NEW DELHI: Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu, who arrived in India for a five-day visit, will hold talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday. The relationship between the two countries severed after Mohamed Muizzu helmed power in Maldives. Monday’s meeting is thus believed to be a pacifying attempt from Muizzu to warm diplomatic relationships with India.

Muizzu came to Delhi with his wife Sajida Mohammad. Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh welcomed him at the airport. Muizzu also met with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Sunday evening. The Foreign Minister appreciated Muizzu's commitment to strengthen mutual ties and expressed belief that the talks with PM Modi give new impetus to the friendship between the two countries.

Today, Muizzu will visit the Rajghat, the memorial complex of Mahatma Gandhi. He will hold discussions with President Droupadi Murmu, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankar and others. He will also attend business conferences in Mumbai and Bengaluru.

Muizzu’s pro-China leanings were evident in many of his attitudes from the very start. Demand for the withdrawal of Indian troops deployed in the Maldives, including for rescue operations, bellied the diplomatic relations between the two nations.

It was customary for the newly sworn Maldives president to visit India first. However, Muizzu breached this custom and flew to Turkey on his maiden trip after helming charge as president.