Modi, Muizzu & masala: How Maldives went from 'India Out' to strategic warmth
Just two years ago, such a scenario would have seemed unlikely. Today, it marks a dramatic shift in bilateral equations, underscoring the quiet resilience of India's strategic diplomacy.
Explore courses from Top Institutes in
Please select course:
Select a Course Category
Product Management
MBA
others
Others
Technology
Cybersecurity
Data Science
Degree
Artificial Intelligence
Digital Marketing
Healthcare
Project Management
Public Policy
Data Analytics
Data Science
Finance
Management
Leadership
CXO
Design Thinking
MCA
Operations Management
Skills you'll gain:
Product Strategy & Competitive Advantage Tactics
Product Development Processes & Market Orientations
Product Analytics & Data-Driven Decision Making
Agile Development, Design Thinking, & Product Leadership
Duration:
40 Weeks
IIM Kozhikode
Professional Certificate in Product Management
Starts on
Jun 26, 2024
Get Details
Skills you'll gain:
Product Strategy & Roadmapping
User-Centric Product Design
Agile Product Development
Market Analysis & Product Launch
Duration:
24 Weeks
Indian School of Business
Professional Certificate in Product Management
Starts on
Jun 26, 2024
Get Details
Skills you'll gain:
Creating Effective Product Roadmap
User Research & Translating it to Product Design
Key Metrics via Product Analytics
Hand-On Projects Using Cutting Edge Tools
Duration:
12 Weeks
Indian School of Business
ISB Product Management
Starts on
May 14, 2024
Get Details
"Patience has its benefits; it helps if you don't give in to the compulsion and expectation to retaliate against each provocation," a senior source told TOI.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
No annual fees for life
UnionBank Credit Card
Apply Now
Undo
From 'India Out' to strategic warmth
President Mohamed Muizzu swept to power in 2023 on the back of an 'India Out' campaign, signalling what many feared would be a souring of ties.
His ministers had publicly criticised India and even targeted PM Modi in a bid to play to nationalist sentiments. The defeat of pro-India President Ibrahim Solih further intensified concerns that Maldives—historically a close ally—was pivoting away from New Delhi.
Live Events
But instead of reacting to provocation, India chose a policy of 'strategic restraint.'
PM Modi was the first world leader to congratulate Muizzu on his election win. And now, just months later, Muizzu is rolling out the red carpet for Modi's visit—a clear sign that political rhetoric has yielded to diplomatic pragmatism.
Diplomacy backed by development
India's consistent and quiet support to Maldives during economic distress laid the groundwork for this diplomatic turnaround.
In 2024, New Delhi extended a $400 million emergency financial package and a Rs 3,000 crore currency swap to stabilize the Maldivian economy. Investments totalling over $450 million are already underway in infrastructure, trade, education, water and sanitation.
Muizzu himself acknowledged India's role during his India visit in November, stating: 'India is a key partner in the socio-economic and infrastructure development of the Maldives, and has stood by the Maldives during our times of need.'
Among the flagship projects is the
Greater Male Connectivity Project
, a transformative infrastructure venture linking several islands and boosting economic mobility.
Masala diplomacy meets maritime security
But this visit isn't just symbolic—it's strategically significant.
According to report by ET, Maldives and India are expected to deepen defence and maritime cooperation, particularly in combating drug trafficking across the Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean. President Muizzu has declared the drug menace a national priority, and India is likely to offer greater support through naval collaboration and intelligence sharing.
Maldives is already a member of the Colombo Security Conclave (CSC)—a regional initiative led by India to tackle maritime safety, terrorism, cyber threats, and disaster relief. The CSC has evolved into a crucial platform for multilateral cooperation, with Sri Lanka, Mauritius, and Maldives as core members, and Seychelles and Bangladesh as observers.
Trade talks, treasury bills, & economic integration
As part of the ongoing economic engagement, India and Maldives are in talks for a Free Trade Agreement and a broader investment pact, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri confirmed earlier this week.
He also noted India's sustained subscription to Maldivian treasury bills through the
State Bank of India
, underlining the financial umbilical cord that links the two nations.
Several Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) are likely to be signed during the prime minister's visit on Friday, covering areas from infrastructure to capacity building. These deals aim to accelerate regional integration and fortify economic stability in the archipelago.
A visit rich in symbolism and strategy
This will be PM Modi's third state visit to the Maldives—but the first since Muizzu took office.
It comes not just as a bilateral gesture but as a regional statement of India's enduring influence, even amid political fluctuations.
The timing couldn't be more symbolic—commemorating both 60 years of Maldivian independence and six decades of diplomatic ties with India. By inviting Modi as Guest of Honour, Male has sent a clear signal: despite the turbulence of recent years, India remains a trusted partner in Maldives' journey ahead
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Indian Express
10 minutes ago
- Indian Express
‘Not viable': Bhubaneswar metro project hangs in balance as Odisha govt cancels tender
Uncertainty looms over the Bhubaneswar Metro Rail Project after the Odisha government has cancelled the tender for the ambitious urban mobility project initiated by the erstwhile Biju Janata Dal (BJD) government. Odisha's Housing and Urban Development Minister Krushna Chandra Mohapatra said the decision to cancel the tender was taken in view of delay in implementation and to avoid cost escalation. 'The metro project initiated by the previous government wouldn't have been viable. Our government has formed an inter-minister committee to take a fresh look into the project by studying different aspects, its viability and to submit a fresh proposal before the project,' said the urban development minister. Mohapatra said the state government would take up the project in consultation with the Centre unlike the BJD government that had decided to take it on its own. Former Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik had laid the foundation stone of the project on January 1, 2024, months before the simultaneous polls. It was estimated to spend a whopping Rs 6,300 crore to develop the first phase of the project with a length of 26 km from Bhubaneswar Airport to Trisulia near Orissa high court in Cuttack with 20 stations and to extend it to Puri, Khurda and Cuttack subsequently. It was decided to develop the metro rail track and stations on elevated viaduct. The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation was roped in by the Odisha government to implement the project that floated the tender and engaged different agencies to take up the project. Though ground work for the metro project was started, it hit hurdles after the BJP assumed power in Odisha on June 24. Taking a dig at the BJP government over cancellation of the metro project as he said the double-engine government has 'betrayed' the people of Odisha and the decision will push Bhubaneswar 10 years back. 'It has always been our dream to develop #Bhubaneswar into a world-class city. We have been focusing on world class sports infrastructure, organising marquee international events, providing seamless modern transport and developing the IT ecosystem to transform the temple city into a world class city,' wrote Patnaik on X. Patnaik, in his post, wrote that the Bhubaneswar metro project would have reshaped the way city moves with #MoBus and other last mile connectivity complementing the city transport. 'Apart from alleviating congestion inside the city significantly, it would have been a huge catalyst for the expansion of the city. Realising the urgent need of a Metro System for enhanced mobility, we had set a watertight timeline of 2027 for Phase 1 of the project,' he noted.
Indian Express
10 minutes ago
- Indian Express
Opposition alleges Rs 70,000 crore scam as CAG flags accounting lapses in poll-bound Bihar
Just months ahead of the upcoming Assembly election in Bihar, the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India has flagged massive accounting lapses in the state's finances. The CAG has reported that as of March 31, 2024, as many as 49,649 Utilisation Certificates (UCs) — documents that confirm that allocated resources were utilised for the intended purpose — amounting to Rs 70,877.61 crore, had not been submitted to the Accountant General (Accounts and Entitlements) of Bihar. The findings have come as fresh ammunition for the Opposition. Bihar Leader of Opposition Tejashwi Yadav said in a social media post, 'Thanks to Modi-Nitish, a scam of Rs 70,000 crore has taken place in Bihar. The CAG has unearthed the theft. No work was seen, but the entire expenditure was made… Modi-Nitish made history by committing a Rs 70,000 crore scam. Just like the Srijan scam, now efforts to manage this from Delhi to Patna have intensified.' According to the CAG's State Finances Audit Report for 2023-24, the non-submission of UCs violates Rule 271(e) of the Bihar Treasury Code that requires departments to submit the documents within 18 months of the financial year in which the grant is released. The report notes that the Bihar government 'did not comply' with the national accounting standards of IGAS-1, IGAS-2, and IGAS-3. The auditing body suspects that nearly Rs 70,878 crore of budgeted money has no audit clearance, and raised serious risk of fraud. 'In the absence of UCs, there is no assurance that funds disbursed have been used for the intended purpose,' the report said, adding that this level of pendency is 'fraught with the risk of embezzlement, misappropriation, and diversion of funds'. The report's year-wise data shows that Rs 14,452.38 crore worth of these pending UCs relate to grants issued up to 2016-17. In 2017-18, the pending UCs amounted to Rs 3,746.64 crore; to Rs 5,870.67 crore in 2018-19; Rs 17,980.24 crore in 2019-20 and 2020-21; Rs 16,014.34 crore in 2021-22; and Rs 12,813.34 in 2022–23. The pending UCs are heavily concentrated in a few departments, the CAG report revealed, indicating that five departments account for the majority of the unverified expenditure. The largest default is in the Panchayati Raj Department, with UCs worth Rs 28,154.10 crore pending, the report said. This is followed by the Education Department (Rs 12,623.67 crore), Urban Development and Housing Department (Rs 11,065.50 crore), Rural Development Department (Rs 7,800.48 crore), and Agriculture Department (Rs 2,107.63 crore). In addition to department-level grants, the CAG also found that large sums of grants to local bodies remained unverified. As per the CAG, as of March 31, 2024, utilisation certificates were pending for Rs 4,277.22 crore given to Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) and Rs 2,221.83 crore given to Rural Local Bodies under various central and state schemes, including 15th Finance Commission grants. The report also highlighted significant pendency in the submission of Detailed Contingent (DC) bills against Abstract Contingent (AC) bills. AC bills are required to draw advances by departments, and rules mandate that a department submitting an AC bill to withdraw cash must finalise the accounts by submitting a DC bill within six months. However, as on March 31, 2024, the report showed massive non-compliance, as Rs 9,205.76 crore was drawn in advance payments through 22,130 AC bills, but its expense details through DC bills were not submitted. Of this, Rs 5,577.91 crore (60.60%) pertained to advances drawn for the 'creation of Capital Assets', including major schemes under road works, education, health, rural development, etc. The CAG further noted that 1,648 AC bills, totalling Rs 1,041.12 crore, were drawn in March 2024 alone, indicating a 'rush' to exhaust budgets at the end of the financial year. The audit said that this pattern of drawing money late in the year and not reconciling it 'indicates poor public expenditure management'. 'The non-submission of DC bills within the prescribed period breaches financial discipline and enhances the risk of misappropriation of public money,' the report warned. The CAG also pointed to issues highlighting systemic lapses in financial reporting with classification of expenditure, particularly under grants-in-aid. It observed that 59.95% of the total budgeted grants-in-aid of Rs 77,600.47 crore disbursed during 2023-24 were lumped under the category, 'Others', without clearly identifying the institutions or schemes to which the funds were released. The CAG noted that without proper institutional codes, 'the amounts outstanding against all institutions could not be worked out.' This, it said, is a gap that 'affected the transparency of accounts'. The CAG also flagged significant parking of funds under the Deposit of Local Funds. According to the CAG report, funds budgeted as grants to local bodies and municipal bodies were transferred there, but never spent. Over 2019-24, the balance in these accounts swelled to Rs 30,017.64 crore. 'This amount has been shown as Revenue or Capital Expenditure in the respective years but is lying unspent in the deposit head,' the report says. It observes that this practice overstates actual expenditure, and further mentions that the 'reason for transfer of funds for parking in Deposit of Local Fund Head of Account were awaited'. The CAG also noted that internal audit mechanisms in departments were either weak or non-functional, and several previous audit recommendations had not been acted upon. It observed that delays in submission of audit replies and lack of timely action 'defeated the very purpose of the audit'. The CAG said that the combination of the issues of missing UCs, unreconciled advances, off-book deposits and generic accounting entries 'indicate lack of internal controls in the administrative departments'.
India.com
10 minutes ago
- India.com
Explained: Why India Can't Withdraw From Asia Cup 2025 Fixture Against Pakistan – BCCI's Hands Tied
photoDetails english 2937864 The India vs Pakistan match in Asia Cup 2025, scheduled for September 14, has sparked massive political backlash amid rising Indo-Pak tensions following the Pahalgam terror attack. Despite opposition from political leaders and civil society, the BCCI confirmed India's participation, citing binding commitments made during the ACC meeting. The match, part of the T20-format tournament hosted in the UAE from September 9, could see up to three high-voltage Indo-Pak clashes. With fans eagerly awaiting the showdown, this fixture has become a focal point of sports diplomacy, national sentiment, and geopolitical debate. Updated:Jul 28, 2025, 07:00 AM IST 1. India vs Pakistan Asia Cup Clash Confirmed for September 14 1 / 11 Despite political tensions, India will face Pakistan on September 14, confirmed by the BCCI after the ACC meeting. This high-stakes match is a must-watch Sunday showdown in Group A. 2. BCCI Cannot Pull Out—Locked by Official Agreements 2 / 11 The BCCI's participation is non-negotiable as per ACC commitments. As the host nation, India cannot withdraw from the Asia Cup 2025 group stage match, even amidst escalating diplomatic unrest. 3. Tensions High After Pahalgam Terror Attack 3 / 11 The match's announcement came just months after the April 22 Pahalgam attack, where 26 were killed. The backdrop of terror has turned this cricket match into a political lightning rod. 4. Opposition Leaders Slam BCCI Over 'Profit Before Patriotism' 4 / 11 Top leaders like Priyanka Chaturvedi and Sukhdeo Bhagat have publicly criticized the match, accusing BCCI of prioritizing money over national pride and undermining the sentiments of Indian armed forces. 5. BCCI Maintains Silence Amid Public Outrage 5 / 11 While criticism mounts, the BCCI has not issued any formal statement on the matter. This silence has sparked further anger across political and civilian circles, demanding transparency and accountability. 6. Asia Cup 2025: A Trial Run for T20 World Cup 2026 6 / 11 This year's T20 format Asia Cup serves as a key preparatory ground for the T20 World Cup 2026, adding more weight to every fixture, especially India vs Pakistan encounters. 7. Chances of 3 India vs Pakistan Matches in One Tournament 7 / 11 With both sides expected to reach the Super Four, fans could witness up to three Indo-Pak clashes, including a potential blockbuster final—making this Asia Cup one of the most thrilling ever. 8. Kargil Vijay Diwas Announcement Fuels Symbolic Debate 8 / 11 The Asia Cup schedule was released on Kargil Vijay Diwas, commemorating India's victory over Pakistan in 1999. This symbolic overlap has deepened the patriotic and political divide. 9. India Skipped Legends Match, Yet Will Play Pakistan Now 9 / 11 India Champions boycotted the World Championship of Legends tie vs Pakistan in England, but the national team will still play in Asia Cup 2025—raising questions about inconsistent sports diplomacy. 10. Mohammad Azharuddin Weighs In on Bilateral vs Multilateral Debate 10 / 11 Ex-captain Azharuddin said, 'No bilateral ties should mean no multilateral games either.' His stance reflects growing support for a uniform policy on Indo-Pak cricket amid ongoing tensions. 11 / 11
