Male/IBNS, July 25 -- Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday arrived in Maldives for a two-day visit to the country 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.

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

Muizzu had demanded the withdrawal of Indian troops in Maldive...