Ties warmer, PM Modi may make 1st Maldives trip of Muizzu era
NEW DELHI: India is favourably considering an invitation by the Maldives for Prime Minister Narendra Modi to visit the strategically important Indian Ocean country in July, TOI has learnt.
This follows a strong reiteration of President Mohamed Muizzu's 2024 invitation to Modi by Maldives foreign minister Abdulla Khaleel during his visit to India last week.
While it's too early to talk about the programme or agenda, it is learnt that one of the dates being considered for Modi's visit to the archipelago is July 26, the Maldives Independence Day.
If it happens, it will be the first visit by Modi to the country since Muizzu assumed office in November 2023.
Khaleel was in India last week for the third time this year, signalling an intent on the part of the Maldives to deepen ties with India amid concerns both here and in the West about its ties with China. Along with his counterpart S Jaishankar, Khaleel reviewed bilateral cooperation in a range of areas, including the development partnership, defence and security, and trade and investment. Jaishankar said after the meeting that India remained committed to Maldives's progress and development.
He also thanked Khaleel for the solidarity with India on the issue of terrorism.
Muizzu has continued to strongly maintain that the Maldives will not do anything to hurt India's security interests and that his decision to force Indian military personnel out of the country was based purely on the Maldivian people's desire for independence and non-interference in internal affairs.
In an interview to Ceylon Today last week, the president said the Maldives will not allow its geographical location to be misused by any country for deliberate attempts that undermine peace and stability in the Indian Ocean region.
"Our approach will always be for regional peace and sovereignty, and fair diplomacy with everyone," he said.
India sees Maldives as a key maritime neighbour and an important partner in its Neighbourhood First policy and Vision Mahasagar (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions).
According to the Indian external affairs ministry, the visit was aimed at strengthening the Comprehensive Economic and Maritime Security Partnership between the two countries.
As Prime Minister Modi and Muizzu had said in a joint statement after the latter's visit to India in October 2024, this partnership will be people-centric, future-oriented and will act as an anchor of stability in the Indian Ocean region.
Among the big takeaways from that visit was a significant decision to initiate discussions on a Bilateral Free Trade Agreement focusing on trade in goods and services between the two countries.
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