“When relations are strong, everyone benefits. I believe that the Prime Minister’s visit will further boost Indian tourist arrivals to the Maldives,” Nasheed told news agency ANI ahead of PM Modi’s two-day visit from on July 25-26. The Indian leader will attend the Maldives’ 60th Independence Day celebrations as the guest of honour.
Nasheed also highlighted the near-completion of the Hanimadu Airport project, which is a a major infrastructure development supported by Indian financial assistance, and would enhance air connectivity between southern India and northern Maldives.
“Hanimadu Airport would be just a little over an hour from most of the southern Indian cities. There is a big opportunity for both countries to benefit,” he noted.
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In a departure message shared on X, PM Modi said, “Day after tomorrow, 25th July, I will be in the Maldives at the invitation of the President Dr Mohamed Muizzu. I am honoured to be taking part in the 60th Independence Day celebrations of the Maldives. This year we also mark 60 years of India-Maldives diplomatic relations. The talks with President Muizzu will certainly add momentum to bilateral ties across diverse sectors.”
Day after tomorrow, 25th July, I will be in the Maldives at the invitation of the President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu. I am honoured to be taking part in the 60th Independence Day celebrations of the Maldives. This year we also mark 60 years of India-Maldives diplomatic relations. The…
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 23, 2025
Reflecting on India’s economic support, Nasheed credited New Delhi with helping the Maldives avert a financial crisis during critical times. “If not for India, we would have gone default,” he said and added, “Indian assistance and partnership in the Maldives are deeply valued and have played a critical role during our challenging times. With mounting financial difficulties and substantial debt repayment obligations, India’s timely support helped us avoid default and maintain stability.”
He described the India-Maldives economic relationship as one rooted in trust and regional solidarity, vital for fostering resilience between neighbouring nations.
Nasheed reaffirmed the Maldives’ long-standing ‘India-first’ foreign policy, acknowledging, however, that electoral shifts in the past had sometimes caused foreign policy oscillations.
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“We have always maintained an India-first foreign policy in the Maldives. But in the past, election cycles have sometimes caused our foreign policy to swing between a strong pro-China stance and a strong pro-India stance,” he said.
However, he stressed that the current democratic framework in the Maldives has enabled a more consistent and India-centric approach. “Today, unlike before, across the spectrum of Maldivian politics, the approach is firmly India-first,” Nasheed added.
