PM Modi’s visit to Maldives, complete with a 21-gun salute and top honours, marks a reset in ties after years of diplomatic strain
Tensions peaked in 2023 when President Muizzu demanded Indian troop withdrawal and signed a defence pact with China soon after
India opted for quiet engagement—replacing troops with technical staff and sustaining aid to Male even during political headwinds
New Delhi extended over $800 million in credit, swaps and budgetary aid as Maldives faced mounting debt from ill-planned BRI projects
Despite ministerial slurs and a drop in Indian tourists, India avoided escalation—helping Male recognise the value of ties with Delhi
The Maldivian reset shows that persistent diplomacy, not bluster, is India’s best bet in an ocean region increasingly influenced by China