Maldives President Mohammad Muizzu accepted an invitation to attend Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s swearing-in ceremony in India, despite recent diplomatic tensions between the two nations. Muizzu’s attendance follows a period of strain between India and the Maldives, marked by anti-Indian sentiments in the Maldivian cabinet and the withdrawal of Indian military personnel from the country. The diplomatic row has led to a surge in Indian tourists opting for Sri Lanka over the Maldives, with Sri Lanka surpassing the Maldives in tourist arrivals for the first time in four years. Despite the tensions, the Maldives remains a popular destination for Indian tourists, with over 200,000 Indians visiting in 2023. Prime Minister Modi is expected to be sworn in on June 9th, with the ceremony attended by various regional leaders as part of India’s focus on its neighborhood and island nations in the Indian Ocean region.