PM Modi Maldives Visit: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has gone on a two -day official visit to Maldives today. This tour is not just a diplomatic tour as well as the beginning of a new chapter in India-Maldives relations. The special thing is that this journey is taking place at a time when Maldives President Mohammad Mujju’s stance towards India has been very negative in the last one year.
Mujju, who took over the power of Maldives by giving the slogan of India Out, took an anti -India stand several times. Regardless, his government demanded the withdrawal of Indian soldiers and put forward ministers making anti-India statements. After which the tension between India and Maldives had increased. And when Prime Minister Modi promoted Lakshadweep as a tourism hub.
Even then some Maldives leaders had got chili after which they made very objectionable comments. Which was strongly opposed in India and the ‘Boycott Maldives’ campaign started. This affected Maldives’ tourism based economy deeply hurt.
India still gave trust and cooperation
Despite these tensions, India played an important role in removing the Maldives’ economy from the crisis. State Bank of India invested $ 50 million in Treasury Bills in Maldives. It was later extended further. Along with this, India also provided currency exchange facility and financial assistance. In FY 2025, India gave aid of ₹ 600 crore to Maldives, which was ₹ 130 crore more than the previous year.
Maldives incomplete without India
The Maldives is also now realizing that it is not possible to stability by keeping India separate. The tone of President Mujju has also changed now. There have been indications of the resignation of anti-India ministers and improving relations since their own visit to India. Maldives has now started an attempt to balance with India out of excessive dependence on China.
China’s influence is also reduced
Mujju’s first foreign trip was from China and there he signed several strategic agreements. Which included military and economic cooperation. Maldives are already under heavy debt under China’s Belt and Road Initiative. In such a situation, the financial support given by India was not only a diplomatic message. There was also a strategy to balance China’s influence.
India has always helped under the ‘neighbor first’ policy. Sri Lanka is a $ 4 billion, Nepal’s infrastructure support, and now decisive assistance to Maldives for financial stability. Maldives’s foreign exchange reserves were $ 443.9 million in August 2024. But RBI’s swap rose to $ 816 million in May 2025 after support of RBI.
60 years of partnership will get new energy
India and Maldives have been playing strong diplomatic partnership since 1965. Whether it is the 1988 operation cactus, a 2004 tsunami or Covid-19 crisis. India has assisted Maldives every time. Recently, India has given financial assistance of ₹ 100 crore for 13 development projects.
Prime Minister Modi will be the chief guest at the 60th Independence Day celebrations of Maldives. This is not just a symbolic honor, but a sign of new stability and maturity in the relationship between the two countries. This journey can become a successful example of diplomacy, strategy and neighboring relations. Where the relationship on the foundation of trust and cooperation despite criticism and stress has been again raised.
