Celebrating 60 Years of India-Maldives Relations Amidst Strong Bilateral Agreements
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's official visit to the Maldives marked a celebration of the 60th anniversary of bilateral relations. With significant agreements announced, leaders reaffirmed their commitment to enhancing partnerships in trade, health, and digital connectivity.
Male. July 25, 2025.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, at an official banquet hosted by Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu in Male, emphasised the strong and enduring partnership between India and the Maldives, highlighting gratitude and firm bilateral ties.
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| India-Maldives relations date back centuries. |
PM Modi, underlining the historical depth of the bilateral relationship, stated, "India-Maldives relations are not just a matter of years, but of centuries. We are not just neighbours, but partners and true friends. We stand together in times of need. The Maldives holds a special place in India's 'Neighbourhood First' policy. This is not just diplomacy, but a relation of deep affinity."
He reflected on the continuity of recent high-level engagements, saying, "Last year, the President visited India on a State Visit. Now, I have received the opportunity to be the first State Guest of his tenure."
Marking the significance of the occasion, he added, "Arriving here as the Guest of Honour on the 60th Independence Day of the Maldives is an honour for me. I would like to express my gratitude to the President for this invitation. On behalf of all the people of India, I extend heartfelt greetings to the people of the Maldives."
He noted that this visit comes at a symbolic moment for both nations. "This year, the 60th anniversary of India-Maldives relations is also being celebrated. This happy coincidence — the 60th Independence Day of the Maldives and the 60th anniversary of India-Maldives relations — has made my visit even more special," PM Modi said.
Underscoring the civilizational and cultural bonds, he remarked, "Our shared heritage is as old as the monsoon and as sweet as Addu Bondi. Our languages reflect the depth of our culture. Several words in Dhivehi have come from India. Our tastes are also similar. Absolutely perfect despite being different."
He also emphasised the strength of people-to-people ties between the two countries. He said, "The loving relations that have been formed between the people of our two nations for centuries are ever strong even today. Your tourist number 10 lakh this year turned out to be an Indian."
Reflecting the warmth of the occasion, President Mohamed Muizzu congratulated Prime Minister Modi on completing 4,078 consecutive days in office, making him the second-longest-serving Prime Minister of India in successive terms, surpassing the record previously held by former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.
Speaking at the official banquet hosted in honour of PM Modi during his two-day visit to the Maldives, Muizzu praised the Prime Minister's leadership.
"First of all, let me convey my heartiest congratulations to Your Excellency on becoming the second-longest-serving Prime Minister of India today," Muizzu said.
"This remarkable milestone, 4078 consecutive days in office, is a testament to your unwavering commitment to public service and dedication to the progress and prosperity of the Indian people," he added.
Notably, PM Modi is the first non-Congress Prime Minister to mark this achievement. Narendra Modi is also the first Prime Minister born after independence. He is the longest-serving Prime Minister from a non-Hindi state.
Narendra Modi, 74, became Prime Minister on May 26, 2014, and has served for a total of 11 years and 60 days.
The erstwhile Prime Minister Indira Gandhi served for 11 years and 59 days in office, holding consecutive terms. She was Prime Minister of India from January 24, 1966, to March 24, 1977.
Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of India, holds the record for the longest-serving Prime Minister in consecutive terms. His tenure spanned 16 years and 286 days, from August 15, 1947, to May 27, 1964.
Prime Minister Modi, the first post-independence-born PM, has served two terms: 2014–2019 and 2019–2024.
PM Modi is on a two-day visit to the Maldives at the invitation of President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih. He held a bilateral meeting with Muizzu and announced several agreements to boost cooperation in trade, agriculture, health, and social welfare. These agreements aim to provide the South Asian nation with an extra push in its development journey.
India and the Maldives engaged in a significant diplomatic exchange on Friday. They finalised eight critical agreements covering debt repayment, fisheries management, digital payment advancements, and a new Line of Credit worth Rs 4,850 crore. This pivotal moment occurred during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's official visit to Male.
During the discussions attended by PM Modi and Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu, both nations reaffirmed their dedication to strengthening economic and maritime partnerships. One key agreement highlights India's move to reduce the Maldives' loan repayment obligations by 40%. This is expected to ease the island nation’s economic strain and support financial stability.
In addition to financial arrangements, some agreements focused on digital connectivity. India will promote digital payment systems in the Maldives through the Unified Payments Interface (UPI), RuPay, and local currency trade. This shift is expected to enhance the Maldives' financial infrastructure, enabling seamless transactions.
PM Modi’s visit included the transfer of 3,300 social housing units. India also provided vehicles for Maldivian security forces and medical aid kits to support healthcare. Together, Modi and President Muizzu inaugurated various infrastructure projects. These efforts underscore their collaborative work toward sustainable development in the Maldives.
This visit underscores the deepening India-Maldives partnership, coinciding with both the 60th anniversary of Maldivian independence and the six decades of diplomatic relations between the two countries. PM Modi underlined new agreements as proof of India’s “Neighbourhood First” policy, reinforcing economic ties and strategic cooperation between the two nations.
India Maldives relations
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