With Maldives President Muizzu going to China first, India in no hurry to roll out red carpet

India-Maldives Row: Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu has urged Beijing to send more tourists after backlash from Indians.

Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu has sought China's assistance to address the impact of calls for boycotting Maldives as a holiday destination by certain social media users in India. Additionally, the Maldivian government has proposed a visit by Muizzu to New Delhi shortly after his return from Beijing in an attempt to manage the fallout from the social media controversy and maintain positive relations with India.

Breaking away from the customary practice followed by most of his predecessors, Muizzu chose to begin his series of bilateral foreign visits with Beijing instead of New Delhi. This decision has sparked speculation and raised questions about a potential reorientation of the Maldives' foreign policy towards China.

Given Muizzu's decision to visit Beijing first, several media reports indicate that India is not rushing to host him and will await an opportune moment for his visit to New Delhi. Talks about Muizzu's potential visit to India took place in November 2023, around the time he assumed office. Amid ongoing talks with India, Muizzu promptly accepted an offer from Chinese President Xi Jinping to visit Beijing, complicating the prospects of his visit to New Delhi.

Also Read: India remains top tourist market for Maldives in 2023, followed by Russia, China

''Finalisation of any visit depends on finding mutually convenient dates,'' news agency PTI quoted a person with knowledge of the matter as saying.

India-Maldives row

Notably, the India-Maldives relationship faced some strain as Muizzu, perceived as pro-China, reiterated his commitment to fulfill his election promise of removing Indian military personnel from the Maldives, adding a contentious element to the bilateral ties and raising concerns in New Delhi about the future trajectory of its ties with the Maldives under Muizzu's leadership.

Also Read: India planning new airport in Lakshadweep for commercial, defence use amid Maldives row

Tensions further escalated significantly on January 7 as a major controversy unfolded when three deputy ministers of the Muizzu government posted derogatory comments against Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Following New Delhi’s strong objection to these remarks, the Maldivian government took swift action, suspending the deputy ministers—Malsha Shareef, Mariyam Shiuna, and Abdulla Mahzoom Majid—from the youth ministry.

The remarks made by Maldivian ministers have drawn criticism in India, leading to disapproval from various quarters, including celebrities. Social media platforms, such as X, have seen public figures advocating for domestic tourist destinations instead of traveling to the Maldives.

In 2023, India retained its position as the top tourist market for the Maldives, as per data from the Maldives Tourism Ministry. The country welcomed 209,198 visitors from India, securing the top spot. Russia followed closely in second place with 209,146 arrivals, and China ranked third with 187,118 arrivals.