President Mohamed Muizzu, in a press statement delivered following official talks at Hyderabad House in New Delhi on Monday, reaffirmed his commitment to strengthening ties with India, highlighting the significance of cooperation in light of recent strains in the bilateral relations.
In his statement, President Muizzu highlighted India’s critical role in the socioeconomic and infrastructure development of the Maldives, reaffirming his commitment to enhancing cooperation in various fields. He expressed profound gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Indian government for their unwavering support, particularly during challenging times. “India is a key partner in our development journey,” Muizzu stated.
He specifically acknowledged India’s financial assistance, which includes the rollover of Treasury Bills and an additional support package of INR 30 billion, along with US$400 million under a bilateral currency swap agreement.
“We look forward to concluding the Free Trade Agreement with India, which will enable us to harness the full economic potential between our countries and to increase Indian investments in both our tourism and development sectors,” he added. Recognising India as one of the largest sources of tourists for the Maldives, Muizzu expressed hope to welcome even more Indian visitors to the archipelago.
During their discussions, the two leaders agreed on a comprehensive vision document titled “A Vision for Comprehensive Economic and Maritime Security Partnership.” This document will guide the bilateral relationship across several sectors, including development, economy and trade, digital transformation, energy, health, and maritime cooperation and security.
In a recent address at Princeton University during his visit to the United States, President Muizzu condemned deputy ministers in his administration for insulting and ridiculing Prime Minister Modi. “Nobody should say such things, and I definitely took action on that,” he remarked, addressing the controversy surrounding Deputy Ministers Malsha Shareef and Mariyam Shiuna, who had made derogatory comments about Modi. Their actions led to their suspension, but they resigned shortly before Muizzu’s visit to India.
Muizzu clarified that it was never his intention to sever ties with India, stating, “It’s not ‘India Out.’ We had a really serious problem with the presence of foreign military in our country… Even one foreign military person in the Maldives is not something the Maldivian people accept.” This comment reflects the complexities of Maldives-India relations, which had deteriorated following Muizzu’s inauguration due to tensions over the expulsion of Indian troops operating emergency aircraft.
While those troops have been replaced with Indian civilian contractors, the Maldivian administration had initially paused the use of these aircraft. However, some operations have recently resumed. Following a visit to China, Muizzu also criticised India for allegedly attempting to control the Maldives, and he presented a plan to reduce the Maldives’ dependence on India for imports of goods and medical treatment.
As the Maldives and India approach the 60th anniversary of their formal diplomatic relations next year, President Muizzu extended an invitation to Prime Minister Modi for a state visit to the Maldives. In closing, he expressed confidence that their continued collaboration would pave the way for a brighter future for both nations.
The President is currently on a five-day state visit to India at the invitation of President Droupadi Murmu, accompanied by First Lady Madam Sajidha Mohamed and a high-level delegation.