Maldives Foreign Minister meets Jaishankar in Delhi — debt relief, security, tourism discussed

Maldives Foreign Minister meets Jaishankar in Delhi — debt relief, security, tourism discussed

New Delhi: Maldives Foreign Minister Moosa Zameer held a bilateral meeting with his Indian counterpart Dr S. Jaishankar in the national capital Thursday, where a host of issues — regional security, debt relief, tourism, disaster relief mechanisms, among others — were discussed.

Zameer is currently visiting India, marking the first high-level trip from Male to New Delhi, since Maldivian President Mohammed Muizzu came into power last year after leading an ‘India-out’ election campaign.

Zameer’s visit coincides with the departure of the last batch of Indian military personnel from Maldives, stationed to support three aviation platforms in the archipelago country. These military personnel are scheduled to leave on 10 May. Their withdrawal from the Maldivian territory was a major demand of the ruling Muizzu government, which is increasingly being viewed as pro-China.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) confirmed Thursday that roughly 70 Indian military personnel in Maldives have been replaced with technical personnel from India.

“Both Maldives and India have been engaged for quite some time to see how best to continue the operation of the aviation platforms… The first and second batch… have come back,” MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal told the media in a press briefing Thursday.

“I can confirm that the deputation of the competent Indian personnel has taken place. These platforms provide medevac and humanitarian services to Maldives,” he added.

Asked about the issues discussed in talks between the two foreign ministers in New Delhi, the MEA said that regional security issues, debt relief, development programmes and cooperation, capacity building and training, and disaster relief mechanisms were discussed.

Focus on tourism, economic partnership

A readout from the Maldivian foreign ministry noted that both ministers acknowledged the “fruitful economic partnership”, and progress of projects facilitated through Indian grant assistance and line of credit initiatives. Maldives owes India approximately $400 million across various initiatives.

Tourism projects and human resource development were also discussed, according to the readout.

Earlier this week, Maldives Tourism Minister Ibrahim Faisal had highlighted the importance of Indian tourists for the country’s economy. “I want to tell Indians to please be a part of Maldives’ tourism. Our economy depends on tourism,” Faisal had said.

The Maldivian foreign minister also thanked India for its “steadfast support” in advancing economic, trade and investment ties with his country, and for New Delhi’s role in the socio-economic advancement of Maldives.

In April, the Indian government renewed the quota to enable Maldives to import essential commodities from the country for the 2024-2025 period — a move that Zameer had publicly thanked India for.

In his remarks during the meeting, External Affairs Minister Jaishankar reiterated that India has been a key provider of development assistance to the Maldives.

“They range from infrastructure projects and social initiatives to medical evacuation and health facilities. We have also extended financial support on favourable terms in the past. India has been a First Responder on numerous occasions for Maldives,” he said.

He added that with India’s help, Maldives has been able to enhance its security through equipment provisioning, capacity building and training, and other activities.

That said, the Muizzu government has refused to renew an agreement that allows India to conduct hydrographic surveys in Maldivian waters. Meanwhile, India has been ‘watchful’ of a Chinese vessel that docked in Maldives earlier this month. Under Muizzu, Male also signed a slew of new defence agreements with China in March.

In his remarks, the Indian foreign minister also noted the importance of close partnerships with neighbours amid a “volatile and uncertain” world. “As close and proximate neighbours, the development of our ties is obviously based on mutual interests and reciprocal sensitivity,” he said.

(Edited by Mannat Chugh)