External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Saturday called on Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu and reiterated India's commitment to deepening its bilateral relationship with the Maldives for mutual benefit of the people of the two countries and advancing regional interests.
Jaishankar is on a three-day official visit to the Maldives, the first high-level visit from India since President Muizzu assumed office last year and turned pro-China.
Jaishankar put out a picture of the meeting on social media platform X, noting, "Privileged to call-on President Dr Mohamed Muizzu. Conveyed greetings of PM @NarendraModi. Committed to deepening India-Maldives ties for the benefit of our people and the region."
The visit follows after President Muizzu's visit to India in June, where he attended the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government.
Before visiting, the minister called on the Defence Minister of Maldives Ghassan Maumoon and discussed problems of bilateral security, assurance of mutual commitment for maintenance of peace and stability in the region with China's growing influence in the island nation.
The relations between India and the Maldives have remained in deep crisis ever since the election victory of China-leaning President Muizzu in November 2023. Barely a month after his swearing-in, Muizzu had asked India to withdraw its military personnel from three aviation platforms in the Maldives. By May 10, the deadline fixed for this, these personnel had been replaced by civilians.
This is Jaishankar's first official visit to the Maldives since he took up the second term in June 2024. He had, however, visited in January 2023 as well.
The visit that was slated for conclusion on August 11 has now been extended. The extension is at the invitation of Maldivian foreign minister Moosa Zameer.
It said the visit would impart further momentum to the close partnership between the two countries while exploring new opportunities for taking the bilateral relationship forward. In a press statement before the visit, the Ministry of External Affairs said, "Maldives is an important maritime neighbor of India and a close partner in our 'Neighbourhood First' policy and our Vision 'SAGAR,' which stands for Security and Growth for All in the Region." As per a press statement issued prior to the visit by the Ministry of External Affairs, "Maldives is an important maritime neighbor of India and a close partner in our 'Neighbourhood First' policy and our Vision 'SAGAR,' which means Security and Growth for All in the Region.".
This has been what has made the Maldives one of the strategic maritime neighbors for India within the Indian Ocean, and the bilateral relationship had witnessed an upward trajectory, more specifically in matters of defense and security, under the previous Maldivian dispensation.
Jaishankar Engages with Maldivian Defence Minister on Security Cooperation Amidst Increasing Chinese Influence
On Saturday, Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met Maldivian Defence Minister Ghassan Maumoon and had a very productive meeting with him on prospects for bilateral security cooperation with an overall objective of maintaining regional peace and stability.
Jaishankar's visit is the first major engagement between the two countries since President Mohamed Muizzu took office in 2023; he was considered tilting more towards China.
On the second day of his trip, Jaishankar met Defence Minister Maumoon. In an update on social media, he described the fruitful meet with the Defence Minister, saying, "A very good meeting with Defence Minister @mgmaumoon. Discussed defence and security cooperation, joint initiatives for maritime security and our shared interest in maintaining peace and stability in the region."
The visit has come at a time when the presence of Chinese military in the Maldives has increased since the inauguration of President Muizzu. The visit, accompanied by the docking of one of the state-of-the-art Chinese research vessels at one of the Maldivian ports, coupled with the signing of the bilateral military agreement, resonates as a developing partnership.
Earlier in the day, Jaishankar, along with Maldivian Foreign Minister Moosa Zameer and Climate Change, Environment, and Energy Minister Thoriq Ibrahim, planted a Carambola (Star Fruit) sapling in Lonuziyaaraiy Park, Male. Jaishankar commented, "Delighted to jointly plant a Carambola (Star Fruit) sapling along with Foreign Minister @MoosaZameer and Climate Change, Environment and Energy Minister @Thoriqibrahim in Lonuziyaaraiy Park, Male today. The sapling symbolises our commitment to a sustainable future and the enduring India-Maldives ties.
On Friday, Jaishankar met with Foreign Minister Zameer to discuss their bilateral relationship, which spanned a range of issues from development cooperation and defence and maritime issues, to capacity building, economic and trade relationships, and people-to-people exchanges.
This would be Jaishankar's first visit since President Muizzu took over as President of Maldives. Relations between India and Maldives have come under strain with Muizzu's presidency from November 2023, specially after he asked for withdrawal of Indian military personnel — now replaced by civilians.
The Maldives remains an important maritime partner for India in the Indian Ocean region, with past dispensations in Male promoting a positive trajectory in defence and security relations.
