India, Maldives Discuss Finding 'Workable Solution' To Continue Indian Aviation Platforms Amid Diplomatic Spat

Both the sides held discussions on bilateral cooperation towards identifying steps to enhance the partnership, including expediting the implementation of ongoing development cooperation projects.

The meeting took place in the backdrop of the diplomatic row between India and Maldives.

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New Delhi: The first meeting of the India-Maldives High Level Core Group took place in Male on Sunday. The meeting came close on the heels of Maldivian President Mohammed Muizzu reiterating his call for India to withdraw its troops from the island country.

During the high-level meet, both the sides held discussions on a wide range of issues related to bilateral cooperation towards identifying steps to enhance the partnership, including expediting the implementation of ongoing development cooperation projects, the Ministry of External Affairs said.

“Both sides also held discussions on finding mutually workable solution to enable continued operation of Indian aviation platforms that provide humanitarian and medvac services to the people of Maldives,” MEA said in a statement.

The core group also agreed to hold the next meeting in India on a mutually convenient date.

The meeting in Maldivian capital on Sunday took place in the backdrop of the diplomatic row and social media fury over derogatory social media posts by some junior ministers and government officials in the island country against Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The posts, which made belittling references to PM Modi and Indian beach tourism, stoked online outrage and triggered a call to boycott Maldives as a holiday destination.

Notably, PM Modi had proposed the core group during his one-on-one meeting with Maldivian President on the sidelines of COP 28 in Dubai last year.

Earlier this week, President Muizzu undertook his first state visit to China since he came to power. During his visit, China and Maldives inked 20 pacts and chalked out plans to establish China-Maldives Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership (2024-2028). This significant move came as a complete reversal of the ‘India First’ policy that was followed by Muizzu’s predecessor former President Ibrahim Solih.

Chinese President Xi Jinping also congratulated President Muizzu on his victory in the September elections and said his visit to China “would mark the beginning of a new chapter in bilateral relations between China and the Maldives.”