Maldives President Mohammed Muizzo will visit India on an official visit “very soon”, his spokesperson said today.
President’s Office chief spokesperson Hina Waleed announced Mr Muizzu’s visit on the day two junior ministers, who were suspended in January for making derogatory remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, resigned from the government.
He said though the exact date of the visit has not been finalised yet, both sides are discussing a date which is convenient for the leaders of both countries, reports Sun Online news portal.
“The President is scheduled to visit India very soon. As you know, such visits are scheduled for maximum convenience of the leaders of the two countries. Discussions are ongoing in this regard,” he said at a press conference.
Known for his pro-China views, Mr Muizzu came to New Delhi to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister Modi on June 9. Unlike his predecessors, who first visited New Delhi after assuming office, Mr Muizzu first went to Turkey and then went to China for his first state visit in January.
Heads of state and government from India’s neighbouring countries and the Indian Ocean region attended the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister Modi. Mr Muizzu said he was delighted to receive Prime Minister Modi’s invitation and was “equally delighted” to attend the ceremony.
On his return, Mr Muizzu described his first visit to India after holding talks with India’s top leadership as a “success” for the Maldives and the region and said strong ties between the two countries would lead to Maldives’ prosperity.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar visited the Maldives in August – the first high-level visit from New Delhi after Mr Muizzu took office in November last year.
Relations between India and Maldives have been strained since Mr Muizzo became President. Within hours of taking oath, he demanded the withdrawal of Indian military personnel deployed on three aviation platforms gifted by India to the Maldives. After talks between the two sides, the Indian military personnel were replaced by civilians.
The matter worsened further after three deputy ministers of Maldives made controversial remarks about India and Prime Minister Modi on social media.
The Maldives Foreign Ministry distanced itself from his comments, saying they did not represent the views of the Maldives government.
Three junior ministers were suspended and two of them – Maryam Shiuna and Malsha Sharif – resigned today.
Maldives is one of India’s key maritime neighbours in the Indian Ocean region and the tenure of the previous government led by President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih witnessed growth in overall bilateral relations, including in the areas of defence and security.
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