Indian PM Narendra Modi on Friday appreciated the Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu's gesture of welcoming him to the airport and expressed hope that the relationship between the two nations will scale new heights of progress during his two-day visit.

He wrote on X: "Landed in Malé. Deeply touched by the gesture of President Muizzu to come to the airport to welcome me. I am confident that India-Maldives friendship will scale new heights of progress in the times to come."

Modi also met Indian diaspora members in the country.

He said: "The Indian diaspora plays a crucial role in furthering friendship between India and the Maldives. Happy to have interacted with members of the diaspora and I thank them for the warm welcome."

Modi arrived in the Maldives after concluding his UK visit.

Significantly, Modi was welcomed by Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu at the airport at a time the two countries have come close to each other in a bid to recover the strained bilateral ties.

Chants of "Vande Mataram" and "Bharat Mata Ki Jai" were heard as the Indian Prime Minister arrived.

He also received a warm welcome from the Indian diaspora.

Diplomatic tension

The diplomatic tension between the countries brewed over the changing strategic alignment in the Indian Ocean region after pro-China Mohamed Muizzu became the Maldives President in 2023.

Muizzu had demanded the withdrawal of Indian troops in Maldives leading New Delhi to cautiously deal with the tiff.

A social media conflict between the two nations started after Prime Minister Modi travelled to Lakshadweep and captured some photos on the beach in a bid widely viewed as a promotion of the union territory as a travel destination as an alternative to the Maldives, which has remained a favourite spot for Bollywood celebrities.

A widespread call to boycott Maldives tourism grew in a backlash when the Prime Minister's Lakshadweep photos were mocked in Malé.

Over the course of time, India withdrew its troops in the Maldives.