Maldivian foreign minister visits India to boost ties
President Muizzu emphasised the importance of strengthening ties with India during his state visit to India in October.
Maldivian Foreign Minister Abdulla Khaleel arrived in India on Thursday for a three-day official visit aimed at enhancing bilateral relations in key areas such as maritime security, trade, and investment.
Khaleel’s visit comes approximately three months after President Mohamed Muizzu’s official trip to India, signalling continued engagement between the two neighbouring nations.
On Friday, Khaleel is scheduled to hold comprehensive discussions with his Indian counterpart, S. Jaishankar, focusing on various aspects of the India-Maldives partnership.
“Working towards India-Maldives joint vision of a ‘Comprehensive Economic & Maritime Security Partnership.’ Warm welcome to FM @abkhaleel of Maldives on his first official visit to India,” Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson for India’s Ministry of External Affairs, noted on the social media platform X.
The Maldives is a crucial maritime neighbor of India in the Indian Ocean Region. Bilateral ties, particularly in defence and security, saw significant growth under the previous administration in Male. However, the relationship experienced tensions following President Muizzu’s assumption of office in November 2023, given his known pro-China stance.
Immediately after taking office, President Muizzu called for the withdrawal of Indian military personnel from the Maldives. The personnel were subsequently replaced by civilian counterparts.
Despite initial challenges, Muizzu emphasised the importance of strengthening ties with India during his state visit to New Delhi in October, signalling a reset in the relationship.
