Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu has landed in Delhi for his first bilateral visit since taking office last year. During this five-day trip, he is scheduled to meet with President Draupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and other senior officials to strengthen ties between the two nations.
This visit aims to reset relations that have faced challenges since Muizzu’s election in November, particularly due to his pro-China stance. Shortly after assuming office, he called for the withdrawal of Indian military personnel from the Maldives, which led to their replacement with civilians. Notably, Muizzu chose to make his first foreign visit to China, diverging from the tradition of his predecessors who typically visited India first.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has expressed hope that this visit will enhance cooperation and foster robust people-to-people ties. In addition to meetings in Delhi, President Muizzu will also travel to Mumbai and Bengaluru for business events.
The MEA emphasized the importance of the Maldives as India’s key maritime neighbor in the Indian Ocean Region, aligning with Prime Minister Modi’s vision of “SAGAR” (Security and Growth for All in the Region) and India’s “Neighbourhood First Policy.”
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar’s recent three-day visit to the Maldives has set the stage for President Muizzu’s trip, underscoring the commitment to revitalizing bilateral relations.
