President Mohamed Muizzu declared on Sunday as he arrived in the nation’s capital for his first bilateral visit that the Maldives will not take any action that could jeopardise India’s security and that it regards New Delhi as a “valued partner and friend.” He also stated that collaboration in a number of areas, including defence, will “always be a priority.”
Mr. Muizzu, who was elected on a platform of “India Out,” which some saw as a “pro-China” leader, stated to a national English daily that the Maldives’ relationship with India is “built on respect and shared interests” and that Delhi has been and continues to be one of his country’s main trading and development partners.
The Maldives leader met Prime Minister Narendra Modi this afternoon; he received a ceremonial greeting from President Droupadi Murmu and Mr Modi at the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan.
After receiving a formal welcome, Mr. Muizzu went to Rajghat to honour Mahatma Gandhi. He then had a private meeting at Hyderabad House with the Prime Minister.
“Maldives would never do anything to undermine security of India. While we enhance cooperation with other countries in various sectors, we remain committed to ensuring our actions do not compromise the security and stability of our region…” he told news agency in an extensive interview yesterday.
Mr Muizzu, while not naming China, also underlined his administration’s resolve to “fostering growth and development through diverse international collaborations”. He flagged his ‘Maldives First’ policy, saying “it is essential for the Maldives to diversify international relations and reduce over-dependence on any one country”. However, he said that such engagements would not undermine India’s interests.
“Respect for our neighbours and friends is embedded in our DNA,” he said as he also called on Indian tourists to return. “Indians make a positive contribution… Indian tourists are welcome,” he said, batting for his country’s most important economic sector, which took a hit last year after the diplomatic row.
This is Mr. Muizzu’s first bilateral visit, and his remarks show that he is becoming more amiable following a months-long diplomatic standoff with the Maldives last year over remarks made by three ministers criticising Prime Minister Modi in response to a social media post promoting Lakshadweep as a possible tourism destination instead of the Maldives.
The ministers were suspended and the Maldives Foreign Ministry distanced itself from the comments; two of the ministers, Mariyam Shiuna and Malsha Shareef, resigned last month following confirmation of the bilateral visit.
Furthermore, there were concerns expressed about the May request to evacuate 90 military personnel stationed at three aviation installations that India had gifted, made just a few weeks prior to Mr. Modi’s swearing-in ceremony.
Delhi granted the request, substituting “competent technical” workers for the military men.
‘India Out’ and the removal of Indian military forces were considered to be two of Mr. Muizzu’s main election pledges. When pressed on these subjects, the president of the Maldives claimed to have “done what the people of the Maldives asked of me,” but he also emphasised that India is still a crucial ally in the fight for regional security.
“This historic relationship is intertwined like the roots of a tree… built on centuries of exchange and values shared. The relationship between the Maldives and India has always been strong…”
Earlier Mr Muizzu denied having an ‘India Out’ agenda but insisted his country had a “serious problem” with the presence of foreign military on its soil. “The people of Maldives do not want a single foreign soldier in the country,” news agency quoted his comments to local website.
Mr. Muizzu also discussed infrastructure initiatives that have received support from India, such as the Greater Male Connectivity Scheme and the provision of water and sewage services for 28 islands in the archipelago.
One of India’s most important maritime neighbours in the Indian Ocean region is the Maldives, and under President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih’s previous administration, bilateral relations generally saw an uptick, notably in the fields of security and defence.
India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar acknowledged “common challenges and a shared interest in maintaining peace and security in the region” when he visited Male in August.
