Solih: Modi's visit highlights enduring India-Maldives friendship

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's official state visit to Maldives shows that India is a reliable friend for Maldives even after political unrest, former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has said.

Modi is set to arrive in Maldives on Friday evening at the invitation of President Dr Mohamed Muizzu, and the Indian Prime Minister will be taking part in the Independence Day celebrations, as honorary Chief Guest.

My statement regarding the State Visit to Maldives by His Excellency Prime Minister @narendramodi pic.twitter.com/kzWH8NfMIQ

— Ibrahim Mohamed Solih (@ibusolih) July 24, 2025

In a statement issued on the occasion of Modi's visit, Solih said Modi's visit to Maldives shows the extent to which relations between the two countries have improved in various areas. He said Modi's visit to Maldives after the deterioration of relations between Maldives and India shows India's respect for the people of Maldives.

"It affirms that, despite political provocations, the Maldives has in India a reliable and time-tested friend. I am confident that Prime Minister Modi's visit will be a resounding success and will serve to elevate Maldives-India relations to even greater heights”, Solih's statement reads.

Former President Mohamed Nasheed had said earlier that the Maldives is able to repay its debts and maintain economic stability thanks to India's generous assistance. Without India's assistance, Maldives would now have defaulted on its debts, Nasheed had said in an interview he gave to India’s Asian News International (ANI).

According to the President Muizzu’s Office, PM Modi will also be inaugurating several joint projects, and overseeing the exchange of “a number of Memoranda of Understanding aimed at deepening cooperation across various sectors of mutual interest” during his visit. He is also reportedly scheduled to meet with senior officials from the main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP).

Elected to office on a pledge to expel Indian troops from the Maldives, relations between Male’ and New Delhi had been strained in the early days of President Muizzu’s administration.

Things escalated further three months into office when three 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.

Speaking to reporters after concluding a state visit to China in January 2024, President Muizzu said that Maldives wasn’t any country’s backyard and that the country cannot be bullied just because it's small – remarks that were widely believed to be directed at India.

Despite the earlier turmoil, officials from both Male’ and Delhi repeatedly expressed keenness to repair relations, and engaged in several high-level visits, including two by President Muizzu himself.

The upcoming visit by Modi, which will mark his third visit to the Maldives but his first during President Muizzu’s administration, is expected to cement the ties between Male’ and New Delhi.