India-Maldives Relations: “Diplomacy does not count the days, it measures the distance travelled.”
Nowhere is this more evident than in the recent rekindling of India–Maldives relations during the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s official visit to the archipelago in July 2025. What a turnaround—and what a resetting of bilateral ties, or so it seems on the surface. The optics of warm handshakes and red carpet welcomes may seem like a diplomatic routine. But to those who have watched this bilateral equation closely, this visit represents a quiet triumph of historical trust, personal diplomacy, and sustained backchannel engagement.
From Boycotts to Breakthroughs
Cut to late 2023: The Maldives’ presidential election was fought amid loud “India Out” protests—a populist campaign that questioned India’s growing footprint in the country. The surprise victory of Mohamed Muizzu, backed by the pro-China Progressive Party of Maldives, led to an immediate and sharp shift in diplomatic posture. One of Muizzu’s first symbolic moves as president was to break tradition and visit China first—bypassing India, the long-standing first destination for incoming Maldivian heads of state.
Simultaneously, Indian social media erupted in response to the backlash. PM Modi’s well-timed photograph from Lakshadweep was widely interpreted as a strategic nudge—promoting India’s own tropical islands as an alternative to the Maldives. This subtle move ignited a spontaneous campaign among Indian travellers to cancel Maldivian bookings, significantly denting the island nation’s tourism economy, which is heavily reliant on Indian tourists.
For a moment, it seemed the old alliance had cracked beyond repair.
A Personal Reflection: Colombo, Nasheed, and the Deeper Currents
Yet, much would have been quietly unfolding behind the scenes through diplomatic channels. There are certain telling moments to recall from the years when former Maldivian President Mohamed Nasheed was living in exile in Sri Lanka, which reflects upon how diplomacy is played from beneath the ground. Around seven years ago an informal conversation through a circle of mutual friends in Colombo-to which this writer was part, gave an opportunity to understand how even in his exile former President Nasheed followed the politics and diplomacy between India and Maldives and kept his personal channels of relationship alive. Nasheed, always candid, acknowledged that despite the daily frictions in politics, the relationship between the two nations is “knotted in deeper currents”—shared history, democratic aspirations, and people-to-people ties that often outlast political cycles. During the current scenario one cannot overstate the role that former Maldivian President Mohamed Nasheed may have played in this quiet thaw. “India is not just close to us geographically,” he had said, “it’s part of our political DNA.”
That conversation helps join the dots today, resonates stronger than ever and helps understand how the diplomatic parlance behind the surface helps diffuse the tensed wire. For Nasheed, India has not been just a neighbour, which is ‘geographically closer’ but ‘part of political DNA’, ‘a historical anchor. It’s this depth, not visible in diplomatic communiqués, that must have quietly driven the reset.
Sources close to diplomatic circles suggest that even as public rhetoric frayed, backchannel diplomacy never stopped. And it is very likely that figures like Nasheed—still influential in the Maldives’ democratic establishment and a long-time friend of India— must have played an active mediating role in cooling tensions, bridging divides, and reintroducing mutual trust.
Backchannel Diplomacy: The Unsung Hero
While the headlines are filled with MoUs and funding announcements, the real stories may be lying beneath. The melting of the diplomatic ice—especially after such a sharp downturn post-election—is not accidental. It is the outcome of sustained, patient, backchannel diplomacy built on personal and political relationships, especially through the political friends between the two nations, who understand both the Indian ethos and Maldivian sensitivities.
This form of diplomacy—quiet, personal, and persistent—has ensured that both sides could recalibrate their positions without public embarrassment. It may have allowed President Muizzu to shift gears diplomatically, while letting India reaffirm its regional leadership without seeming reactive.
And it also affirms something critical: South Asia’s diplomacy often operates as much through personal trust as it does through official treaties.
The Larger Arc: History, Sovereignty, and Strategic Patience
Let’s not forget that India was one of the first nations to recognise Maldivian independence in 1965. From assisting in thwarting a 1988 coup to ongoing military training and disaster response, the India–Maldives partnership has stood the test of political turbulence. But like any close relationship, it requires recalibration—especially in a geopolitically volatile region where China’s presence looms large.
The recent “India Out” movement, widely believed to have been amplified by Chinese strategic interests, was a test of India’s diplomatic patience and resilience. The Modi government’s refusal to react impulsively—and instead persist through measured economic, cultural, and diplomatic tools—has now paid dividends.
A Reset, Not a Reunion
This is not just a return to the status quo—it is a reset built on a recognition of changing realities. India’s assertive but respectful outreach, backed by strategic funding and multilateral cooperation, is an example of how diplomacy rooted in history and trust can overcome even sharp political divergences.
And for that, much credit goes to the unseen threads: the backchannel talks, the personal rapport of leaders, and the continued belief—by figures like Mohamed Nasheed—that India remains Maldives’ most dependable partner.
India–Maldives ties have always been a “work in progress,” but this time, they are progressing in the right direction—quietly, confidently, and perhaps more lastingly than ever before.
The Modi Visit: Strategic Aid Meets Symbolic Outreach
Fast forward to July 2025. The turnaround is remarkable.
PM Modi’s visit was not just a diplomatic courtesy—it came with tangible deliverables that show India’s commitment to long-term partnership:
- A ₹4,850 crore (~US $565 million) Line of Credit for infrastructure and development projects.
- Roll-over of US $50 million treasury bill as budgetary support—critical for Maldives’ struggling economy.
- Inauguration of a new Maldivian Ministry of Defence Headquarters built with Indian grant assistance, reinforcing defence ties.
- A slew of seven bilateral agreements, ranging from trade to digital payments to meteorology and fisheries cooperation.
Importantly, the two nations agreed to begin Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations—a strong signal that the relationship is moving toward structural and long-term economic interdependence.