S Jaishankar (R) with Mohamed Muizzu. (Photo: X/@MMuizzu)
New Delhi: The foreign minister, S Jaishankar, concluded his three-day visit to the Maldives, marking the first high-level interaction between the two nations since the current Maldivian president, Mohamed Muizzu, assumed office in November 2023. Jaishankar’s visit, from August 9 to 11, was aimed to reinforce the longstanding partnership between India and the Maldives, amid evolving regional dynamics.
This visit comes three months after the Maldivian foreign minister, Moosa Zameer, visited India, as India Sentinels reported in May.
During his visit, Jaishankar held extensive discussions with Zameer, focusing on enhancing cooperation in various sectors. The Indian foreign minister reiterated New Delhi’s commitment to supporting the Maldives in maintaining peace, stability, and prosperity in the Indian Ocean region.
A highlight of the visit was the inauguration of several India-assisted projects, including a water and sewerage network across 28 islands, a mental health unit, and a speech therapy unit. These projects, funded through India’s line of credit (loan), are expected to significantly improve the quality of life for Maldivian citizens.
Joined Foreign Minister @MoosaZameer, Construction and Infrastructure Minister @muththo, Climate Change, Environment & Energy Minister @Thoriqibrahim and Mayor of Addu city @DhekunuNizar to inaugurate the Addu Reclamation & Shore Protection and Addu Detour Link Bridge.
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) August 11, 2024
These ??… pic.twitter.com/IuQbm70aOh
Jaishankar also met with Muizzu and conveyed greetings from the prime minister, Narendra Modi. The meeting is seen as a significant step in reaffirming the mutual commitment to deepening bilateral ties between the two countries especially after the relations between New Delhi and Male took a dive after Muizzu, widely seen as a pro-China leader, took charge of the atoll nation’s presidency.
During the Jaishankar-Muizzu meeting, the Maldivian president expressed his appreciation for India’s continued developmental assistance and emphasized the importance of further strengthening the India-Maldives relationship.
It was a pleasure to meet @DrSJaishankar today and join him in the official handover of water and sewerage projects in 28 islands of the Maldives. I thank the Government of India, especially Prime Minister @narendramodi for always supporting the Maldives. Our enduring partnership… pic.twitter.com/fYtFb5QI6Q
— Dr Mohamed Muizzu (@MMuizzu) August 10, 2024
It may be mentioned that Muizzu won the country’s presidential election on an anti-India plank. Apart from that, he made his first overseas visit as president to China breaking from the tradition, set by previous Maldivian leaders, of visiting India first. Muizzu also ordered all Indian military personnel out of the country. Around 75 Indian military personnel were in the atoll nation for maintenance of the aircraft and boats India gifted Male for maritime surveillance, emergency evacuation, and operations during natural disasters. They have left the country since then.
In addition to his engagements with the Maldivian leadership, Jaishankar held discussions with the country’s finance minister, economic development minister, and defence minister. These meetings focused on exploring new avenues for trade, economic cooperation, and defence collaboration. The discussions highlighted the shared challenges and interests in maintaining regional security, particularly given the extensive exclusive economic zones (EEZs) of both nations.
Pleased to review progress of the Greater Male' Connectivity – Male' to Thilafushi Link Project, together with External Affairs Minister @DrSJaishankar and Infrastructure Minister Dr Abdulla Muththalib @muththo. This is one of the pivotal infrastructure projects of our… pic.twitter.com/pKiKcHPvEM
— Moosa Zameer (@MoosaZameer) August 10, 2024
Jaishankar’s visit comes at a crucial time, as the Maldives, under its new leadership, navigates its foreign policy amid a changing geopolitical landscape in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), especially India’s ties with its neighbours. The visit is seen as a reaffirmation of India’s strategic interest in the Maldives and underscored Male’s importance in India’s “Neighbourhood First” policy and Vision SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region).
