After Tiff, A Thaw: How India, Maldives Buried Variations To Make Ties Stronger

Prime Minister Narendra Modi landed within the Maldives on Friday as part of his second leg of the two-nation go to. PM Modi has been invited by Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu and can attend the nation’s sixtieth Independence Day celebrations because the Visitor of Honour. He acquired a welcome from President Muizzu and senior ministers from the federal government upon his arrival. The Maldivian capital, Male, wore a festive look on Friday, adorned with giant posters, vibrant banners, and fluttering Indian flags, because the island nation geared as much as welcome Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his two-day state go to.

Nevertheless, nearly 18 months in the past, the identical couldn’t have been imagined. In January 2024, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s go to to Lakshadweep to advertise home tourism didn’t go effectively with some Maldivian ministers, who not solely mocked India but additionally disrespected Modi. This led to an enormous uproar because the ties between the 2 nations plummeted additional. Although the Maldivian authorities distanced itself from the assertion and expelled the ministers, the hate for India stemmed from its President Mohamed Muizzu’s ballot marketing campaign.

Muizzu, who is taken into account near China, led ‘India Out’ marketing campaign within the run-up to the presidential polls. When he took reign of the Island nation, he compelled round dozens of Indian personnel, who used to coach Maldivian troopers, in a foreign country, taking the bilateral ties and defence cooperation to a historic low. India’s affect within the Indian Ocean island chain seemed to be in danger because of the growing presence of China.

A memorable welcome in Maldives. Sturdy ties between our nations will tremendously profit our individuals. pic.twitter.com/qQVoB51FJw
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 25, 2025

After wrapping up a five-day journey to China in January 2024, President Muizzu emphasised in a media interplay that though the Maldives is a small island nation, that does not give anybody the appropriate to dominate or stress it. He firmly said that the Maldives is “not in anybody’s yard.” A few months later, in March, he made it clear that no Indian army personnel — not even these in civilian apparel — would stay within the Maldives past Could 10, 2024. By early Could, India complied with the deadline, withdrawing its troops solely and changing them with technical workers as a part of a mutual understanding.

Relations between India and the Maldives took a constructive flip when President Muizzu visited India on a state journey in October 2024. His go to got here at a time when the Maldives was grappling with a mounting debt disaster and a rising fiscal deficit, elevating issues a couple of potential default. Throughout his assembly with Indian leaders in New Delhi, a major breakthrough got here within the type of a $750 million forex swap settlement, legitimate till 2027, aimed toward easing the Maldives’ international trade challenges. The 2 nations additionally issued a joint “imaginative and prescient assertion” outlining plans for a broad-based partnership masking financial cooperation and maritime safety. Additional strengthening the assist, India prolonged a $50 million treasury invoice in Could 2025 to assist the Maldives increase its international reserves and stabilize its financial system.

India and the Maldives have lengthy shared a robust relationship formed by their shut geographical proximity, cultural ties, and mutual assist throughout occasions of disaster. With solely about 70 nautical miles separating India’s southernmost islands from the northern Maldives, the island nation performs a key function in India’s maritime safety within the southern Indian Ocean. Through the years, India has supported the Maldives by way of medical support, coaching applications, infrastructure initiatives, and emergency help.

To keep up momentum of their growth agenda, the 2 nations established Excessive-Stage Core Group Conferences (HLCGMs). These common conferences have helped resolve diplomatic challenges and guarantee clean implementation of agreements—beginning with the troop alternative deal and now specializing in pushing ahead the joint Imaginative and prescient assertion.

India has additionally remained a gentle associate in enhancing the Maldives’ maritime capabilities by aiding with coastal radar methods, naval coaching, and surveillance — all in keeping with its broader Indian Ocean safety technique. In Could 2025, the 2 nations held joint catastrophe response workouts, reflecting their shared dedication below the MAHASAGAR regional cooperation framework.

Given the Maldives’ strategic place alongside very important worldwide delivery routes, its stability and collaboration are important to India’s maritime pursuits. For President Muizzu, some great benefits of working intently with India have change into extra evident after a 12 months of exploring different partnerships.