India will always stand by Maldives, Jaishankar tells Khaleel
The discussions took place during an official meeting with Khaleel, who is on his first bilateral visit to India.
Indian Minister of External Affairs, S. Jaishankar, on Friday reaffirmed India’s commitment to supporting the Maldives, saying that India will always stand by Maldives.
The discussions took place during an official meeting with Dr Abdulla Khaleel, the Maldives' Foreign Minister, who is on his first bilateral visit to India.
Welcoming Khaleel and his delegation, Jaishankar highlighted the importance of the Maldives in India's "Neighbourhood First" policy. Reflecting on the financial cooperation extended by India, he stated, “India has always stood by Maldives for us. You are a very concrete expression of our Neighbourhood First policy.”
India has recently provided financial support to the Maldives, including a $400 million currency swap line and subscription to treasury bills worth $350 million. These measures, Jaishankar noted, were crucial in helping the Maldives navigate its economic difficulties.
“We certainly hope that you know our relationship has helped you to navigate through these difficult times,” he said, emphasising India's commitment to assisting the Maldives during challenging times.
The meeting also provided an opportunity to review progress since the state visit of Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu to India in October. During that visit, the two countries adopted a Comprehensive Economic and Maritime Security Partnership, which has provided a framework for deepening bilateral relations.
Jaishankar highlighted developments such as the signing of a framework to promote the use of local currencies for cross-border transactions and enhanced collaboration across various sectors.
Jaishankar expressed optimism about the future of India-Maldives relations, stating, “Today’s visit allows us to take stock of the progress... there is much more that we need to do.”
