Muizzu meets Modi; agrees to set up 'core group' to deepen ties
In a post on X, Modi described it as "productive meeting".
President Mohamed Muizzu on Friday met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and agreed to form a "core group" to enhance the relations between the two South Asian neighbours, the Indian government has said.
The Maldivian President's Office also posted a photo of the meeting, held on sidelines of the COP28 climate summit in the United Arab Emirates, on its X account, but is yet to give any details.
However, in a post on X, Modi described it as "productive meeting".
"We discussed ways to enhance the India-Maldives friendship across diverse sectors. We look forward to working together to deepen cooperation for the benefit of our people," he said.
In a statement, the Indian external affairs ministry said Modi congratulated President Muizzu on his assumption of office.
"Both leaders reviewed the wide ranging bilateral relations between the two countries including people to people linkages, development cooperation, economic relations, climate change and sports," the statement read.
"The two leaders also discussed ways to further deepen their partnership. In this regard, they agreed to set up a core group."
However, the ministry did not disclose further details about the core group.
Maldives new President Muizzu, who campaigned on altering the tiny Indian Ocean archipelago's "India first" policy, has requested India withdraw its military from the country.
Muizzu won the presidential election in September, ousting Ibrahim Mohamed Solih in a runoff after promising to remove a small Indian military presence of some 75 personnel.
Muizzu made the request to remove Indian troops at a meeting with Kiren Rijiju, India's minister for earth sciences, who was representing India at the presidential inauguration on November 17.
India has not responded to the request.
