Prime Minister Narendra Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to visit Maldives early next month, in his first bilateral visit after retaining power in the Lok Sabha election, according to sources.
PM Modi’s visit will take place between June 7 and 8.
External affairs minister Sushma Swaraj visited the Maldives in March, the first full-fledged bilateral trip from India to the island nation after the government of President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih came to power in November last year.
Modi visited the Maldives in November last year to attend Solih's swearing-in ceremony, signalling the importance India attaches to the island nation, where China has been trying to expand its influence.
The relations between India and the Maldives deteriorated after the then President Abdulla Yameen imposed emergency on February 5 last year.
India had criticised his decision and asked his government to restore the credibility of the electoral and political process by releasing political prisoners. The emergency had lasted for 45 days.
