Speaker of Parliament Abdul Raheem Abdulla met with the Indian High Commissioner to the Maldives, Munu Mahawar, at the Parliament house on Thursday. The meeting aimed to foster dialogue and cooperation between the two nations.
Despite the high-level engagement, both the Secretariat of Parliament and the Indian High Commission remained tight-lipped about the specifics of their discussions.
Relations between the neighbours deteriorated after the Mohamed Muizzu administration, which came to power on an anti-India platform, took office. Derogatory remarks made by senior Muizzu administration officials on social media in January further exacerbated the situation, leading to a tourism boycott by the Indian public.
However, recent developments suggest a shift in approach. Both countries appear to be seeking to mend ties. The invitation extended to President Muizzu to attend Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s swearing-in ceremony highlights this effort.
India recently reduced the grant aid allocated to the Maldives—from the originally proposed US$72 million to US$47 million.
