This article covers how India-Maldives diplomatic relations began, the visits exchanged by leaders, ministers and parliamentarians, the dialogue mechanisms and the main agreements signed. It is based on the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) bilateral brief of June 2026.

Establishment of relations

According to the MEA brief of June 2026, India was among the first countries to recognise Maldives after its independence in 1965, and established diplomatic relations with it in the same year. The brief records that in 2025-26 India and Maldives are celebrating 60 years of the establishment of formal diplomatic ties.

The brief notes that Maldives lies barely 70 nautical miles from Minicoy and 300 nautical miles from India's west coast, at the hub of commercial sea-lanes running through the Indian Ocean, particularly the 8° N and 1 ½° N channels. It states that this location gives Maldives significant strategic importance to India.

Place in India's foreign policy

The brief states that Maldives occupies a special place under India's "Neighbourhood First" foreign policy, which aims to bring stability and prosperity to the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). It describes both nations as key players in maintaining the safety and security of the IOR, contributing to the India-led Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security And Growth Across Regions (MAHASAGAR) vision.

The brief describes India as having stood by Maldives as its "First Responder". It records that India's prompt assistance during the 1988 coup attempt led to the development of trust, and that the immediate withdrawal of Indian troops once they were no longer required assuaged fears of Indian dominance or territorial aspirations. Later instances of assistance are covered in this guide's development partnership article.

Visits by heads of state and government

Prime Minister's State Visit, July 2025

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi paid a State Visit to Maldives from 25-26 July 2025 at the invitation of President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu. He was the Guest of Honour for the celebrations of the 60th anniversary of the Independence Day of Maldives. The brief notes that he was the first head of state or government to visit Maldives during President Muizzu's government.

After tête-à-tête and delegation-level talks, eight MoUs and agreements were signed:

  • Umbrella Line of Credit Agreement, and Individual Credit Agreements for a Line of Credit of INR 4850 crore
  • First Amendatory Dollar Credit Line Agreement
  • Terms of reference for the negotiations on a Free Trade Agreement
  • MoU on Pharmacopoeial Cooperation
  • MoU on Cooperation in the field of Fisheries and Aquaculture
  • MoU in the Field of Sharing Successful Digital Solutions Implemented at Population Scale for Digital Transformation
  • Network to Network Agreement on UPI roll out in the Maldives
  • MoU on cooperation in meteorology, atmospheric sciences, climate sciences, and environmental monitoring

The two leaders released a joint commemorative stamp marking the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations. Vice President Hussain Latheef, Majlis Speaker Abdul Raheem Abdulla, former President Mohamed Nasheed and an all-party delegation, including leaders of the MDP, MNP, JP and MDA, paid courtesy calls on the Prime Minister. The projects handed over and inaugurated during the visit are described in the development partnership article.

President Muizzu's visits to India, 2024

President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu paid a State Visit to India from 6-10 October 2024. He met Rashtrapati Ji and held discussions with Prime Minister Modi on bilateral, regional and international issues. The two leaders jointly adopted the framework document "India Maldives: A Vision for Comprehensive Economic and Maritime Security Partnership", launched development projects and witnessed the exchange of several MoUs.

Earlier, in June 2024, President Dr. Muizzu visited India to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister Modi and the Council of Ministers. The two leaders met after the ceremony. President Muizzu met Rashtrapatiji Smt Droupadi Murmu and attended a banquet hosted by her at Rashtrapati Bhavan, and EAM Dr S. Jaishankar paid a courtesy call on him.

President Solih's visits, 2018 and 2022

President Ibrahim Solih paid an Official Visit to India from 1-4 Aug 2022, accompanied by key ministers and a business delegation. He met President Smt. Droupadi Murmu and held official talks with Prime Minister Modi. The leaders jointly launched the first pouring of concrete for the Greater Male Connectivity Project (GMCP) and reviewed ongoing bilateral projects.

Agreements were signed during that visit in the areas of cybersecurity, disaster management, fisheries and capacity building of local government representatives. President Solih took part in India-Maldives business forums in Delhi and Mumbai, and visited the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT), the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) and Mumbai Film City. The announcements made during the visit on credit, defence equipment and tuna exports are covered in the development and trade articles.

President Solih's first overseas visit after assuming office was a State Visit to India in Dec 2018, during which India announced a financial assistance package that is described in the trade article.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the inauguration ceremony of President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih on 17 Nov 2018 as the only Head of State or Head of Government present. In talks just after the swearing-in, he conveyed India's desire to work closely on Maldives' developmental priorities, especially infrastructure, health care, connectivity and human resource development.

Prime Minister's State Visit, June 2019

Prime Minister Modi paid a State Visit to Maldives in June 2019 and addressed a session of the newly constituted People's Majlis. MoUs were signed on hydrography, health, the establishment of a passenger-cum-cargo service by sea, cooperation in customs capacity building, training of civil servants, and the exchange of white shipping information between the Indian Navy and the Maldivian National Defence Force (MNDF).

The two leaders jointly inaugurated, by remote link, the MNDF Composite Training Centre (CTC) at Maafilafushi and the Coastal Radar System (CRS). Both sides agreed to resume the Colombo Security Conclave (CSC), a trilateral India-Maldives-Sri Lanka mechanism on marine security, and to constitute a Joint Working Group on Counter Terrorism.

Foreign minister level interactions

  • Minister of Foreign Affairs Iruthisham Adam made her first official visit to India from 12 to 14 May 2026, her first overseas engagement since assuming office in April 2026. She met EAM Dr. S. Jaishankar and Minister of Commerce & Industry Shri Piyush Goyal, and also met Indian tour operators.
  • Foreign Minister Dr. Abdulla Khaleel visited India from 25-27 May 2025 for the second meeting of the High Level Core Group, which oversees progress in implementing the October 2024 framework document.
  • Dr. Khaleel attended the 8th Indian Ocean Conference, held in Muscat, Oman, in February 2025 and co-hosted by India, and the 10th Raisina Dialogue in New Delhi from 17-19 March 2025.
  • During an official visit from 02-04 January 2025, Dr. Khaleel met EAM Dr. S. Jaishankar to take stock of progress since the October 2024 State Visit. The two sides signed an MoU for implementing High Impact Community Development Projects under Phase-III in Maldives through Indian grant assistance.
  • EAM Dr. S. Jaishankar visited Maldives from 09-11 August 2024. He called on President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu and, according to the brief, reaffirmed his commitment to deepen the relationship further. He also met H.E. Moosa Zameer (described in the brief as former Foreign Minister), the Minister for Defence, the Ministers of Finance and of Economic Development & Trade, and the Governor of the Maldives Monetary Authority. An MoU on capacity building of an additional 1000 Maldivian civil servants in India was exchanged.

Other ministerial visits

Minister of Health H.E. Abdulla Nazim Ibrahim visited India from 21-23 February 2025 and met Minister of Health & Family Welfare Shri Jagat Prakash Nadda to discuss support in the health sector, including mental health and digital health.

Minister of Defence Mohamed Ghassan Maumoon made his first official visit to India from 07-11 January 2025 and held bilateral talks with Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh on defence and security cooperation.

Parliamentary cooperation

Speaker of the People's Majlis H.E. Abdul Raheem Abdulla visited India from 13-18 January 2026 for the 28th Conference of Speakers and Presiding Officers of the Commonwealth (CSPOC) in New Delhi, and held bilateral discussions with Lok Sabha Speaker Shri Om Birla on parliamentary cooperation.

Speaker Abdulla had earlier led a 16 member parliamentary delegation to India from 10-14 February 2025. The two Speakers discussed training and capacity building, including technical support to digitalise the People's Majlis' parliamentary resources. Speaker Abdulla also called on Jagdeep Dhankhar, then Chairman of the Rajya Sabha. Lok Sabha Speaker Shri Om Birla visited Maldives from 1-4 September 2019 and engaged with Maldivian parliamentary leaders.