India’s External Affairs Minister, Sushma Swaraj on Monday, told the Maldivian Foreign Minister, Abdulla Shahid that India would be willing to provide all the support needed for the socioeconomic development of Maldives
The Maldivian Foreign Minister, Abdulla Shahid was welcomed by his Indian counterpart, Sushma Swaraj on Monday. The two leaders deliberated over development and strengthening ties between the two nations.
India and Maldives have not shared the best relationship in the past; however, with the Maldivian President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih coming into power, the India-Maldives dynamic has changed for the better. After the Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi’s attendance at Solih’s swearing-in ceremony, the meeting between the two countries’ Foreign Ministers in New Delhi was seen as another step forward in reinforcing the strong bond.
The Indian government had perturbed relations with the island’s former government and had critiqued former President, Abdulla Yameen’s crackdown on pro-democracy leaders. Under President Solih’s rule, India is looking to help Maldives resolve its economic problems. According to India, the Chinese Road and Belt initiative can lead to a debt trap for the island nation.
On Monday, Sushma Swaraj offered to provide full support to Maldives under India’s neighbourhood first foreign policy. The Indian Foreign Minister further stated that the relationship between the two countries was based on trust, transparency and mutual understanding. Her statement also included Shahid’s confirmation on the ‘India First’ policy, previously discussed at the swearing-in ceremony in Maldives.
The Maldivian Foreign Minister was accompanied by Maldivian Finance Minister, Ibrahim Ameer. He also met the Indian Defence Minister, Nirmala Sitharaman.
