SUNNY SIDE UP

Modi's Maldives visit is a measured reset that marks a strategic gain for India

- BY ANIRUDHA KARINDALAM

In early July, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi was invited to be the chief guest at the celebrations marking the 60th anniversary of the Maldives' independence in Malé on July 26, there was palpable scepticism in Delhi's power corridors about whether he would attend. The hesitation was understandable, as the visit was scheduled immediately after Modi's much-anticipated UK trip to sign a free trade agreement between the two countries. Until a week before the event, there was no official confirmation. When it finally came, hectic parleys were set in motion on both sides.

Former Maldivian presidents and prominent leaders abroad returned home ahead of Modi's arrival. At the airport, Modi greeted Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu with a warm handshake and a hug, signalling that India, the proverbial 'big brother' appeared ready to move past the bickering and pessimism stirred by the 'India Out' campaign. The campaign had gained momentum after Muizzu and his People's National Congress (PNC) swept both the 2023 presidential and April 2024 parliamentary polls.

The groundwork for Modi's visit had been laid over months. Last October, Muizzu visited India for bilateral talks, followed by three visits by Foreign Minister Abdulla Khaleel this year. These engagements marked a resumption of high-level diplomacy between the two countries. The royal welcome extended to Modi was not spontaneous—it was the result of India's steady, sensible diplomacy. Despite all the goading and prodding in late 2023 and early 2024, India continued to engage with the Maldives, maintaining development support rather than opting for confrontation over demands to withdraw its military personnel.