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The Print
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Print
Modi calls Male ‘true friend' of New Delhi at Maldives Independence Day celebrations
PM Modi also met former Maldives President Mohamed Nasheed and highlighted his role as a strong advocate for deepening the India-Maldives friendship. Upon meeting the Speaker, PM Modi in a post on X wrote, 'Met Mr. Abdul Raheem Abdulla, Speaker of the People's Majlis. Talked about the deep-rooted India-Maldives friendship, including the close relationship between our respective Parliaments. The formation of the India-Maldives Parliamentary Friendship Group in the 20th Majlis is a welcome step for bilateral ties. India remains committed to supporting capacity building in the Maldives.' Male: Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with the Speaker of the Parliament, Abdul Raheem Abdulla and former President Mohamed Nasheed, on Saturday, on the second day of his visit to the Maldives. He welcomed the formation of the India-Maldives Parliamentary Friendship Group in the 20th Majlis and underscored how Maldives will always be a valued pillar of India's 'Neighbourhood First' policy and Mahasagar vision. PM said, 'Met the former President of Maldives, Mr. Mohamed Nasheed. He has always been a strong advocate of a deeper India-Maldives friendship. Spoke about how the Maldives will always be a valued pillar of our 'Neighbourhood First' policy and the Mahasagar vision. India will keep supporting Maldives through capacity building and developmental cooperation.' Prime Minister Narendra Modi had also met the Vice President of the Maldives, Hussain Mohamed Latheef, on Saturday. He stated that the leaders discussed the key pillars of India-Maldives friendship, such as technology, infrastructure, energy, and climate change. PM Modi is in the Maldives at the invitation of President Mohamed Muizzu. He is the guest of honour for the 60th Independence Day celebrations in the country. On Friday, while speaking at the banquet hosted in his honour, PM Modi emphasised the depth of the bilateral relationship. He said, 'India-Maldives relations are centuries old. We are neighbours, partners and true friends who stand together in times of need. Maldives holds a special place in India's 'Neighbourhood First' policy… This is not just diplomacy but a relation of deep affinity.' President Mohamed Muizzu praised PM Modi's leadership and reaffirmed the strong ties between India and the Maldives. 'India has long stood as the Maldives's closest and most trusted partner. Our collaboration spans a wide range of areas, from security and trade to healthcare, education and beyond, touching the everyday lives of our citizens,' Muizzu said. On Friday, during a special press briefing, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri had remarked, 'This very timely and productive visit has provided an opportunity to both countries and both leaders to review our very close cooperation and to continue to build further on it. The two sides reviewed the joint vision for the India-Maldives Comprehensive Economic and Maritime Security Partnership, and as a result of the discussions today, arrived at the conclusion that we should continue to implement various elements of this vision, and explore newer avenues to collaborate further between the two sides.' India and the Maldives exchanged eight key agreements on Friday covering a wide range of sectors, including a Line of Credit, debt repayment, fisheries, digital transformation, and the Unified Payments Interface (UPI), in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu. Disclaimer: This report is auto generated from the ANI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content. Also Read: Bullying Maldives is India's latest gladiator sport. It's not how strong nations behave
Hans India
3 days ago
- Business
- Hans India
PM Modi's Maldives visit reinforces India's commitment to ‘neighbourhood first' policy
Male: Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recently concluded two-day state visit to the Maldives is being lauded as an "extremely productive and defining moment", demonstrating a significant turnaround in bilateral ties, after a period of strained ties characterised by Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu's "India Out" campaign." Through the two-state visit to the Maldives, PM Modi reiterated India's commitment to its 'Neighbourhood First' policy. PM Modi, who was the Guest of Honour for the 60th Independence Day celebrations, demonstrated India's role as a trusted friend and "First Responder" in the Indian Ocean region. PM Modi's visit to the Maldives was the first by any Head of State or government since Muizzu assumed office, successfully navigating a period of strained bilateral ties characterised by the "India Out" campaign, Asian News Post reported. During the visit, the two leaders reiterated their shared goals of peace, stability, and prosperity, laying the roadmap for a comprehensive economic and maritime security partnership. During the visit, PM Modi announced a Line of Credit worth INR 4,850 crore for infrastructure development in the Maldives, notably extended for the first time in Indian Rupee. The financial assistance announced by India is set to bolster critical sectors of the Maldives, including education, healthcare and housing and enhance the security capabilities. In addition, an amendatory agreement was signed to reduce annual debt repayment obligations from USD 51 million to USD 29 million for alleviating the Maldives' debt burden, marking a 40 per cent reduction. India and the Maldives announced the initiation of negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and expressed commitment to finalising a bilateral investment treaty. The two nations also signed several agreements across various sectors, including fisheries, meteorology and digital infrastructure. PM Modi also handed over 3300 housing projects and inaugurated a roads and drainage system project, along with six high-impact community development projects. In addition, India will provide 72 heavy vehicles to the Maldivian Ministry of Defence, boosting their defence capabilities. PM Modi and President Muizzu released a commemorative stamp marking 60 years of diplomatic ties between the two nations. PM Modi has consistently expressed India's unwavering commitment to bolstering cordial ties with neighbouring nations and elevating regional cooperation to a new vision. The renewed bonhomie with the Maldives showcases a powerful demonstration of this vision. PM Modi's visit to the Maldives offers valuable lessons in leveraging India's rapid economic growth. Sri Lanka, by aligning its economic strategies and strengthening partnerships with India, can benefit significantly from increased trade, investment, and collaborative development initiatives, contributing to its stability and prosperity in the South Asian landscape.
Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Modi's Maldives visit has changed equations
Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi visit to the Maldives recently as the guest of honour at the island nation's independence day holds significance on multiple fronts. First and foremost, the State visit brings a diplomatic score for India, following Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu's anti-India electoral campaign. Gradually restoring warmth in Delhi-Male is crucial, particularly as ties with close neighbour like Bangladesh have altered over time since a year. The success of Modi's visit to Male is notably outcome-oriented, coming at a time when his neighbourhood first policy gets questioned over cooling relations with neighbours. PM Modi attended the 60th Independence Day celebrations of Maldives at the Republic Square in Male as the Guest of Honour.(DPR PMO) Second, the archipelagic nation remains an irreplaceable strategic partner and the both nations follow Colombo Security Conclave arrangements. Concurrently, India is actively preparing to expand its market presence in the Maldives, currently engaged in Free Trade Agreement (FTA) talks. This is vital to counterbalance the growing influx of Chinese goods. Last and most important, Maldives holds a special place for India's burgeoning upper-middle class, serving as a top-tier honeymoon destination and a favoured locale for Bollywood stars and celebrities over weekend--a status bolstered by Maldives' charm. During his visit to Maldives, PM Modi signed eight bilateral accords, unveiled a $ 565 million credit line ( ₹480 crore) and announced a reduction in repayments of an earlier credit line from $ 51 million to $ 29 million annually. The credit line will be utilised for the projects like hospital developments, housing development, sport infrastructure and school, according to President Muizzu's media response. In the line of FTA, the two nations tabled the talks of a bilateral investment treaty with the fast-paced capacity-building nation during the visit. Maldives was once among the least import-dependent island nations in the world, but it has now become highly reliant on imports for supplies. And depends on tourism for revenue. Despite India's vast arable land, wide range of essential products and close proximity, bilateral trade between India and Maldives remains lower than expected. The trade volume reached $ 548 million in 2023, showing a boost from approximately $ 300 million in 2021. The growing Maldivian dependence on duty-free Chinese imports threatens to undercut Indian exports, as Indian goods face tariffs while Chinese products do not, potentially leading to a loss of market share for India in the Maldives. India is concerned about the erosion of its traditional trading position and geopolitical influence in the region. Male's visa-free access for Indian business tourists has sparked interest within the Indian business community. In terms of financial cooperation, India has much to offer the Maldives. During external affairs minister S Jaishankar's state visit to Male in August 2024, India and Maldives signed an agreement to implement India's UPI system across the Maldives. Former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, belonging to the Maldivian Democratic Party stated that approximately $ 450 million of the $ 800 million Lines of Credit extended by India during his administration from 2019 to 2023 remained unused at the end of his term and urged the incumbent to effectively utilise these remaining funds in ways that benefit the public. In the recent past, India has built a cricket stadium in Kandahar and helped Afghan cricket to develop. President Solih, who religiously follow cricket once requested India to help the island nation develop its cricket infrastructure and coach young people. The nation is a member of Asian Cricket Council and an affiliate of the International Cricket Council. India's support could be game changer in establishing a professional cricket brigade in the island nation. During PM Modi's two-day State visit, India has presented 72 vehicles to the Maldives National Defence Force. Improving defence ties with Male is a boost to bilateral ties. Despite calls for the removal of Indian defence systems from the island, India has been training Maldives' defence personnel, and carrying out naval exercises with the archipelagic nation. India is also supporting Male to enhance its capacity for EEZ surveillance and maritime domain awareness through the provision of ships and assets. However, Maldives under Muizzu will continue to depend on China and to some extent Turkey for defence hardware. In the election, President Muizzu secured votes for his league People's National Congress with an anti-India campaign but eventually recognised the benefits India brings to Maldives. In his 2019 address to the Maldivian parliament Majlis, PM Modi announced India's support for the conservation of Maldives' historic Friday Mosque, known as Hukuru Miskiy, a unique coral-stone mosque. Moving forward, a sustained partnership between Male and Delhi is crucial to address environmental challenges, health care needs, and youth engagement through cricket, regardless of political changes in Male. This article is authored by Ayanangsha Maitra, journalist and programme coordinator, Center of Geoeconomics for the Global South, UAE.
Kuwait Times
4 days ago
- Business
- Kuwait Times
India pledges $565m to Maldives to boost defense, infrastructure
India pledges $565m to Maldives to boost defense, infrastructure India's Prime Minister renews ties with Maldives MALE: India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered $565 million to the Maldives on Friday to bolster its defense forces and infrastructure in the small, yet strategically located, neighbor. On his first official visit to the Indian Ocean archipelago since winning a third term last year, Modi stressed that India will remain the 'first responder' for the Maldives, which has a population of around 525,000 people. 'India will continue to support the Maldives in strengthening its defense capabilities,' Modi said. 'Peace, stability, and prosperity in the Indian Ocean region are our shared goals.' Regional powerhouse India had been concerned that the Maldives was drifting towards the orbit of its rival China following the 2023 election of President Mohamed Muizzu on an anti-India platform. Since coming to power, Muizzu has secured the withdrawal of a small contingent of Indian military personnel who operated two search-and-rescue helicopters and a fixed-wing reconnaissance aircraft based in the archipelago. However, he has since toned down his anti-India rhetoric. Muizzu met with Modi twice last year in New Delhi, and both leaders vowed to begin a 'new chapter' in bilateral ties. Modi on Friday unveiled a $565 million credit line for the Maldives, which is facing a severe foreign exchange shortage despite its highly successful upmarket tourism industry. He also inaugurated several infrastructure projects, including roads funded by India along with a 4,000-unit housing scheme. Muizzu said the credit line from India would be used to strengthen the Maldives' security forces, improve healthcare, housing, and education. 'India's continued assistance to the Maldives through the export of essential commodities is a key facet of our bilateral cooperation,' Muizzu said. Modi is due to leave the archipelago on Saturday after attending the 60th Independence Day celebrations in the capital Male. China and India are the two largest bilateral lenders to the Maldives. Known as a luxury holiday destination with pristine white-sand beaches and secluded resorts, the Maldives has also become a geopolitical hotspot. India remains apprehensive about China's growing presence in the Indian Ocean, particularly in the Maldives and neighboring Sri Lanka. Global east–west shipping lanes pass through the nation's chain of 1,192 tiny coral islands, stretching around 800 kilometers (500 miles) across the equator. India's government has traditionally regarded the Maldives, along with Sri Lanka, to be within its sphere of influence. — AFP
India.com
4 days ago
- Business
- India.com
What China And Global Media Are Saying About PM Modi's Visit To Maldives
New Delhi: On July 26, 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi participated in the 60th Independence Day celebrations of Maldives as the chief guest. His presence at the event grabbed headlines not only in India and Maldives, but across the world. The visit stood out for several reasons. Maldives' President Mohamed Muizzu had built his 2023 election campaign around the slogan 'India Out'. After coming to power, he had sent strong signals distancing the country from India. He also moved swiftly to forge closer ties with China. His early months in office were marked by a decision to send back Indian military personnel stationed in the Maldives. This was viewed in New Delhi as a potential pivot toward Beijing. That same leader has now invited the Indian prime minister as guest of honour at the nation's biggest official event. The symbolism was unmistakable. It marked a moment that was closely tracked in foreign capitals, especially as China continues its attempts to deepen influence across the Indian Ocean region. Chinese State Media Responds Beijing's Global Times, a state-run publication, published a commentary criticising the tone of Indian media coverage surrounding the visit. According to the publication, some Indian platforms had portrayed the trip as a strategic setback for China and a diplomatic win for India. In its analysis, the Global Times accused Indian media of engaging in zero-sum thinking, suggesting that any gain for India must mean a loss for China. It cited comments from Qian Feng, director at the National Strategy Institute at Tsinghua University, who argued that the Maldives naturally prioritises relations with its neighbours but also pursues a diversified foreign policy, including engagement with China's Belt and Road Initiative. 'These approaches are not in conflict,' he said. Singapore and U.S. Media Weigh In Singapore-based Channel News Asia headlined its coverage: 'India's Modi reshapes ties with Maldives.' Their report highlighted how Modi's visit included new infrastructure partnerships, financial commitments and signs of renewed warmth between the two countries. PM Modi inaugurated a new defense ministry building and Indian-funded projects and announced economic support. According to Channel News Asia, the visit was viewed in New Delhi as reassurance that Maldives would not drift too far into China's orbit. The channel highlighted how Muizzu's early months had raised concerns after he ordered the withdrawal of Indian military personnel. The Washington Post echoed this view. In a detailed report, the paper called the two-day trip 'strategically vital' and said it pointed to India's broader goals of asserting presence across key sea routes in the Indian Ocean. It highlighted the announcement of a $565 million line of credit from India to fund development projects. The publication said the visit may mark the beginning of a shift toward restoring normalcy in bilateral ties. A Look From the UK British daily The Independent took a broader view, framing the visit in the context of recent diplomatic turbulence. The publication emphasised that tensions had risen after the Indian government promoted Lakshadweep as a tourism hub, which some in the Maldives perceived as an attempt to redirect Indian tourists away from their beaches. Celebrities in India had even called for a boycott of Maldives as a travel destination. The report added that President Muizzu chose to visit China before making a trip to India, something that had not gone unnoticed in New Delhi. Muizzu's post-China announcement about reducing dependency on India for essentials like medicines and food also drew concern. But things began to improve when Muizzu attended Modi's swearing-in ceremony earlier this year. That visit set the stage for a gradual warming of ties, culminating in the current trip. A New Phase for India-Maldives Relations Pakistan's Express Tribune said Modi's visit ended on a note of clarity and mutual affirmation. It quoted President Muizzu calling the trip 'a defining moment' in relations between the two nations. In social media posts shared at the conclusion of the visit, Muizzu acknowledged the importance of people-to-people ties and long-term cooperation across sectors. In a reciprocal message, PM Modi said India would stand by the people of Maldives in their aspirations. Germany's Deutsche Welle (DW) provided a strategic lens on the visit. It emphasised Maldives' critical location along shipping lanes in the Indian Ocean. Despite its image as a tourist haven, the report described Maldives as a 'geopolitical hotspot' nestled across 1,192 islands. DW pointed out how this geography has made it a focal point in the growing rivalry between India and China. Their report argued that the region is becoming less about leisure and more about maritime strategy and political influence. What Experts Are Saying According to a commentary by Aditya Shivamurti, associate fellow at Observer Research Foundation (ORF), Maldives' policy initially leaned strongly toward China. He explained how 'India Out' had dominated discourse in 2023, and India's presence was sharply reduced. But by 2024, Shivamurti observed a shift. The domestic economic situation in Maldives worsened. Parliamentary dynamics changed. Chinese promises failed to meet expectations. These developments pushed Muizzu to reassess foreign policy. The analysis added that India responded with pragmatism. It avoided escalation and focused instead on diplomatic engagement and support. In return, the Maldives leadership began acknowledging India's critical role in areas like health, development and infrastructure. ORF's report concluded that both countries are now trying to separate foreign policy from domestic politics. While the Maldivian Democratic Party has historically been seen as pro-India and the ruling PNC as leaning toward China, Muizzu seems to be moderating that binary. He has taken steps to respect India's sensitivities, and India, in turn, has extended support. As per Shivamurti's view, the visit was more than symbolic. It was a recalibration. It offered not just headlines, but signs that pragmatism, diplomacy and shared interests are still possible in a region crowded by rival influences.
