India has stepped up its development assistance to the Maldives after the two leaders held talks in New Delhi in a bid to repair strained ties that saw the president of the Indian Ocean archipelago forging closer relations with China.

The president of the Maldives swept into power a year ago on a campaign to push India out of the island nation’s affairs and draw closer to China. Now, as a debt crisis looms and earlier Chinese loans come due,

Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi held talks on Monday, with New Delhi promising to strengthen strategic cooperation as the island nation recovers from an economic crisis.

Prime Minister Modi emphasized the importance of a comprehensive economic and maritime security partnership with the Maldives, highlighting India’s role as a first responder and its longstanding friendship with the island nation.

India has agreed to extend hundreds of millions of dollars in financial support to the Maldives to help strengthen its struggling economy. The deal was announced after Maldives President Mohammed Muizzu held talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his five-day visit to India.

Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu will hold talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday during a five-day state visit, hoping for New Delhi's continuing support as his Indian Ocean nation recovers from an economic crisis.

Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu is expected to talk Monday with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi as he aims to repair ties between the countries that have been strained since he came to power last year.

Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu was given a red carpet welcome on his first state visit to India Monday, a trip Prime Minister Narenda Modi said marked a "new chapter" to reset troubled ties.

India will provide over ₹6,300 crore to the Maldives amid a foreign exchange crisis, aiming to strengthen bilateral ties and launch a trade agreement.