Modi in Dhivehi: Happy to be received by President Muizzu upon arrival

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has posted on X in Dhivehi language following his arrival in the Maldives on Friday morning for a two-state visit, in which he expressed happiness at being personally welcomed at the airport by Maldivian President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu.

The plane carrying PM Modi, who is also set to be the guest of honor of Maldives’ 60th Independence Day celebrations, landed at the Velana International Airport (VIA) in the Maldivian capital at around 09:15 am Friday.

He was received at the airport by President Muizzu, Foreign Minister Dr. Abdulla Khaleel, and other senior Maldivian government officials.

Modi, via a post on X in Dhivehi language following his arrival, expressed happiness at being personally welcomed at the airport by President Muizzu.

“I am confident India-Maldives relations will reach new heights in the coming days,” he added.

މާލެ އާދެވިއްޖެ. އަޅުގަނޑަށް މަރްޙަބާ ކިޔުމަށް ރައީސް މުޢިއްޒު އެއަރޕޯޓަށް ވަޑައިގެންނެވުމުން ވަރަށް އުފާކުރަން. އިންޑިއާ އާއި ދިވެހިރާއްޖޭގެ ގުޅުން ކުރިއަށް އޮތްދުވަސްތަކުގައި އާ އުސްމިންތަކަކަށް އުފުލިގެންދާނެކަން އަޅުގަނޑަށް ޔަޤީން.@MMuizzu pic.twitter.com/JHmGkGrrxV

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 25, 2025

On Saturday, PM Modi is set to take part in Maldives’ 60th Independence Day celebration.

In a post on X on Wednesday, he said he was honored to be taking part in the celebrations.

He also noted that this year also marks the 60th anniversary of formal diplomatic relations between Male’ and New Delhi.

Elected to office on a pledge to expel Indian troops from the Maldives, relations between Male’ and New Delhi had been strained in the early days of President Muizzu’s administration.

Things escalated further three months into office when three deputy ministers made disparaging remarks regarding India and Indian Prime Minister Modi following a social media post promoting India’s Lakshadweep as an alternative tourist destination to the Maldives.

Speaking to reporters after concluding a state visit to China the same month, President Muizzu said that Maldives wasn’t any country’s backyard and that the country cannot be bullied just because its small – remarks that were widely believed to be directed at India.

But despite the earlier turmoil, officials from both Male’ and Delhi repeatedly expressed keenness to repair relations, and engaged in several high-level visits, including two by President Muizzu himself.