Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu engaged in productive bilateral talks on Monday at Hyderabad House, marking a significant step forward in India-Maldives relations. The discussions included a delegation-level meeting attended by key officials, including External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.
The Ministry of External Affairs’ spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal, took to X (formerly Twitter) to highlight the warm reception given to President Muizzu as he arrived at Hyderabad House, indicating the importance of the meeting for the special ties shared between the two nations. Jaiswal emphasized that extensive discussions on enhancing bilateral relations were anticipated.
President Muizzu, who arrived in India on Sunday for a five-day official visit, was welcomed with a ceremonial reception at Rashtrapati Bhavan. He was greeted by President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Modi, alongside First Lady Sajidha Mohamed. The Maldivian delegation also paid homage to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat, where President Muizzu signed the visitors’ book in tribute to the Indian leader.
Upon his arrival, Muizzu was welcomed by Union Minister of State for External Affairs, Kiriti Vardhan Singh. According to a press release from the Maldives President’s Office, Minister Jaishankar expressed his pleasure in hosting Muizzu for this important state visit. In return, President Muizzu conveyed his gratitude for the warm hospitality extended by the Indian government to him and his delegation.
The discussions between Jaishankar and Muizzu focused on nurturing and maintaining strong ties between India and the Maldives. Both sides reviewed the progress of current initiatives supported by India and explored additional avenues for collaboration that align with the Maldives’ development priorities.
As part of the visit, President Muizzu and First Lady Sajidha Mohamed also engaged with the Maldivian community in New Delhi, further strengthening cultural ties.
