Ahead of his visit to India for the oath-taking ceremony of Narendra Modi as he begins his third term as prime minister, Maldives President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has expressed optimism about the relations between Maldives and India. Muizzu stated that “Maldives-India relations are heading in a positive direction.”
President Muizzu was invited to the ceremony alongside leaders from Mauritius, Seychelles, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Nepal. This visit marks his first trip to Delhi since he took office last year.
Upon accepting the invitation, which was personally delivered by Indian High Commissioner to Maldives Munu Mahawar, President Muizzu expressed his gratitude. “The President expressed his gratitude to the Prime Minister for the invitation, adding that he would be honored to attend this historic event,” a statement from the Maldives noted. He also mentioned looking forward to working with Prime Minister Modi to further strengthen the close relations with India.
Strengthening Bilateral Relations
The Indian High Commissioner presented the invitation during a courtesy call at the President’s Office, where Muizzu thanked him for delivering the invitation personally. A bilateral meeting between President Muizzu and Prime Minister Modi is expected to follow the ceremony. This will be their second in-person meeting, the first being in Dubai last year.
Recently, there has been an uptick in relations between the two countries following a period of tension over the Maldives’ demand for the removal of Indian troops due to sovereignty issues. It has been previously reported in Financial Express Online, these troops have since been replaced with civilian Indian personnel who are manning Indian assets for humanitarian purposes. This move has been part of the efforts to ease tensions and foster a positive bilateral relationship.
As reported previously, last month, Maldives Foreign Minister Moosa Zameer traveled to India, focusing on debt relief from India. Meanwhile, India has continued its development partnership with the Maldives, emphasizing the importance of collaboration.
First Official Visit to India
This visit will be President Muizzu’s first official trip to India since assuming office on November 17 last year. Unlike his predecessors, who prioritized visits to New Delhi, Muizzu first visited Turkey and then China for his initial state visit in January. Shortly after taking office, Muizzu demanded the removal of approximately 88 Indian military personnel from the Maldives, a move that strained bilateral ties.
Regional Cooperation and Security
The swearing-in ceremony is expected to be attended by leaders from neighboring countries, including Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Nepal, Mauritius, and Seychelles, as part of India’s ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy.
In 2023, India called for collaborative efforts to address common challenges faced by the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), such as the sustainable exploitation of maritime resources and climate change. During a visit to the Maldives by India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, discussions with former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih focused on strengthening defense and security ties. Singh handed over two “Made in India” platforms—a Fast Patrol Vessel and a Landing Craft Assault ship—to the Maldives National Defence Forces, symbolizing the shared commitment to peace and security in the Indian Ocean Region.
Singh highlighted the importance of regional collaboration for the stability, peace, and prosperity of the IOR, emphasizing that cooperation is crucial for securing the region’s peace and security. He identified sustainable exploitation of maritime resources and climate change as significant challenges, calling for joint efforts to ensure the peaceful utilization of the Indian Ocean’s resources for regional prosperity.
This diplomatic engagement underscores the delicate nature of international relations and the importance of maintaining respectful official discourse to prevent strains in diplomatic ties.