Many congratulations to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for reaching a historic milestone – the longest- serving elected Prime Minister in Indian history, with 4,399 consecutive days in office since first taking the oath of office on 26 May 2014. From the Maldives, we wish you many more record-breaking days ahead, Prime Minister! Prime Minister Modi’s decisive victories with overwhelming support from an electorate of more than 900 million in three consecutive national elections, is reflective of sustained public confidence in his leadership and political endurance in a democracy as vast, diverse, complex, and sometimes chaotic, as India.
His special ability to connect with 1.4 billion Indians and people from around the world, including here in the Maldives, has been his greatest strength. Prime Minister Modi, with one of the largest social media followings among democratic leaders and celebrities globally, is among a handful of leaders who command the confidence of his people and resp ect across countries. His extraordinary journey – from humble beginnings to becoming India’s longest-serving elected Prime Minister – evokes deep admiration across South Asia. I have known Prime Minister Modi in many capacities over the past 12 years. I first met him during my tenure as the Speaker of Parliament.
He immediately struck me as someone deeply value d the Maldives-India partnership – not just between the governments, but between our peoples too. He facilitated training of our parliament officials, and the sharing of experiences, to better understand and improve parliamentary practice. Historically, India has always been the ‘First Responder’ during any crisis in the Maldives. During my time as the Minister of Foreign Affairs, I saw this relationship further strengthened under Prime Minister Modi’s initiatives of ‘Neighbourhood First’ and ‘Mutual and Holistic Advancement of Security and Growth Acro ss Re gion’ (MAHASAGAR) policy.
I saw first-hand, the strength of the Maldives-India cooperation under Prime Minister Modi’s leadership. From the 200,000 doses of vaccines donated under India’s Vaccine Maitri, to the air bubble arrangements that helped sustain Maldivian tourism, India’s support during the Covid-19 pandemic was unmatched. The Greater Malé Connectivity Project (GMCP), popularly known as the Malé –Villingili Bridge, commissioned in 2019 under the joint leadership of Prime Minister Modi and President Solih, stands as the most ambitious infrastructure project in the Maldives, and as a symbol of deepening bilateral friendship.
Prime Minister Modi’s three visits to the Maldives in the last 12 years, including as the Guest of Honour at the celebrations to mark the 60th anniversary of independence of the Maldives in 2025, and regular engagement with Maldivian leaders, have reinforced the spirit of mutual respect and cooperation that has characterised our bilateral relationship over decades. Alongside India’s domestic transformation through reforms, innovations and development initiatives, Prime Minister Modi has elevated India as a prominent voice of the Global South, advocating for diverse issues of interest such as equitable international institutions, sustainable development, access for financing and technology, and climate justice.
As the President of the 76th session of the General Assembly, I saw the deep respect the world has for India. I saw firsthand, India’s activism in the United Nations, and its commitment to upholding the principles of the United Nations, and advocacy towards the developing world. This commitment to the Global South was evident in its decision to include the African Union as a permanent member of G2O during India’s presidency of the Group in 2023-24.
Prime Minister Modi’s global flagship frameworks like the International Solar Alliance (ISA), One Sun, One World, One Grid (OSOWOG), the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI), Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment), are innovative initiatives seeking practical, affordable and sustainable solutions to global challenges. For the Maldives, a nation committed to climate action and sustainability, these global initiatives by Prime Minister Modi are particularly relevant in addressing climate change, disaster resilience, energy security, and sustainable development. From our perspective, India under Prime Minister Modi has emerged as the champion of the Global South and a key development partner in the Indian Ocean Region.
In Prime Minister Modi, the Maldives has a true and dependable friend, willing to support Maldivian national priorities while respecting its sovereignty and aspirations. On this occasion, may our shared vision of a peaceful, prosperous, and resilient Indian Ocean region continue to strengthen, as we, the Maldivians, convey our best wishes for many more years of exceptional and successful leadership to Prime Minister Modi. (The writer is the former Foreign Minister of the Republic of Maldives (2018-23) and President of the 76th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (2021–2022).