Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday attended the 60th Independence Day celebrations of the Maldives, held at Republic Square in the capital city of Male. Modi was welcomed as the Guest of Honour by Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu and several senior ministers.

In a post on X after the event, Modi said he was “deeply honoured” to witness the celebrations, adding that his “productive talks with President Muizzu will add significant energy to our bilateral relations.”

During the ceremony, Modi sat alongside President Muizzu and watched a 50-minute event that included a military parade and cultural performances by children and local artists. Top political and military leaders of the Maldives were also in attendance.

Members of Modi’s delegation—including External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri—were also present, according to PTI.

The visit marks a notable shift in India-Maldives relations, which had experienced tensions after President Muizzu came to power on the back of an ‘India Out’ campaign and showed signs of moving closer to China. However, diplomatic engagement on both sides appears to have helped reset the relationship.

Muizzu had visited India in October last year, and Modi’s two-day visit—his first to the Maldives since Muizzu took office—is also the first by any foreign leader under the current Maldivian administration.

Speaking to the media, President Muizzu called Modi “a wonderful person” and emphasized the deep historical ties between the two nations. “The Maldives and India have a very good relationship that goes back centuries,” he said. “With PM Modi’s leadership, cooperation between our two governments is going to become even more prosperous in the days ahead.”