"India has always been a first responder": PM Modi met Maldives President Muizzu

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday met Maldives President Mohammed Muizzu and underlined New Delhi’s status as a “close friend” of the island nation, emphasizing its ‘neighbourhood first’ foreign policy that has helped India in providing financial and Have been seen acting as ‘first responders’ for medical treatment. emergencies affecting Mali, including supplying Covid vaccines to its nearly six lakh people during the pandemic.

The Prime Minister also said that the Maldives has an important role in ensuring the security of the Indian Ocean region – a sentiment echoed by many within the Indian government following the previous victory of President Muizzu – who is seen as a ‘pro-China’ leader. The issue was red flagged. The elections of that year were called the ‘India Out’ platform.

“Be it essential commodities, vaccines during Covid, or drinking water… we have played the role of a good neighbour,” he said. New port. Referring to the ongoing drinking water project on 28 islands of Maldives, he said that more than 30,000 people will now get clean water.

The PM said India and Maldives also discussed opening of consulates in Addu and Bengaluru.

Mr Modi’s comments came after Delhi hosted President Muizu for a bilateral meeting this afternoon; Visuals of the two leaders joining hands and smiling broadly after being formally welcomed by President Draupadi Murmu at the Raj Bhavan were posted by news agency ANI and widely shared.

On his part, Mr Muizzu once again advocated the return of Indian tourists to the Maldives on a large scale; Tourism is the island nation’s biggest source of revenue and it took a hit last year when Indian tourists canceled reservations in protest at comments made by three Maldivian ministers about the prime minister.

The Foreign Ministry of Maldives distanced itself from this comment.

The Maldivian leader said he also hopes to have a free trade agreement with India with the aim of increasing investment in his country. The Government of India has already helped in setting up adequate drinking water and sewerage facilities in Maldives and is also helping in building road infrastructure.

“India is a major partner in the socio-economic and infrastructure development of Maldives and stood by Maldives in its time of need. I would like to thank PM Modi and the Government and people of India for their generous assistance and cooperation over the years.” .” He said.

“I am also grateful for the Government of India’s decision to provide assistance in the form of Rs 30 billion, in addition to the US$400 million bilateral currency swap agreement – ​​which will address the foreign exchange issues we are facing right now. ,” Mr. Muizzu said.

India is a “valued partner, friend”

Earlier today Mr Muizzu stressed that his country would not work to undermine India’s security and that it viewed New Delhi as a “valued partner and friend”. Cross-country cooperation in many areas, including defence, “will always be a priority”, he told a leading English daily.

Read | Diplomatic U-turn of Maldives President, appeals to Indian tourists

“Maldives will never do anything to undermine India’s security. While we enhance cooperation with other countries in various fields, we are committed to ensuring that our actions do not harm our region,” he told The Times of India. The security and stability of the country should not be compromised.” In a wide-ranging interview yesterday.

First bilateral visit amid diplomatic disputes

It is Mr Muizzu’s first bilateral visit and the comments reflect growing friendship after a month-long diplomatic standoff last year between three Maldivian ministers over a social media post about Lakshadweep as an alternative tourism destination to the Maldives. Made comments about Minister Modi. ,

And then in May – just weeks before Mr Modi was to attend the swearing-in ceremony – a request to remove 90 military personnel stationed at three aviation platforms gifted by India also raised eyebrows.

Delhi accepted the request and replaced the military personnel with “competent technical” personnel.

The eviction of Indian military personnel and the ‘India Out’ agenda was seen as one of Mr Muizzu’s key election promises. Pressed on these topics, the Maldivian President said he “did what the Maldivian people asked me”, but stressed that India remains a key partner in efforts to secure regional stability.

He denied that his government had an agenda to ‘oust India’ and said it was simply that “the people of Maldives do not want a foreign soldier in their country”.

with inputs from agencies

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