New Delhi: Asserting that the Maldives never followed an ‘India Out’ agenda, President Mohamed Muizzu said that the island nation had a “serious problem” with the presence of foreign military on its soil. Muizzu said that the archipelago nation has strong bilateral ties with India and he is planning to visit the country as soon as possible.
Under Muizzu, known for his pro-China leanings, ties between India and Maldives ties were severely affected after popular figures made derogatory remarks against India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Muizzu came to power riding on his party’s anti-India campaign. Unlike his predecessors, who made the first call to New Delhi after assuming office, Muizzu changed the trend by travelling to Turkiye first and to China for his first state visit in January.
Hours after taking office, the Muizzu government officially requested India to withdraw its troops manning three aviation platforms gifted by India. The withdrawal of Indian troops was completed in May this year and they were replaced with civilian personnel to operate a Dornier aircraft and two helicopters.
On the decision to replace Indian soldiers, Muizzu said, “We have never been against any one country at any point. It’s not India Out. Maldives faced a serious problem with foreign military presence on this soil. The people of Maldives do not want a single foreign soldier in the country.” He made the remarks on Thursday while responding to a question at Princeton University’s ‘Dean’s Leadership Series’
Muizzu To Visit India Soon?
Mohamed Muizzu, who is in the US to attend the 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, said that he is planning to visit India as soon as possible. “I am planning to visit (India) as soon as possible…We have a very strong bilateral relationship,” Muizzu told ANI on the sidelines of 79th UN General Assembly.
If happens, it will be Muizzu’s second visit to India, after first making the visit in June during the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Earlier, Heena Waleed, the chief spokesperson at the President’s Office had said that President Muizzu will travel to India on an official visit “very soon”. She said that while the exact date for the trip is yet to be finalised, the two sides are discussing a date, which is of convenience to the leaders of both countries, the Sun Online news portal reported.
“The President is scheduled to visit India very soon. As you are aware, such trips are scheduled for a time of maximum convenience to leaders of the two countries. Discussions regarding this are in progress,” she said during a press conference.
Bid To Reset Ties
Ties between India and the Maldives came under severe strain after deputy ministers in Muizzu’s government made derogatory remarks against India following Prime Minister Modi’s Lakshadweep visit. However, Muizzu said, “No one should say such a thing. I took action against it. I will not accept insulting anyone like that, whether he is a leader or an ordinary person. Every human being has a reputation.”
In August, India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar visited the Maldives signalling a renewed push by New Delhi to bolster ties with Male. This was the first high-level engagement by India with Maldives amid strained ties. Jaishankar said the Maldives is “no ordinary neighbour” of India and emphasised that New Delhi will continue to nurture it and find practical ways of expressing friendship with the archipelagic nation.
Muizzu, later, thanked India for its support of the island nation in easing its debt repayment and affirmed hope that New Delhi and Male would forge stronger ties and sign a free trade agreement.
