maldives | S Jaishankar | Delhi: There has been a rift in the friendly relationship between Maldives and India since the inauguration of the President of the Maldives, Mohammed Muisu, last year. Muisu has moved away from friendly relations with India and has started showing closer ties with China. He asked the Indian troops stationed to help the people of Maldives to leave.
Accordingly, the crew at an air base among the Indian soldiers left. Soldiers at the remaining two air bases have been given a deadline of May 10 to leave. It was reported that instead of these players, the Indian technical team will work there.
As the deadline for the withdrawal of Indian troops from Maldives ends the day after tomorrow (May 10), the Maldivian government led by President Mohammad Muisu is going to send its foreign minister to Delhi for a high-level ministerial meeting from tomorrow (May 9).
The Ministry of External Affairs announced on Tuesday that Maldivian Foreign Minister Musa Zameer will visit India on an official visit on Thursday. During his visit to Delhi, Maldivian Foreign Minister Zameer will meet Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to discuss bilateral and regional issues of mutual interest.
Also, India’s key maritime neighbor in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), the Maldives, Foreign Minister Jameer’s visit is also expected to give further impetus to bilateral cooperation between the two countries.
India recently approved the highest export quota for essential commodities like eggs, potatoes, onions, sugar, rice, wheat flour and pulses, river sand and stones to Maldives under a unique bilateral mechanism for 2024-25. This is the highest amount approved since the provision came into effect in 1981.
After this increase, Maldivian Foreign Minister Musa Zameer thanked India for renewing the quota by allowing his country to export this increased amount of essential goods.
Officials said India is committed to supporting people-centric development in the Maldives, as part of its ‘neighbourhood first’ policy, and where to approach the bilateral dialogue will be an important conversation.
Maldives Foreign Minister Jameer is set to visit India amid the challenging task of bridging India-Maldives differences. It is noteworthy that he is coming to Delhi in the context of Lok Sabha elections in the country.
