Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was given a 21-gun salute as he arrived in the capital Male' on Friday afternoon.
Modi landed in the Maldives at 9:06 am and was welcomed at the airport by President Mohamed Muizzu.
Students of Majeedhiya School performed a welcome song for Modi at the airport.
The official ceremony to welcome the Prime Minister was held at the Republic Square in Male' in the afternoon.
He then walked to the President's Office for officials talks between the Maldives and India. A press statement will be issued after the talks.
Discussions will be held on the implementation of the agreement signed between the two countries in October 2024 to strengthen maritime relations.
Modi is the first Head of State to visit the country during Muizzu's administration. This is his third visit to the Maldives.
He is scheduled to leave on Saturday after separate meetings with former President Mohamed Nasheed and former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih.
Muizzu won the 2023 presidential elections through the "India Out" campaign. He initially tried to push India away and forge ties with China.
Upon returning from a state visit to China on January 13, 2024, Muizzu indirectly accused India of bullying the Maldives.
Without mentioning India, Muizzu said, "We might be a small country, but that does not give you the license to bully us."
He also accused India of influencing previous governments in the Maldives and interfering in internal affairs.
"China does not influence our internal affairs in any way," Muizzu claimed.
But his administration changed tune due to the financial situation and began to mend ties with the neighbouring giant.
India has since rolled over a loan owed by the Maldives and arranged a currency swap worth USD 800 million.
In return, the Maldives agreed to accelerate the construction of a military port in the Uthuru Thila Falhu, award the construction of a transshipment port in Laamu atoll to India and to strengthen ties in the maritime sector.
The Muizzu administration also signed the India-Maldives Vision Document, which outlines partnerships between the two countries.
