Jaishankar hits back at Maldives pres: 'Big Bullies don't provide aid'
Relations between India and Maldives have deteriorated sharply earlier this year amid changes in Maldivian foreign policy following the change of government.
By
Shahudha Mohamed
India’s External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar has hit back at President Mohammed Muizzu's earlier statement referring to neighbouring India as a ‘bully’, saying that "big bullies don't provide USD 4.5 billion in aid" to neighbouring countries.
At a book launch in Delhi on Saturday, the minister was asked whether India was seen as a bully by countries in the region.
Jaishankar gave his retort to the bully thread whilst citing what India has done for Maldives.
"When you say India is perceived as a big bully, you know, big bullies don't provide USD 4.5 billion when the neighbours are in trouble. Big bullies don't supply vaccines to other countries when Covid-19 is on or make exceptions to their own rules to respond to food demands or fuel demands or fertiliser demands because some war in some other part of the world has complicated their lives," Jaishankar said at the Saturday event.
Although he did not name a specific country in his response, Jaishankar’s list of aid included what India has done for Maldives. The aid that falls in line are:
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India signed an agreement in 2021 to provide USD 4.5 million in grant assistance to Maldives for various community development projects
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India first sent the Covid vaccines to Maldives; India was also the largest supplier of vaccines to Maldives
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Despite the rise in onion prices in India and the ban on exports by the government, India continued to export onions to Maldives without interruption
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Apart from food, Maldives also imports a large amount of commodities from India; up until recently, the majority of the medicine brought into Maldives was from India
Relations between India and Maldives have deteriorated sharply earlier this year amid changes in Maldivian foreign policy following the change of government. Then, after President Muizzu returned to Maldives completing his first official visit to China, he addressed the media and made the remark: “We may be small, but that doesn't give you the license to bully us.".
He also listed several initiatives to end reliance on any particular country. He said:
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With the introduction of the national carrier's own air ambulance from March 1, Indian aircraft will not be used in emergency medical operations
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Discussions have been held with China to ensure sustainable food security
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An agreement has already been made with Turkey for the import of food staples; the first shipment under the agreement will arrive next month
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In order to stop importing pharmaceuticals from India, drugs are to be imported directly from Europe and the United States
Jaishankar has been targeted by a number of questions from journalists and the public in the recent past as India's relations with the Maldives deteriorated. In response to such questions, he has often referred to the Maldives and President Muizzu in similar fashion.
