India's Modi 'honoured' to celebrate Maldives Independence Day during visit

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has confirmed that he will visit the Maldives on a state visit from Friday to Saturday and participate in the celebrations marking the 60th anniversary of the country’s independence.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday, Prime Minister Modi stated that he is visiting the Maldives at the invitation of President Dr Mohamed Muizzu. He said he is honoured to have the opportunity to attend the Independence Day celebrations during the visit.

Modi also noted that this year marks 60 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations between India and the Maldives. During the visit, he is scheduled to meet President Muizzu for high-level discussions.

According to official sources, Prime Minister Modi’s itinerary includes:

Modi previously attended the swearing-in ceremony of former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih in 2018. He also made an official visit to the Maldives during the previous administration of the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), which maintained close ties with India.

Relations between the Maldives and India saw tensions during the former opposition’s ‘India Out’ campaign. However, the current administration has taken steps to reinforce the bilateral relationship.

Earlier this year, Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr Abdulla Khaleel assured Indian officials that the Maldives would not take any action that could negatively impact bilateral ties. He also stated in interviews with Indian media that the ‘India Out’ campaign was associated with former President Abdulla Yameen and not the current government.

Yameen has since issued a response to those claims.