Male, Maldives, July 27, 2025: Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s long-awaited trip to the Maldives, where he was honored as the Guest of Honor for the island nation’s 60th Independence Day celebrations, marks a major and complete reset in the two countries’ diplomatic relations. This visit makes it quite clear that things have changed a lot since the time when there was a brief pro-China tilt and the controversial “India Out” campaign.
The Maldives’ foreign policy has changed a lot since they invited PM Modi to such an important national event. This change is largely thought to have been made for practical reasons and because the country has realized how important its relationship with India, a key neighbor and long-term development partner, is.
In January 2024, the diplomatic tension got worse after some Maldivian officials made rude comments about Prime Minister Modi on social media. This issue caused a lot of anger in India, which led to demands for a boycott of the Maldives as a tourist destination and a lot of ads for India’s Lakshadweep islands.
Even though certain Maldivian officials made inflammatory comments and kept asking for Indian troops to leave, India stayed calm and measured, choosing to keep talking instead of escalating the situation. This practical diplomacy paid off, especially when PM Modi and Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu met at COP28 in the UAE. In May 2024, India responded to Male’s concerns about the military by replacing its 76 soldiers with HAL technicians. This showed that India was willing to be flexible without cutting off important strategic connections.
The Maldives made this strategic shift at the same time as it was facing economic problems at home, getting little real support from China, and the ruling People’s National Congress (PNC) winning a supermajority in the Maldivian Parliament. These things probably helped people take a more realistic look at their foreign policy priorities. The ties between the two countries started to get warmer when Maldivian Foreign Minister Moosa Zameer visited India in May 2024 and then President Muizzu went to India for five days in October. The last visit ended with the signing of a joint vision agreement on economic and marine security collaboration, which set a new course for cooperation between the two countries.
President Muizzu’s public statement that “Maldives will not do anything that would harm India’s security interests” was a striking break from the earlier aggressive language. India’s patient diplomacy and long-term economic ties have turned a tense relationship into one based on trust and collaboration. This is a great example of how to successfully recalibrate relationships in the Indian Ocean neighborhood.
President Muizzu praised Prime Minister Modi’s visit, saying that it will “definitely” enhance tourism. “Definitely, the Prime Minister’s visit will make it go up a lot… Muizzu said, “I am sure that the visit will greatly boost people-to-people exchange between the two countries.”
This historic visit was full of important announcements, reiterated commitments, and symbolic gestures that all strengthened the relationship between the two countries and firmly reaffirmed India’s status as the Maldives’ most trusted ally. It was Prime Minister Modi’s third trip to the Maldives, and it was the first time any Head of State or Government had been there during President Muizzu’s time in office.
Prime Minister Modi and President Muizzu had a joint press conference in which Modi stressed the deep historical and cultural ties between the two countries. He said, “This year, India and the Maldives are also celebrating sixty years of diplomatic relations.” But the roots of our relationship go back before history and are as deep as the ocean. President Muizzu returned the favor by calling India a “trusted friend” and thanking India for always being there for him during tough times. This was a big change from his earlier position.
A highlight of the visit was the issuing of a special stamp that showed traditional boats from both countries. India was one of the first countries to establish diplomatic ties with the Maldives after it became independent in 1965. “The commemorative postal stamp released today, which shows the traditional boats of both countries, shows that we are not just neighbors but also fellow travelers,” PM Modi said. The stamps show India’s Uru boat, a big wooden dhow made by hand in Kerala’s historic Beypore boatyards, and the Maldives’ Vadhu Dhoni, a traditional fishing boat used for reef and coastal fishing. These boats represent the two countries’ common nautical heritage and the Indian Ocean trade that has been going on for hundreds of years.
India made a big economic promise of around $565 million (₹4850 crore) in the shape of a new concessional Line of Credit to help build infrastructure in the Maldives. The two leaders also signed an Amended Agreement that cuts the Maldives’ yearly debt payments to India by a huge 40%, from USD 51 million to USD 29 million. This was an important step toward relief. The Maldives really needs India’s financial help right now because it has a big budget deficit and its foreign reserves are running low.
Prime Minister Modi said that talks are still going on for a Free Trade Agreement and a Bilateral Investment Treaty to strengthen the countries’ economic and trade connections even more. “Talks on a free trade agreement between India and the Maldives have begun,” he said.
In terms of security cooperation, PM Modi said again that India will always help the Maldives get better at defending itself. He said, “India will always support the Maldives in strengthening its defense capabilities.” He also said that trust is the basis for mutual defense and security cooperation. “Working together on defense and security shows that we trust each other,” PM Modi said.
India and the Maldives strengthened their partnership by signing six Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) in different areas during the visit. These deals cover working together in:
Fishing and Aquaculture
Weather
Digital Public Infrastructure (like UPI integration, which makes it easy to do business online)
Indian Pharmacopoeia Standards (making it easier to trade and make sure medications are of good quality)
Concessional Credit
A fresh line of credit of ₹4850 crore for building infrastructure.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in an official statement, “The two leaders reflected on the deep bonds of friendship and trust that have been built over centuries, strengthened by strong people-to-people ties.” The Prime Minister said again that India is committed to strengthening its connections with the Maldives in line with its “Neighbourhood First” and “Vision MAHASAGAR” programs. India gave the Government of Maldives two sets of Aarogya Maitri Health Cube [BHISHM] as a sign of its “Neighbourhood First” strategy and Vision MAHASAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region). BHISHM is a high-tech portable cube that holds important medical supplies and is made to be used quickly in emergencies and disaster areas. Each cube is equipped with advanced medical technology and can help up to 200 injured people and support a team of six medical staff for up to 72 hours.
President Muizzu thanked India for always being the first to help in times of trouble. The two presidents also talked about working together on bigger projects in areas including health, climate change, infrastructure, and development partnerships. Both parties explicitly noted the increasing collaboration in maritime security, especially through the Colombo Security Conclave, where India, the Maldives, and other countries in the area work together on security issues that affect them all.
India and the Maldives agreed to keep working together on important global issues, which shows how committed they are as “Global South partners.” The MEA said, “The two leaders noted that, as Global South partners, they would continue to work on issues such as climate change, promotion of renewable energy, disaster risk reduction, and weather science in the interests of the planet and its people.”
Prime Minister Modi’s public appreciation to President Muizzu for vehemently condemning the Pahalgam terror assault in Jammu and Kashmir and showing support for India was a big symbol of rebuilt trust. This act, which came from a neighbor whose relationship with India had recently hit a rough patch, was considered as crucial for repairing confidence and encouraging cooperation.
When PM Modi got to Male, he was greeted with a 21-gun salute, a formal guard of honor, and lively traditional Maldivian cultural performances. People of all ages, including kids in traditional clothes, came out to greet him. A huge picture of PM Modi was conspicuously displayed atop the Ministry of Defence building in Male. Many people saw this as a sign of the quickly improving relationship between the two countries. People were quite happy to see PM Modi in the famous Republic Square, where he was the guest of honor for the Maldives’ Independence Day celebrations.
Mohamed Nasheed, a former president of the Maldives, also talked about India’s important role. He said that India helped the Maldives avoid defaulting on its debt during its recent financial crisis. Nasheed told ANI, “We would have gone into default if it weren’t for India.” He commended India’s help in keeping the economy stable on the island nation, saying, “We really value India’s help and partnership in the Maldives.” India’s timely help kept us from defaulting, even though we were having a lot of trouble with money and had to pay back a lot of debt. Nasheed also praised PM Modi for valuing Maldivian culture and said he was sure that the two countries’ relationship will stay strong no matter who was in charge. “India has always been good to us, and I know that no matter who is in charge, we will have a very bright future,” he said.
Prime Minister Modi’s visit has definitely strengthened India’s position in the Maldives. He did this by using strong economic offerings, sophisticated cultural diplomacy, and strategic support to build a new partnership.