At the Rising Bharat Summit 2025, former Maldives Defence Minister Mariya Didi opens up on the changing dynamics of India-Maldives relations, praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a “dynamic leader” who keeps neighbours like Maldives at the forefront of India’s foreign policy. In this exclusive conversation, she hails India’s cultural strength, regional leadership, and warns against China’s rising influence and “debt trap diplomacy.”Mariya Didi shares rare insights into how India’s strategic importance in the Indian Ocean is irreplaceable, especially in contrast to China’s growing intervention. She speaks on the anti-India rhetoric of the Muizzu government earlier in 2024 and how the tide turned after President Muizzu’s visit to Delhi in October 2024.Is India the true anchor of regional stability? Can China’s influence derail historic ties? Watch this sharp, candid podcast for an insider’s view on regional geopolitics, diplomacy, and what’s next for the Maldives-India equation. n18oc_worldNews18 Mobile App – https://onelink.to/desc-youtube