Muizzu next to PM Modi in state dinner, will India-Maldives relations change?

New Delhi: Leaders of many neighbouring countries came to attend Narendra Modi’s swearing-in ceremony, but the most talked about was Maldives President Mohammad Muizzu. The picture of the banquet hosted by the President after the swearing-in ceremony was telling a different story. Muizzu was sitting right next to Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the dinner table. Modi and Muizzu are seen talking to each other. Muizzu is seen laughing at something said by PM Modi. Before coming to the swearing-in ceremony, Muizzu said that it would be an honour for him/her to attend Narendra Modi’s swearing-in ceremony. Relations between India and Maldives are expected to improve in the new term of the Modi government. India knows that China tries its best to spoil India’s relations with other countries. Sri Lanka, Nepal and Maldives are examples of this. Muizzu came to India for the first time after becoming the President of Maldives in November last year. Relations between India and Maldives have remained tense since Muizzu, who is considered a supporter of China, took over as President. Muizzu’s predecessors had first visited New Delhi after assuming office, but in contrast, Muizzu first made a state visit to Turkey and China. Now it remains to be seen how much the relations between the two countries improve after his/her visit to India.

Muizzu first congratulated Modi on his/her victory. After the victory, Muizzu said on the social media platform X that congratulations to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his/her third consecutive victory in the general elections. After that, before coming to the swearing-in ceremony, Maldives President Mohammad Muizzu said that it is an honor for him/her to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his/her visit to India on this historic occasion will reflect that bilateral relations are moving in a positive direction.

New Delhi’s invitation to Muizzu to attend the swearing-in ceremony is also significant in the light of the recent strained relations between India and Maldives. Relations between India and Maldives have remained strained since November last year after Muizzu, who is considered pro-China, took over as President. Mohammad Muizzu had ordered the Indian Army personnel deployed there to return to their country just hours after taking oath, after which civilians were deployed for security in place of Indian military personnel earlier this month.