New Delhi: Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu arrived in Delhi on Sunday morning to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister-designate Narendra Modi.

Greeted warmly with a cultural dance performance, Muizzu was received by the Ministry of External Affairs Secretary (West) Pravan Kapoor at the Delhi airport.

The Maldivian officials on Saturday confirmed that Muizzu along with country's foreign minister and a couple of other leaders would be travelling to New Delhi to attend oath-taking ceremony of Prime Minister and Council of Ministers. 

Since the trigger of diplomatic row between both the nations, this is Muizzu's first visit to India as the island nation's president.

PM Modi is set to take charge as the prime minister for a historic third successive term with the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) winning 293 seats in the Lok Sabha polls, crossing the halfway mark required to stake claim for government comfortably. 

The guest list for swearing-in ceremony on June 9 was primarily guided by India's "Neighbourhood First Policy" and its strategic focus on island nations considered important in the Indian Ocean region.

Modi 3.0 Oath Event: Foreign Leaders in Attendance 

• President of Sri Lanka, H.E. Mr Ranil Wickremesinghe
• President of Maldives, H.E. Dr Mohamed Muizzu
• Vice-President of Seychelles, H.E. Mr Ahmed Afif
• Prime Minister of Bangladesh, H.E. Sheikh Hasina
• Prime Minister of Mauritius, H.E. Mr Pravind Kumar Jugnauth
• Prime Minister of Nepal, H.E. Mr. Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda'
• Prime Minister of Bhutan, H.E. Mr. Tshering Tobgay

India-Maldives Relations 

The invitation by New Delhi to Muizzu to attend the swearing-in ceremony assumed significance as it came amid frosty ties between India and the Maldives. The ties between India and the Maldives came under severe strain since November last year when Muizzu, known for his pro-China leanings, took charge as Maldivian president.

Within hours of his oath, he had demanded the withdrawal of Indian military personnel from his country. The Indian military personnel were replaced by civilians earlier this month.