PM Modi Receives Grand Welcome In Maldives, Meets President Muizzu In Malé

Prime Minister Narendra Modi received a ceremonial welcome at Republic Square in Malé on Friday as he arrived in the Maldives following the conclusion of his two-day visit to the United Kingdom. President Mohamed Muizzu personally received PM Modi at the airport, where he was greeted with a traditional dance performance by children.

Accompanying the Prime Minister on this visit were External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, and other senior officials. The visit comes after PM Modi and UK officials signed a historic Free Trade Agreement (FTA) during his stop in London.

Taking to social media platform X (formerly Twitter), PM Modi posted, "Landed in Malé. Deeply touched by the gesture of President Muizzu to come to the airport to welcome me. I am confident that India-Maldives friendship will scale new heights of progress in the times to come."

In another post, he emphasized the role of the Indian community in building bilateral ties: "The Indian diaspora plays a crucial role in furthering friendship between India and the Maldives. Happy to have interacted with members of the diaspora and I thank them for the warm welcome."

Why PM Modi's Visit to Maldives Matters

This visit is seen as a critical diplomatic step, especially after recent strains in India-Maldives relations under President Muizzu's leadership. It is expected to reset the bilateral ties, which had experienced turbulence in the last few years.

Former Maldivian Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid welcomed the Prime Minister's visit and said it holds deeper significance. In an interview with news agency ANI, Shahid remarked that the trip "goes beyond symbolism," aligning with the 60th anniversary of the Maldives' independence.

"This goes beyond symbolism because recently we have had a very unfortunate diplomatic strain between the Maldives and India because of the narrative that the current government used during the elections," Shahid stated.

PM Modi will also be the Guest of Honour at the Maldives' Independence Day celebrations on July 26. During the visit, he is scheduled to inaugurate several India-assisted development projects, further showcasing India's commitment to its neighbour's development.