Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu and Sri Lankan President Anura Dissanayake, who supported a robust anti-Indian stance prior to assuming power in their countries, appear to have undergone a significant change in their stance towards New Delhi after being charmed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “diplomatic spell,” according to a report from the Lankan media on Wednesday.
Almost immediately following PM Modi’s historic visit to Male last week, Dissanayake’s July 28–30 State Visit to the Maldives included the observations.
“After Modi’s visit to the Maldives ended, President Anura of Sri Lanka, the head of the pro-China JVP, traveled to the Maldives at the Maldivian president’s invitation. What happened to the Maldivian President is the same as what occurred to Anura and the JVP. Prior to assuming power, they also demonstrated a strong anti-Indian stance, according to a report from the Lankan news agency Mawrata News.
Dissanayake thanked India for its “immense support” during the historic economic crisis during his first official foreign visit since taking office last December. He also gave Prime Minister Modi his word that he would not permit the island nation to be used in any way that would be harmful to India’s interests.
As the Guest of Honor for the Maldives’ 60th Independence Day celebrations, PM Modi landed in Male on July 25 for a two-day state visit.
This was the first visit to the Maldives by a Head of State or Government under Mohamed Muizzu’s presidency, which started in November 2023, and Prime Minister Modi’s third trip there; he had previously visited the Indian Ocean archipelago in 2018 and 2019.
President Muizzu had greeted PM Modi at the Male airport upon his arrival from the United Kingdom as a unique gesture. PM Modi was greeted at the airport by the Maldives’ Foreign Minister, Defense Minister, Finance Minister, and Homeland Security Minister.
Muizzu deviated from custom by not making his first State Visit to India after taking office, indicating a significant change in his foreign policy. Concerns regarding possible data collecting by the Chinese to support submarine activities in the area were raised by his decision to allow the Chinese research vessel Xiang Yang Hong 3, which is thought to be a spy ship, to dock in Indian seas.
However, a major diplomatic change was emphasized by Muizzu’s October five-day state visit to India, which was his second visit to the nation in four months after he had attended Prime Minister Modi’s swearing-in ceremony. Formerly supporting a “India Out” campaign in the Indian Ocean archipelago, Muizzu now aimed to balance the nation’s relationships with China while navigating the complicated relations.
Nearly six ministerial level visits from the Maldives have already taken place in New Delhi in the first half of this year. In 2025, External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar met with the Maldivian Foreign Minister for the first time.
“Modi’s perception of the Maldives was similar to that of a younger brother who is upset with his older brother and will return to him after the outburst has passed. Modi was correct. Ultimately, the president of the Maldives traveled to India to ask Modi for assistance in fixing the country’s economic predicament. Additionally, Modi assisted him and put aside his previous anger, according to Mawrata News.
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