Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu, currently on a four-day bilateral visit to India, met with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar shortly after arriving in Delhi on Sunday. Jaishankar expressed optimism about strengthening ties between the two nations, stating on X, "Pleased to call on President @MMuizzu today at the start of his State Visit to India. Appreciate his commitment to enhancing the India-Maldives relationship. Confident that his talks with PM @narendramodi tomorrow will give a new impetus to our friendly ties."

Muizzu, accompanied by Maldives’ First Lady Sajidha Mohamed, landed in Delhi on Sunday. This marks his second visit to India in four months and his first official bilateral visit since taking office.

During the trip, from October 6 to October 10, Muizzu is scheduled to meet President Droupadi Murmu and hold discussions with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on key bilateral, regional, and international issues. In addition to his meetings in Delhi, Muizzu will also visit Mumbai and Bengaluru for business engagements.

According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), "Maldives is India's key maritime neighbor in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) and holds a special place in Prime Minister Modi's vision of ‘SAGAR’ (Security and Growth for All in the Region) and India’s ‘Neighbourhood First Policy.’"

Muizzu had previously visited New Delhi in June to attend Prime Minister Modi’s swearing-in ceremony. However, relations between the two nations became strained after Muizzu assumed office, largely due to his "India Out" campaign, which called for the withdrawal of Indian troops and personnel from the Maldives. Tensions escalated further when some members of Muizzu's cabinet made derogatory remarks about PM Modi after his visit to Lakshadweep, though the ministers were later removed from office.

Despite these challenges, both nations have made efforts to repair their diplomatic ties. The Maldives has since acknowledged India’s crucial role in its economic growth, security, and infrastructure development, leading to a renewed focus on collaboration.