External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar of India arrived in the Maldives on Friday for a three-day official visit aimed at strengthening the bilateral relationship between the two countries. The visit marks the first high-level engagement between India and the Maldives since President Mohamed Muizzu took office in November 2023.
During his visit, Jaishankar will meet with Maldivian Foreign Minister Moosa Zameer to review existing bilateral cooperation and explore avenues for further enhancement. The two ministers will also inaugurate several projects that have been completed under the High Impact Community Development Projects (HICDP) and the Line of Credit facility provided by the EXIM Bank of India.
In a statement ahead of his visit, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said, “Maldives is India’s key maritime neighbour and an important partner in India’s ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy and our Vision ‘SAGAR’, that is, Security and Growth for All in the Region.” The visit is aimed at strengthening the close partnership between the two countries and to explore avenues to enhance the bilateral relationship further.
Jaishankar’s visit comes weeks after President Muizzu’s visit to India in June to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government. The ties between India and the Maldives came under severe strain since Muizzu, known for his pro-China leanings, took charge of the top office.
The Maldives is one of India’s key maritime neighbours in the Indian Ocean region and the overall bilateral ties, including in the areas of defence and security, witnessed an upward trajectory under the previous government in Male. Jaishankar’s visit is seen as an attempt to reset the relationship and strengthen the partnership between the two countries.
