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Newly-appointed Rajya Sabha member Harsh Vardhan Shringla sees Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Maldives as a remarkable turnaround in the relationship between India and the island nation. India is a reliable partner which Maldives has understood over time, he said while describing PM Modi's visit to the neighbouring nation as 'momentous'.
President Mohamed Muizzu invited PM Modi as guest of honour for Maldives' 60th Independence Day celebrations, which marks a significant shift in the India-Maldives relations. Earlier today, PM Modi landed in Male to a warm welcome by Muizzu.
"The fact that the President of the Maldives has invited PM Modi as a chief guest for their 60th anniversary celebrations of independence shows the kind of importance the Maldives attaches to the relationship," former foreign secretary Shringla told News18.
Tensions to turnaround
According to Shringla, Maldives being India's close neighbour in the Indian Ocean makes this partnership "very, very critical".
"It is a remarkable turnaround in the relationship when one considers that just one-and-a-half years ago, this was the government of the Maldives, which had come on a certain 'anti-India plank'. But, I think, in this period of time they understood that India is a reliable and stable partner, and in times of difficulty, India is the only country they can go to," the newly-appointed Rajya Sabha MP said.
The turnaround, Shringla said, is as a result of "very strong outreach, and our diplomacy".
"None of this (turnaround) happens by itself ... There has been a very strong outreach, and our diplomacy has worked very effectively, and the fact that such a momentous visit is taking place reflects the outcomes of these important initiatives," the former foreign secretary added.
Positive outlook
The Prime Minister's visit to Maldives will reinforce the close ties that are emerging in a very important partnership. Shringla said India's policies have been very effective in maintaining consistent support for our immediate neighbours.
"I am sure that PM Modi's visit will further reinforce the close ties that are emerging in a very, very important partnership. The Maldives being a close neighbour of ours in the Indian Ocean, and hence this partnership is very, very critical," News18 said quoting the ex-foreign secretary.
It will be an outstanding visit with many deliverables. "We are undertaking what is one of the largest infrastructure projects ever in the region. The Greater Malé connectivity project is being undertaken by one of our top companies. This will make a remarkable difference to the entire economy and society of the Maldives. PM Modi will be there at a time when this project is very much visible," Shringla added.
The turnaround
Muizzu rose to power in the Maldives on an openly “India Out" campaign, making many predict that India could lose one of its closest maritime partners to geopolitical rivals. India, however, kept pursuing a quiet and steady diplomatic strategy to take relations from strength-to-strength.
PM Modi now becomes the first foreign leader to be received in the Maldives on a State Visit under President Muizzu. The Prime Minister being invited to grace as the chief guest for Maldives’ 60th Independence Day celebrations shows how far the Maldives has come from the “India Out" sloganeering days.
Since President Muizzu took charge, India has shown that it is a friend in need through economic support, assistance for capacity building and other such endeavours.
Maldives had exeplled Indian troops and suspended agreements on helicopters in early 2024. Later in October, he visited India after which both nations agreed to transform the bilateral relationship into a ‘Comprehensive Economic and Maritime Security Partnership’.
