Diplomatic sources and media reports said on Sunday that PM Modi is likely to visit Maldives in early June. This would be his first visit after returning to power in the Lok Sabha Elections.
The Maldivian media reported that the visit will take place in Between June 7-8. While officials in New Delhi refused to confirm the visit, there are indications that it will be announced next week.
Bhutan was the first country Modi had visited in 2014 after becoming Prime Minister.
Modi visited the Maldives in November last year to attend Maldivian President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih swearing-in ceremony. Last week, Solih congratulated Modi for his “resounding electoral victory”. Maldives was the only country in the neighborhood PM Modi did not visit in five years of his first tenure.
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This time, Modi may cover several countries in his neighborhood to reinforce India “Neighborhood First” Policy.
The selection to visit Maldives will send a signal on India Indian Ocean policy, a region amend to become a critical angle of the country matrix.
One of the largest Muslim organizations in the country Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind (JUH), has congratulated PM Narendra Modi on his second term and has expressed hope that the government “will pay attention to the development of minorities”.
After the horrific Easter Sunday blast in Sri Lanka, PM Modi may also visit to exhibit unity with island nation.