‘India a trusted partner’: World leaders extend wishes on 79th Independence Day; Maldives, Russia, US hail strong bilateral ties

Greetings and wishes poured in from across the world, as global leaders congratulated India on its 79th Independence Day on Friday, reaffirming strong bilateral ties.President of Maldives Mohamed Muizzu extended greetings to President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and the friendly people of India on their Independence Day.In a post on X, he wrote, “May the festivities of this day echo the spirit and achievements of the people of India. India has always been a trusted development partner of the Maldives. I deeply appreciate the increase in high-level exchanges and people-to-people contact between our countries, which underscores the strong cooperation we have built.”Russian Embassy in India also conveyed President Vladimir Putin’s warm greetings to President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, praising India’s “widely recognised success in socio-economic, scientific, technical, and other fields” and its “well-deserved respect on the global stage.”“We highly value our special, privileged strategic partnership with India. I am confident that, through our joint efforts, we will continue to expand constructive bilateral cooperation across multiple areas. This aligns fully with the interests of our friendly peoples and supports the strengthening of security and stability both regionally and globally”, the statement said.US Secretary of State Marco Rubio also extended his warm wishes on behalf of the United States. Reaffirming the strength of the India-US relationship and their shared commitment to a free, open, and secure Indo-Pacific region, Rubio described the partnership between the world’s largest and oldest democracies as “consequential and far-reaching.”“On behalf of the United States, I extend our congratulations and warm wishes to the people of India as they celebrate their Independence Day on August 15,” Rubio said in a statement released by the US Department of State on Thursday. “The historic relationship between the world’s largest democracy and the world’s oldest democracy is consequential and far-reaching. “Prime Minister of Mauritius Dr Navin Ramgoolam conveyed his warmest wishes, celebrating India’s enduring values of “freedom, democracy and unity” since 1947. He said “The bonds between Mauritius and India are rooted in history, culture and ties that continue to inspire cooperation, friendship and mutual respect between our nations.”Nepal’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Arzu Rana Deuba, extended her greetings to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and the people of India. Emphasising Nepal’s deep appreciation for its “longstanding and enduring partnership” with India, she praised the country as a “shining example of democracy” in the world.“Extending my heartfelt congratulations to @DrSJaishankar and the people of India on the occasion of India’s 79th Independence Day. Nepal deeply values its longstanding and enduring partnership with India. On this Independence Day, we wish the people of India continued prosperity, unity, and harmony. May India remain a shining example of democracy, inspiring countries around the world,” she posted on X.Greetings also came from other diplomatic missions in India. The Korean Embassy marked the day with a video message from its diplomats. The Singapore High Commission surprised Indian travellers at Changi Airport with mascot Merli plushies, while Singapore’s Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan congratulated India and noted 60 years of diplomatic ties.This year’s Independence Day celebrations were held under the theme ‘Naya Bharat’, reflecting the government’s vision of achieving ‘Viksit Bharat’ by 2047. On the occasion, Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered his longest Independence Day speech of 103 minutes from the ramparts of the Red Fort, addressing a wide range of topics of national importance.