Muizzu Shifts Gears, Cosies Up With Xi As Diplomatic Row With India Hardens

In a clear shift from ‘India First’ policy that Maldives had been following since 2018, its new administration under President Mohamed Muizzu has gone back to the era when Malé was cosied up to China.

Mohamed Muizzu met Xi Jinping in Beijing on Wednesday, when Maldives and China signed 20 pacts, including cooperation in Belt and Road Initiative.

Source : The President of Maldives' Office

New Delhi: Following the predictable path, the new President of Maldives, Mohamed Muizzu, cosied up to China by undertaking his first state visit there since coming to power. Malé and Beijing signed 20 pacts Wednesday, including cooperation in Chinese President Xi Jinping’s pet project, the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), during their first bilateral meeting. In a significant move that might prove to be detrimental for India, Malé and Beijing chalked out plans to