S Jaishankar on 3-day Maldives visit
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar is set to commence a three-day official visit to the Maldives today, marking the first high-level trip from New Delhi since diplomatic relations between the two nations began to strain. The visit comes nearly nine months after Mohamed Muizzu, the Maldives’ pro-China president, took office, leading to heightened tensions in bilateral ties.
This visit by Jaishankar follows President Muizzu’s official trip to India on June 9, where he attended the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the new Union Council of Ministers. It was Muizzu’s inaugural visit to India since he assumed the presidency in November of last year.
The timing of Jaishankar’s visit underscores the significance of recalibrating the relationship between the two countries. As India seeks to reassert its influence in the region amidst growing Chinese presence in the Maldives, this visit is expected to address various aspects of bilateral cooperation and discuss strategies for improving diplomatic and economic ties.
The visit also reflects India’s ongoing commitment to strengthening regional partnerships and ensuring stability in the Indian Ocean region. Jaishankar’s discussions with Maldivian leaders are anticipated to cover a range of topics, including security, trade, and investment opportunities.
As the two nations navigate their complex relationship, this high-profile visit is seen as a crucial step in reaffirming and potentially enhancing the partnership between India and the Maldives.
“Maldives is India’s key maritime neighbour and an important partner in India’s ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy and our vision ‘SAGAR‘ – Security and Growth for All in the Region,” the Ministry of External Affairs said in an official statement announcing Jaishankar’s visit.
The visit is aimed at strengthening the close partnership between the two countries and to explore avenues to enhance the bilateral relationship further, the statement read further.
Jaishankar had previously visited the Maldives in January 2023.
Relations between India and the Maldives have been tense since President Mohamed Muizzu assumed office, campaigning on an “India-out” platform. Shortly after his inauguration, Muizzu demanded the withdrawal of Indian military personnel, who were later replaced by civilians.
The situation worsened when three Maldivian deputy ministers made derogatory comments about India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on social media, following Modi’s January post featuring the Lakshadweep Islands.
The Maldivian government had then suspended the three ministers after opposition leaders slammed the “appalling language” used by the officials against PM Modi.
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