PM Modi Visits Maldives as Chief Guest for 60th Independence Day, Seals Strategic Reset

PM Modi Visits Maldives as Chief Guest for 60th Independence Day: PM Modi off to Maldives, concludes UK leg of 2-nation tour He is visiting Maldives at the invitation of President Mohamed Muizzu from July 25 to 26

During his visit, PM will be the Guest of Honour at the 60th Independence Day celebrations of Maldives. His visit also marks 60 years of India-Maldives diplomatic relations.

Earlier, PM Modi had concluded his visit to UK where he met with his UK counterpart, PM Keir Starmer at Chequers, the official residence of the British PM. Both leaders welcomed the signing of India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) which will enhance bilateral trade, investment and job creation.

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During his visit to Maldives, PM will hold talks with President Mohamed Muizzu and inaugurate several India-assisted development projects in the island nation, external affairs ministry said.

"The prime minister's state visit also happens to be the first state visit of a head of government that President Muizzu is hosting in his presidency since he assumed office in November 2023," Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said.

According to Misri, the India-Maldives Joint Vision for a Comprehensive Economic and Maritime Security Partnership finalised last year remains a key framework — and developments on this front are expected during the visit.

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Apart from this, several MoUs will be signed between India and Maldives during PM’s visit to the Island nation, G Balasubramanian, High Commissioner of India to Maldives said.

"We would be having bilateral meetings at the level of Prime Minister and President both at the Presidency, followed by various MOUs that would be signed and various projects that have been done under the Indian support whether it is in terms of line of credit or buyer's credit or grants, those projects, many of them would be handed over or inaugurated. On the next day, there would be other meetings, and in the evening, there are the Independence Day celebrations, which our Prime Minister is attending as the guest of honour, after which the visit should conclude," he said.

PM’s visit to Maldives is seen as a crucial step towards resetting ties between the two countries which had come under strain after President Mohamed Muizzu — widely seen as pro-China — took over in November 2023.

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