- Thursday, March 13, 2025
The ties between India and the Maldives came under severe strain since Mohamed Muizzu, known for his pro-China leanings, took charge of the top office in November
By: Shajil Kumar
MALDIVES president Mohamed Muizzu has assured that his country will not act to undermine India’s security and views New Delhi as a “valued partner and friend”.
On his first state visit to India, Muizzu arrived in New Delhi on Sunday and will be here for four days.
He told the Times of India that relationship with India was built on mutual respect and shared interests.
Muizzu said that while following a Maldives First policy, his country will proritise its longstanding and trusted ties with India, and ties with other countries will not undermine them.
Strained ties
The ties between India and the Maldives came under severe strain since Muizzu, known for his pro-China leanings, took charge of the top office in November.
Muizzu won the presidential election last year on the ‘India out’ campaign and asked New Delhi to withdraw its military personnel posted in the archipelago nation by May this year.
He, however, justified this expulsion by saying “it reflected the will of the local people”.
The bilateral ties also hit a rocky patch when Maldivian ministers were critical of Modi. However, Muizzu has since toned down his anti-India stance and even sacked ministers who were critical of the Indian prime minister.
As the Maldives was grappling with a serious economic downturn, India has decided to extend vital budgetary support to the Maldives government with the rollover of a $50 million Treasury Bill for another year.
Meeting with Modi
Prime minister Narendra Modi on Monday met Muizzu in Delhi for extensive discussions on strengthening bilateral ties that are emerging after hitting a rocky patch last year.
“Taking forward India-Maldives special ties! PM @narendramodi warmly received President @MMuizzu of Maldives as the latter arrived at Hyderabad House. Extensive discussions on India-Maldives bilateral relations lie ahead,” External Affairs Ministry spokesman Randhir Jaiswal said in a post on X.
Earlier, Muizzu was accorded a ceremonial welcome at the Rashtrapati Bhawan by President Droupadi Murmu. Prime Minister Modi was also present on the occasion.
Muizzu was given a tri-services guard of honour before he drove down to Rajghat to offer his respects at the memorial to Mahatma Gandhi.
Muizzu had visited Delhi in June for the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister Modi’s third term in office. (Agencies)
