Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu has described his trip to New Delhi June 9 to attend the swearing in of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his new government as a “significant success” for the Maldives and the region.
Speaking to Maldives’ state broadcaster Public Service Media (PSM) in New Delhi, Muizzu expressed his gratitude to Prime Minister Modi for the invitation and emphasised the strong ties between India and the Maldives.
Expressing optimism that this relationship would bring prosperity to the Maldives and its citizens, he said, “This trip has been a success for Maldives and for the region as well.”
The President conveys to the national media about his official trip to India
އިންޑިއާއަށް ކުރެއްވި ރަސްމީ ދަތުރުފުޅާއި ގުޅޭ މުހިންމު މަޢުލޫމާތު، ރާއްޖޭގެ ޤައުމީ މީޑިއާ މެދުވެރިކުރައްވައި ރައީސުލްޖުމްހޫރިއްޔާ ޙިއްސާކުރެއްވުން pic.twitter.com/2Zhkbv86hF
— The President’s Office (@presidencymv) June 11, 2024
Apart from the swearing-in ceremony and the banquet hosted by President Droupadi Murmu at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, Muizzu had separate meetings with President Murmu and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, where they discussed enhancing bilateral cooperation between the two countries.
Muizzu returned to Male on Tuesday morning, accompanied by Foreign Affairs Minister Moosa Zameer and Finance Minister Mohamed Shafeeq.
Diplomatic Tensions and Geopolitical Shifts
Earlier this year, diplomatic tensions between India and the Maldives took a hit following remarks made by Maldivian officials about Prime Minister Modi. These comments led to a social media backlash and a significant drop in Indian tourists visiting the Maldives. President Muizzu’s “India Out” campaign during his election campaign signified a push against the perceived overreach of Indian influence in Maldivian affairs.
This diplomatic row reflects deeper geopolitical tensions, given Muizzu’s clear tilt towards China.
The strained relations have affected tourism, with a 38% drop in Indian tourists visiting the Maldives in the first quarter of 2024 compared to the previous year.
Bilateral ties took another hit when Muizzu insisted on the withdrawal of Indian military personnel operating three military platforms in the island nation.
India complied, replacing them with civilian staff. Muizzu also ordered the review of three key agreements with India, including one on hydrographic surveys, another for constructing a dockyard with financial assistance from India, and one on the Dornier aircraft gifted by India to the Maldives defence forces for humanitarian, search, and rescue operations.
But despite this, India increased its budget support of $50 million to the island nation, in the form of a rollover Treasury Bill, just before the inaugural visit by foreign minister Moosa Zameer to India in May.
