Amid Diplomatic Row With Maldives, Foreign Minister Moosa Zameer To Visit India On May 9
The Maldives foreign minister, Moosa Zameer, will be visiting India on Thursday, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement on Tuesday.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Tuesday that Moosa Zameer, the Foreign Minister of Maldives, will be visiting India on Thursday (May 9), marking the first major significant diplomatic engagement between the two countries since President Mohamed Muizzu assumed power last year. Notably, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met President Mohamed Muizzu in December 2023, on the sidelines of the COP-28 Summit in the UAE. PM Modi had congratulated President Muizzu on his assumption of office.
“H.E. Mr. Moosa Zameer, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Maldives will be in India on an official visit on 09 May 2024," the MEA said.
During his stay in the national capital, Minister Zameer is scheduled to hold discussions with Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, focusing on bilateral and regional issues of mutual concern, the ministry said in a statement.
“Maldives is India’s key maritime neighbour in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) and Foreign Minister Zameer’s visit is expected to lend further momentum to the bilateral cooperation between the two countries,” the Ministry said.
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First Major Diplomatic Engagement After Muizzu Assumed Top Office
The diplomatic relations between India and Maldives have faced challenges since President Muizzu held the top office, notably with efforts to curtail defence and security cooperation with India. This includes the request for the withdrawal of Indian troops operating helicopters in the archipelago and the termination of a bilateral agreement allowing the Indian Navy to conduct hydrographic surveys in Maldivian waters.
Zameer’s visit assumes significance against the backdrop of India’s ongoing general elections, potentially marking the last high-profile diplomatic engagement during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s second term.
It is to be noted that the visit also coincides with the May 10 deadline set by Male for India to replace troops with civilians. India, cognizant of the Maldives’ geopolitical significance as a crucial maritime route and China’s increasing presence, complied with the demand.
Notably, President Muizzu’s preference for China was evident with his inaugural state visit to Beijing in January, where he finalised agreements and secured free defence assistance. The visit to India follows the Maldives’ parliamentary elections, which solidified Muizzu’s grip on power, with his ruling People's National Congress (PNC) clinching a supermajority.
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