Defence Minister Mohamed Ghassan Maumoon will meet his Indian counterpart Rajnath Singh in New Delhi on Wednesday in what will be the first high-level engagement between the top defence officials of both countries since President Mohamed Muizzu took office in November 2023.
The meeting comes over eight months after India withdrew its military personnel from the Maldives following a request by Muizzu.
“During the talks, the two Ministers will review various aspects of bilateral defence cooperation, including training, regular exercises, defence projects, workshops, and seminars to enhance the capability of the Maldives National Defence Forces, as well as the supply of defence equipment and stores,” the Indian government said in a statement.
“The Maldives occupies a special place in India’s ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy, which aims to bring stability and prosperity in the Indian Ocean Region,” said the Ministry. “Both nations are key players in maintaining the safety and security of IOR, thus contributing to India’s vision of Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR),” it added.
Maumoon will also meet senior officials in New Delhi and visit Goa and Mumbai during his three-day visit, according to media reports in India.
he visit follows recent diplomatic engagements, including Foreign Minister Abdulla Khaleel’s trip to India, which concluded on Sunday. In an interview with Indian news outlet WION, Khaleel said Maumoon’s visit would enhance “understanding for both nations in the security area.”
Relations have remained strained since Muizzu took office in November 2023, reaching an all-time low in January 2024 when three deputy ministers from his administration made derogatory comments about Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on social media. Though the officials were suspended, the remarks triggered calls in India to boycott the Maldives and led to a decline in Indian tourist arrivals.
However, ties gradually improved, with further progress made during India’s External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar’s visit to the Maldives and President Muizzu’s official visit to India in October. During Muizzu’s visit, both countries reaffirmed their commitment to a comprehensive economic and maritime security partnership.
India-Maldives relations have been shaped by political shifts over the years. Under former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, relations were close, with India contributing significantly to Maldivian development. Ties soured between 2013 and 2018 under President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom, who turned to China for development aid.
Relations improved under President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih from 2018 to 2023, as cooperation with India was renewed in development and regional security. However, the Muizzu administration has said the Solih era’s India-Maldives ties compromised Maldivian national identity and sovereignty.