The External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar will pay an official visit to the Maldives from August 09-11, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced on Thursday. In a statement, the MEA said Jaishankar’s visit aims to further strengthen the partnership between India and the Maldives.
“The visit follows the recent visit of the President of the Republic of Maldives, H. E. Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, to India for the swearing-in ceremony of the new Cabinet and Council of Ministers. EAM had previously visited Maldives in January 2023,” the MEA said in a press release.
‘Neighbourhood First’ Policy’
“Maldives is India’s key maritime neighbour and an important partner in India’s ‘Neighbourhood First’ Policy and our Vision ‘SAGAR’ i.e. Security and Growth for All in the Region. The visit is aimed at strengthening the close partnership between the two countries and to explore avenues to enhance the bilateral relationship further,” the statement added.
Muizzu came to power last year on an anti-India campaign plank seeking the removal of around 80 Indian military personnel operating helicopters and Dornier aircraft donated by India. China for its part has scaled up its relations with Maldives, since Muzzu, widely regarded as a pro-Beijing leader, took over power.
Early this year, he visited China during which the two countries elevated their ties to a comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership and signed 20 agreements followed by a military assistance pact with Beijing much to the disquiet of India as Maldives is its closest neighbour located strategically in the Indian Ocean.
He also permitted Chinese research vessels also regarded as “spy ships” to berth in Maldives waters after Sri Lanka banned them for a year. However, after clinching an agreement with India to replace the military personnel flying the helicopters used to evacuate the patients from a host of islands in the archipelagic nation, Muizzu warmed up to India and attended Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s swearing ceremony.
Last month, Muizzu thanked India for helping strengthen the Maldives’ fragile economy, highlighting the importance of the two countries in addressing the Island nation’s looming debt crisis and its future development. China and India provide the most assistance in repaying the country’s debt, he said during an official function held to mark the 59th anniversary of the country’s independence.
“I thank the Chinese government and the Indian government on behalf of the Maldivian people for their cooperation with this effort to strengthen the economy, to assure our economic sovereignty, for the sake of the Maldivian people,” Muizzu was quoted as saying by Maldivian news portal adhadhu.com.
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