PM today met Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu in New Delhi to discuss bilateral, regional, and international issues. Muizzu also invited PM Modi to visit Maldives.
Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu on Monday invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi on a State visit to his country and said he was expecting more Indian tourists too. The development came as the two met and held a meeting at Hyderabad House in New Delhi, amid strained ties between the countries since Muizzu came to power last year.
“Next year we will be marking the 60th anniversary of the establishment of formal diplomatic relations between our two countries. I have invited PM Modi to undertake a state visit to the Maldives to commemorate this occasion,” Muizzu said.
“Together, we will work to build a future that benefits both our countries,” he added.
New Delhi: President Mohamed Muizzu says, “…Next year we will be marking the 60th anniversary of the establishment of formal diplomatic relations between our two countries. I have invited PM Modi to undertake a state visit to the Maldives to commemorate this occasion. Together,… pic.twitter.com/yYOyCsckcK— IANS (@ians_india) October 7, 2024
Muizzu also said he “hoped to welcome more Indian tourists” to his country.
“We look forward to concluding the Free Trade Agreement with India which will enable us to harness the full economic potential between our countries and to increase Indian investments in both our tourism and various sectors of development,” Muizzu said during the talks.
“I am thankful for the Indian government’s decision to provide support in the form of 30 billion Indian Rupees in addition to 400 million US Dollars bilateral currency swap agreement which will be instrumental in addressing the foreign exchange issues we are facing right now,” he added.
Earlier, India’s Foreign Ministry had stated that Muizzu and PM Modi were expected to discuss “bilateral, regional, and international issues of mutual interest.”
#WATCH | Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi receives Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu at Hyderabad House. The two leaders are holding a meeting here.(Video: DD News) pic.twitter.com/P3oE9MVRay
— ANI (@ANI) October 7, 2024
Tensions between India and Maldives have grown since pro-China Muizzu came to power last year after defeating India-friendly incumbent Ibrahim Mohamed Solih.
Leading up to the 2023 elections, Muizzu had promised to expel Indian soldiers deployed in Maldives to help in humanitarian assistance. In May, New Delhi replaced dozens of these soldiers with civilian experts.
Ties were also strained in January when some Maldivian leaders lashed out at Modi for promoting India’s Lakshadweep archipelago for Indian travellers. Lakshadweep is off the southwestern coast of the Indian mainland.
Maldivian leaders saw the move as a way to lure Indian tourists away from their country and encourage them to visit Lakshadweep instead. It sparked angry protests from Indian celebrities who called for a tourism boycott in Maldives. Tourism is the mainstay of the Maldives’ economy.
The dispute deepened when Muizzu visited China ahead of India in January, a move which was seen as a snub to New Delhi. On his return, Muizzu spelt out plans to rid his tiny nation of dependence on India for health facilities, medicines, and import of staples.
A thaw ensued after Muizzu attended Modi’s June swearing-in ceremony in New Delhi for a third five-year term. Since then, Muizzu has toned down his anti-Indian rhetoric, and official-level contacts have intensified with New Delhi.
India’s Foreign Minister, S Jaishankar, on Sunday said he was confident Muizzu’s talks with Modi would give “a new impetus” to the “friendly ties” between the countries.
Regional powers India and China compete for influence in the archipelago nation, which is strategically located in the Indian Ocean.
For decades, India has been a critical provider of development assistance to the Maldives, including infrastructure projects, medical care, and health facilities. Meanwhile, Maldives is part of China’s “Belt and Road” initiative to build ports and highways and expand trade, as well as China’s influence across Asia, Africa, and Europe.
Muizzu’s visit to New Delhi is essential for Modi, who is facing a challenging time in neighbourhood diplomacy with Marxist politician Anura Kumara Dissanayake taking over as Sri Lanka’s president and India-friendly Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina fleeing to India in August after being forced to resign by students-led protests. Nepal also now has pro-China KP Sharma Oli as its Prime Minister.
(With inputs from PTI)
