Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu assured New Delhi that his country will never take any action that could compromise India's security.
Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu, who arrived in New Delhi on Sunday for a four-day state visit, assured India that his country will never take any action that could compromise India’s security.
The visit comes at a critical time when the Maldives government is staring at an economic crisis in the tourist paradise and seeks to reset its strained ties with India.
The diplomatic relations between both countries had been strained since the Maldives minister made ‘objectionable’ remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier this year, triggering a massive row. The country’s move to withdraw Indian troops from the island nation further strained the ties.
Muizzu, perceived to be close to China, emphasised that the country’s relations with China would never jeopardise India’s security priorities.
“Maldives would never do anything that undermines the security of India. India is a valued partner and friend of the Maldives, and our relationship is built on mutual respect and shared interests. While we enhance our cooperation with other countries in various sectors, we remain committed to ensuring that our actions don’t compromise the security and stability of our region,” Muizzu said in an interview with The Times of India.
Why Maldives Asked India To Withdraw Troops?
When asked about the country’s decision to ask New Delhi to withdraw its troops, Muizzu said the step was taken in consideration of domestic priorities.
“Maldives and India now have a better understanding of each other’s priorities and concerns. What I did is what the people of Maldives asked of me. The recent changes reflect our efforts to address domestic priorities. Our review of past agreements is aimed at ensuring they align with our national interests and contribute positively to regional stability,” he said.
He reiterated his stand saying that the country’s relationship with India has been strong and his visit to New Delhi further aims to strengthen it. The visit comes amid a financial crisis in Maldives as the tourist hotspot faces the possibility of defaulting on debt with its foreign exchange reserves falling to $440 million.
Muizzu’s People’s National Congress came to power last year riding on its ‘India Out’ campaign. During his visit to the United States, the Maldivian President remarked that he had a problem with the presence of foreign military on the island nation and was not against any country, clarifying the country’s move to ask New Delhi to withdraw its troops.
He met with external affairs minister S Jaishankar and is scheduled to hold talks with President Droupadi Murmu and PM Modi on Monday. It marks his second visit to India since he attended PM Modi’s swearing-in ceremony in June.
