Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Malé on Friday for a two-day state visit to the Maldives, where he was warmly received by President Mohamed Muizzu and senior Maldivian ministers. The visit marks the second leg of his two-nation tour, following his UK visit.
Upon arrival, PM Modi was greeted with a warm embrace from President Muizzu at the airport. The Maldivian Foreign Minister, Defence Minister, Finance Minister, and Minister of Homeland Security were also present to receive him.
The capital city, Malé, was festooned with colourful banners, Indian flags, and posters bearing greetings for PM Modi. Many banners featured his image, while children holding paintings and flags lined the streets in celebration of his visit.
Modi’s visit comes at the invitation of President Muizzu and coincides with the 60th Independence Day of the Maldives, where he will attend as the Guest of Honour. This is Modi’s third official visit to the Maldives and the first by a head of state or government during Muizzu’s presidency.
Members of the Indian diaspora in the Maldives expressed enthusiasm over the visit.
“We are proud of PM Modi’s leadership and initiatives like Operation Sindoor. His visit means a lot to us,” said a community member ahead of his arrival.
During his visit, PM Modi is scheduled to hold bilateral talks with President Muizzu aimed at enhancing cooperation across sectors including development, trade, infrastructure, and security.
The visit also celebrates 60 years of diplomatic relations between India and the Maldives — a partnership that has been marked by strong people-to-people ties and India’s continued support for the Maldives through development aid, infrastructure projects, and humanitarian assistance.
