'Looking forward to ...': Maldives foreign minister arrives in India amid strained ties
NEW DELHI: Maldivian foreign minister Moosa Zameer has arrived in India for his first bilateral official visit amid strained ties between the two countries.
In a post on X, he expressed his enthusiasm for engaging in fruitful discussions, fortifying the relationship between the two nations, and immersing himself in the rich culture of India.
The ministry of external affairs (MEA) also announced his arrival on X, extending a warm welcome and highlighting the upcoming discussions on bilateral and regional matters, as well as efforts to strengthen the multifaceted relationship between the two countries.
According to the MEA release, foreign minister Zameer is scheduled to meet external affairs minister S Jaishankar to address issues of mutual interest.
“Moosa Zameer, minister of foreign affairs of Maldives will be in India on an official visit on 09 May 2024. During his visit to New Delhi, foreign minister Zameer will meet the external affairs minister Dr. S Jaishankar for discussions on bilateral and regional issues of mutual interest,” MEA statement said.
The visit takes place in the backdrop of India committing to replace its military personnel from Maldives before May 10.
On May 3, the 4th meeting of the bilateral High-Level Core Group was held between India and Maldives, during which the replacement of Indian military personnel was reviewed, and it was noted that the government will complete the process before the specified date. This follows a formal request from the Mohamed Muizzu-led Maldives government for India to withdraw its troops from Male.
The Maldives foreign ministry issued a press release stating that both sides assessed the existing bilateral cooperation, covering a broad range of topics, including development and defense collaboration. It was also agreed that the fifth meeting of the High-Level Core Group will be held in Male on a mutually convenient date in June or July.
The MEA previously reported that the first batch of Indian technical personnel had arrived in the Maldives to replace the defense personnel. India and the Maldives have reached an agreement on a set of mutually workable solutions to ensure the continued operation of Indian aviation platforms that provide humanitarian and medical evacuation services to the Maldivian people.
The withdrawal of Indian troops from the Maldives was a key campaign promise of Muizzu’s party during the election. Currently, approximately 70 Indian troops are stationed in the Maldives, along with Dornier 228 maritime patrol aircraft and two HAL Dhruv helicopters.
Recently, the Maldivian tourism minister, Ibrahim Faisal, has appealed to Indian tourists to continue visiting the archipelago nation, emphasising the historical ties between the two countries.
The minister’s plea comes amidst a significant decline in Indian tourist arrivals following derogatory remarks made by three Maldivian officials against India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on social media. The backlash led to numerous cancellations and a drop in India’s position from the top visitor country to the sixth position after January.
According to a report by sun.mv, tourist arrivals from India declined by 42 per cent in the first four months of this year compared to the same period last year.
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