engaged in several high-level visits to mend the strains.

This included a visit to India by President Muizzu to attend Modi’s inauguration for a third term, followed by an official state visit by the Maldivian leader not long after.

Bilateral relations between the Maldives and India thrived most during the administration of former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih. Prime Minister Modi traveled to the Maldives to attend Solih’s inauguration and later returned on an official visit during his term. Solih also conferred upon Modi the Order of the Distinguished Rule of Izzuddin, one of the highest honors awarded by the Maldivian government.