On his maiden official visit to India, Maldivian Foreign Minister (FM) Moosa Zameer attempted to mend his country’s ties with India by dismissing speculations of any diplomatic shift towards China. He also distanced his government from the derogatory remarks made by three of its ministers against Indian PM Narendra Modi and India.
No Geopolitical Shift Towards China
Addressing accusations of the Maldives’ closeness to China, Zameer said that President Mohammed Muizzu’s visit to China before the traditional visit to India was based on “convenience” and did not reflect any underlying geopolitical shift. He also addressed speculations regarding his country’s military ties with China, which have been growing ever since Muizzu took office.
#WATCH | Delhi: On Maldives as a key partner in the Indian Ocean region and Chinese vessel port in Maldivian water, Foreign Minister of Maldives, Moosa Zameer says, "The peace and security of the Indian Ocean is important for both India and Maldives and Sri Lanka and the rest of… pic.twitter.com/xE6VA51uID
— ANI (@ANI) May 9, 2024
Saying that the President had visited both Turkey and China, Zameer noted that his country does not have any military pact with China and it will not bring in any foreign militaries inside its territory. Additionally, he assured that discussions are being held to arrange for Muizzu’s visit to New Delhi soon.
The Maldivian FM also addressed concerns regarding the docking of Chinese vessels in Maldivian waters, saying that they are not allowed to conduct research in the archipelagic nation. He reiterated that his country is committed to peace and security in collaboration with neighbouring countries like India and Sri Lanka.
Distancing from Derogatory Remarks, Inviting Indian Tourists
Furthermore, Zameer distanced his government from derogatory comments made by Muizzu’s ministers Malsha Sharyf, Mariyum Shiuna and Abdulla Mahzoom Majid, saying that it was not the stand of the government and that “proper action” has been taken to ensure that it is not repeated.
“And I think if you have seen, there has been a misunderstanding, on social media mainly, but the governments of the Maldives and India, we understand what has happened, and we have passed that stage now,” he said in an interview with ANI. While the ministers have been suspended indefinitely, they continue to receive their salaries. The issue caused a great uproar on social media, with Indian tourists boycotting the Maldives on a large scale following the controversy.
Zameer reiterated his government’s resolve to mend ties with India, extending an invitation to Indian tourists to come and visit the Maldives. He assured that the number of tourists kept fluctuating and expressed hope that the two sides would soon move beyond this slump in the number of tourists.
Maldives’ FM Meeting with Jaishankar
Zameer arrived in India on 9 May on his first official visit to the country. He met his Indian counterpart, S. Jaishankar, with whom he discussed all aspects of the India-Maldives partnership.
A pleasure to meet with H.E Dr. @DrSJaishankar, Minister of External Affairs of India, in New Delhi. We reflected on our long history of bilateral partnership shared by mutual respect and understanding.
— Moosa Zameer (@MoosaZameer) May 9, 2024
We exchanged perspectives on increasing engagement and exchanges between… pic.twitter.com/vNxcnzTlfG
“Zameer conveyed appreciation for India’s steadfast support in fostering and advancing economic, trade, and investment ties between the two nations,” a release by the Maldives government said. He thanked India for its committed role in the socioeconomic advancement of the Maldives.
“The dialogue comprised perspectives on development cooperation, tourism initiatives, and human resource development, underscoring a partnership built on mutual trusts, shared interests and values,” he said.
India Completes Troop Removal
On Thursday evening, India completed the withdrawal of its troops from the country. Chief spokesperson of Muizzu’s office, Heena Waleed, confirmed the withdrawal to The Sun. India withdrew over 51 soldiers from Maldives in two batches, the first in early March and the second in April.
The repatriation was a key poll promise of Muizzu, who came to power riding on a strong “India-Out” wave. After Muizzu was elected, he gave India a 10 May deadline to repatriate its troops, who were operating and maintaining two Dhruv helicopters and a Dornier aircraft gifted to the Maldives by India.
The Indian government has sent Indian civilian technicians to the Maldives to replace the defence personnel. The exact number of soldiers stationed will be disclosed later. Earlier, the government announced that 89 Indian soldiers were present in the country.
“This initiative proves the strong relations between the two countries and ensures that any such issue faced by both countries can be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy,” Zameer noted.