On Sunday, Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu and First Lady Sajidha Mohamed came to India for their first bilateral visit, a watershed moment in developing relations between the two countries. Kiriti Vardhan Singh, Union Minister of State for External Affairs, greeted them when they arrived. The visit aims to strengthen diplomatic and economic ties, which have been strained in recent years.
President Muizzu will meet with President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi to talk about economic cooperation, maritime security, and regional issues. On Monday, he will attend a ceremonial reception at Rashtrapati Bhawan, lay a wreath at Rajghat, and hold high-level meetings with Modi, which could result in new agreements.
Despite his previous “India Out” campaign calling for the evacuation of Indian military personnel from the Maldives, Muizzu has now moderated his attitude, retaining strategic links with India while also balancing ties with China. The visit symbolises a rebalancing of the Maldives’ foreign policy.
Both states have recently made attempts to close diplomatic gaps. Muizzu’s visits to Mumbai and Bengaluru will involve discussions with business leaders and the Maldivian diaspora, with the goal of strengthening investment links. India has demonstrated its commitment to its maritime neighbour by providing financial assistance to the Maldives, highlighting a shared desire to strengthen bilateral relations.
