Modi to visit Maldives after election victory

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is due to visit the Maldives in early June for his first official overseas trip since securing re-election in recently concluded polls.

The Maldives will be the first stop of a tour of South Asian neighbours, state media reported Saturday. However, neither the foreign ministry nor the president’s office has yet to officially confirm the visit.

Modi previously visited the Maldives briefly to attend President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih’s inauguration ceremony in November. The president’s maiden visit to India weeks later was hailed as the beginning of a “new era” of relations after historically close ties were strained under the pro-China former administration.

Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party increased its parliamentary majority with a landslide victory, according to results released on May 23.

President Solih called and personally congratulated Modi for the “resounding electoral victory” on Thursday. He also “stated his administration’s resolve to build on the already positive foundations of cooperation and constructive engagement between our two governments, conveying his optimism that the two leaders can meet in person, in the near future, to discuss the way forward for our mutual foreign relations,” the president’s office said.

Thank You @MohamedNasheed for your wishes.

India-Maldives partnership rests on our shared vision of peace, development and prosperity of our countries and our region. I look forward to further deepening our special bilateral ties. https://t.co/R7YTF0KFxH

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 23, 2019

Thank You @ibusolih for your warm wishes. India greatly values its relations with Maldives. I look forward to working closely with you to further strengthen our multifaceted partnership. https://t.co/sW5lDDDdc4

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 23, 2019

Strong support to BJP Govt from Maldives. Former Maldives President @MohamedNasheed Congratulates Prime Minister @narendramodi for victory in elections. Says, India has always supported Maldives. ‘Continuity of BJP Govt is a source of comfort, and is refreshing and satisfying’. pic.twitter.com/r5GZWFjOe4

— Aditya Raj Kaul (@AdityaRajKaul) May 24, 2019