External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar arrived in the Maldives on August 9 for a three-day official visit, marking the first high-level engagement between the two countries since President Mohamed Muizzu's pro-China administration took office in November 2023.
Jaishankar’s visit is seen as a crucial step in strengthening bilateral relations, which had strained following Muizzu’s request for the withdrawal of Indian military personnel soon after he assumed office. By May 10, the Indian military personnel were replaced by civilians in accordance with the mutual agreement.
During his visit, Jaishankar expressed India’s commitment to the 'Neighbourhood First' policy and the 'SAGAR' (Security and Growth for All in the Region) vision. Jaishankar said in a post on X stated, “Pleased to arrive in Maldives. Thank Foreign Minister @MoosaZameer for receiving me at the airport. Maldives occupies an important place in our vision of ‘Neighbourhood First’ & ‘SAGAR’.” “Looking forward to fruitful engagements with the leadership,” he added.
Maldivian Foreign Minister Moosa Zameer welcomed Jaishankar, expressing eagerness to engage in meaningful discussions to further solidify the historic ties between the two nations.
Jaishankar engages in discussions with Maldives Foreign Minister, inaugurates key development projects
Jaishankar said he held a series of productive discussions with Maldivian Foreign Minister Moosa Zameer in Male, further strengthening the bilateral ties between the two nations. The agenda for the meeting encompassed a wide range of topics, including development partnership, capacity building, bilateral and regional security, trade, and digital cooperation.
A highlight of the day was the joint inauguration of six High Impact Community Development Projects, which span across crucial sectors like street lighting, mental health, children’s speech therapy, and special education.
In a significant move towards enhancing digital connectivity between the two nations, Jaishankar and Zameer witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) and the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade of Maldives.
Additionally, Jaishankar welcomed the renewal of an MoU between India’s National Centre for Good Governance and the Maldives Civil Services Commission, which aims to train an additional 1,000 Maldivian civil service officers.
Jaishankar’s agenda also includes a courtesy call on President Muizzu. This visit comes after Maldives President Muizzu’s visit to India in June 2024, where he attended Prime Minister Narendra Modi's swearing-in ceremony. Jaishankar's trip underscores India's ongoing efforts to maintain strong maritime and security ties with the Maldives, a key neighbor in the Indian Ocean region.
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