Male, July 25
Prime Minister Narendra Modi landed in Maldives on Friday as a part of his second leg of the two-nation visit. He received a welcome from President Muizzu and senior ministers from the government upon his arrival.
With chants of Vande Mataram and Bharat Mata ki Jai, members of the Indian diaspora greeted the PM. There was also a cultural performance hosted by the diaspora in his honour.
PM Modi witnessed the cultural performance alongside President Mohamed Muizzu.
He also interacted with members of the Indian diaspora, who expressed great enthusiasm upon meeting PM Modi.
The Maldivian capital, Male, wore a festive look on Friday, adorned with large posters, colourful banners, and fluttering Indian flags, as the island nation geared up to welcome Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his two-day state visit.
PM Modi has been invited by Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu and will attend the country's 60th Independence Day celebrations as the Guest of Honour.
The Office of the President of Maldives in a post on X, upon PM's arrival said, "The Prime Minister of India, His Excellency Shri @narendramodi arrives in the Maldives on a state visit, at the invitation of His Excellency President Dr @MMuizzu. This historic visit is Prime Minister Modi's first visit to the Maldives since assuming his third term, and coincides with the 60th anniversary of the Maldives' independence as well as the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Maldives and India."
https://x.com/presidencymv/status/1948609509506654277
During his stay, Prime Minister Modi will hold talks with President Mohamed Muizzu to discuss ways to further strengthen bilateral cooperation across key sectors.
The visit also marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between India and the Maldives. India has played a key role in supporting the Maldives through development aid, infrastructure projects, and emergency assistance in recent years.
— ANI
Reader Comments
While the optics look good, I hope this visit actually leads to concrete outcomes. Maldives has been drifting towards China recently. We need to protect our strategic interests in the Indian Ocean region.
The pictures of Indian flags in Male gave me goosebumps! Our diaspora makes us proud wherever they go. Jai Hind! 🇮🇳
It's heartening to see such warm reception for our PM. India has always been a reliable friend to Maldives - from infrastructure projects to COVID vaccines. Hope this visit strengthens our Neighbourhood First policy.
As someone who frequently visits Maldives for work, I can say the local people genuinely appreciate India's help. The new airport terminal built with Indian assistance has made travel so much better!
The cultural performance by our diaspora was beautiful! Soft power diplomacy at its best. Our shared history and cultural ties go back centuries. Let's build on this foundation.
While celebrating this visit, we must remember that Maldives owes India over $400 million in loans. Our government should ensure these diplomatic gestures translate into economic benefits for our taxpayers.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.