Malé, July 25 – In a notable departure from his earlier political rhetoric, Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu on Friday described India as the nation’s “closest and most trusted partner,” signaling a new chapter in bilateral ties during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s official visit to the island nation.
The remarks, made during a high-level meeting at the Presidential Office in Malé, come months after President Muizzu had spearheaded the controversial ‘India Out’ campaign during his election campaign. His statement reflects a significant recalibration in diplomatic tone and intent.
“India has long stood as the Maldives’ closest and most trusted partner. Our collaboration spans a wide range of areas—from security and trade to healthcare, education, and beyond—touching the everyday lives of our citizens,” President Muizzu said, while also commending India’s role as the Maldives' First Responder in times of crisis.
The visit was marked by a ceremonial reception, bilateral meetings, and an official state banquet hosted in Prime Minister Modi’s honour, where President Muizzu praised the Indian leader’s statesmanship and regional vision.
Strengthening Strategic and Economic Ties
The two leaders engaged in wide-ranging discussions focused on development cooperation, infrastructure, climate resilience, healthcare, and human resource development. A particular emphasis was placed on defence and maritime security, with both leaders reaffirming their commitment to ongoing collaborations under the Colombo Security Conclave.
On the economic front, Prime Minister Modi highlighted the potential of a Free Trade Agreement and Bilateral Investment Treaty to unlock new growth avenues. The leaders also underscored the role of digital technologies in advancing financial inclusion and tourism, welcoming the recent agreements on Unified Payments Interface (UPI) adoption, RuPay card acceptance, and local currency trade.
Deepening Development Partnership
The bilateral meeting also saw the exchange of six Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) spanning strategic sectors such as:
-
Fisheries and Aquaculture
-
Meteorology
-
Digital Public Infrastructure
-
Indian Pharmacopoeia
-
Unified Payments Interface (UPI)
-
A new concessional Line of Credit
The Line of Credit, valued at Rs 4,850 crore (approximately USD 550 million), is expected to bolster infrastructure development and key national projects in the Maldives.
Both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening people-to-people ties, with President Muizzu emphasizing the shared history and cultural proximity of the two nations.
Prime Minister Modi also expressed gratitude to President Muizzu for strongly condemning the recent terror attack in Pahalgam, which claimed 26 lives, and for reaffirming Maldives’ solidarity with India in the global fight against terrorism.
The visit marks a significant thaw in bilateral relations, paving the way for deeper strategic, economic, and cultural cooperation in the years ahead.
.png)
The opinions posted here do not belong to 🔰www.indiansdaily.com. The author is solely responsible for the opinions.
As per the IT policy of the Central Government, insults against an individual, community, religion or country, defamatory and inflammatory remarks, obscene and vulgar language are punishable offenses. Legal action will be taken for such expressions of opinion.