Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit the Republic of Maldives from July 25-26 and inaugurate India-funded projects there, marking an end to diplomatic tensions between the two nations that began a year ago.
Modi’s visit to the Island nation also makes him the first foreign head of government to be hosted by President Mohamed Muizzu, especially on the important occasion of their 60th Independence Day celebrations.
Former Maldivian foreign minister Abdulla Shahid praised India’s maturity and generosity, declaring that Indians had a “big heart”, despite the tensions between the two nations, brought on by Muizzu’s policies that were once anti-Indian, as well as the nation’s developing relationship with China.
“Whenever anything urgent and distressful happens in Maldives, India has never let us down,” he added.
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“I think this is testimony to the kind of attention that has been paid to the relationship, including attention at the highest levels … We’ve continued to work at it, and I think the result is there for you to see,” explained India’s Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri at a press conference on Tuesday.
Misri was referring to New Delhi’s long-term efforts to repair its frosty ties with Male—particularly the vital financial support it provided in May via the rollover of the $50 million Treasury Bill for one more year.
“If not for India, we would have gone default,” declared former Maldives President Mohamed Nasheed about India’s timely financial assistance, as per an Economic Times report.
“With mounting financial difficulties and substantial debt repayment obligations for the Maldives, India’s timely support has helped us avoid default and maintain economic stability,” Nasheed added.
India has described Maldives as a “very important partner” in India’s ‘Neighborhood First’ policy and MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions) vision.
It is also important to note that India continued to cooperate with Maldives on maritime security and coastal surveillance, especially after it agreed towithdraw military personnel following the ‘India Out’ campaign, replacing them with civilians and technical experts instead.
New Delhi also continued to be the ‘first responder’ to Male’s calls for help, offering economic and humanitarian aid whenever required.
This gradually softened Muizzu’s stance against India, marking a significant diplomatic victory for New Delhi, which refused to let China displace its ties with Maldives, and which even began a road to recovery of ties with China through recent high-level talks at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO).
