Maldives President Muizzu's 1st bilateral visit to India from Sunday
Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu will embark on his first bilateral visit to India from October 6 to 10, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced on Friday. Notably, this is not his first trip to India as he had previously attended Prime Minister Narendra Modi's swearing-in ceremony in June. During his upcoming visit, Muizzu is scheduled to meet with Indian President Droupadi Murmu and engage in discussions with PM Modi.
Muizzu to discuss bilateral, regional issues with PM Modi
The discussions between Muizzu and PM Modi will revolve around bilateral, regional, and international matters of mutual interest. In addition to his political engagements in New Delhi, the Maldivian leader will also visit Mumbai and Bengaluru to attend business events. The MEA highlighted that this visit underscores India's commitment to its relations with the Maldives and is anticipated to enhance cooperation and strengthen ties between both nations.
Muizzu's visit follows Jaishankar's trip to Maldives
The upcoming visit by Muizzu comes on the heels of External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar's trip to the Maldives in August. During his visit, Jaishankar met with President Muizzu and other top leaders, reaffirming India's commitment to its multifaceted relationship with Male. He also emphasized New Delhi's determination to further developmental cooperation with the country.
Muizzu's presidency marked by pro-China stance
Muizzu's presidency has been marked by a pro-China stance, which initially strained relations with India. Shortly after assuming office, he called for the replacement of Indian defense personnel stationed in the Maldives with civilians. However, he later attended PM Modi's oath-taking ceremony and reaffirmed his administration's commitment to strengthening ties with India. Despite this, Muizzu broke from tradition by choosing Turkey and China as his first foreign visit destinations instead of India.
