New Delhi, Aug 9 (EFE).– India’s External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar began a three-day visit to the Maldives on Friday to address the tense ties between the two countries as China makes deepens its presence in the strategic Indian Ocean island nation.
The bilateral ties between India and the Maldives started deteriorating after a China-aligned president took power in Male, creating a gulf between the archipelago and New Delhi.
The Indian foreign ministry said the visit followed the recent visit of Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu to India for the swearing-in ceremony of the new cabinet of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his third term in a row.
The Indian top diplomat had previously visited the Maldives in January 2023.
The ministry referred the Maldives as “India’s key maritime neighbour” that is an “important partner in India’s ‘Neighbourhood First’ Policy.”
“The visit is aimed at strengthening the close partnership between the two countries and to explore avenues to enhance the bilateral relationship further,” the Indian foreign ministry said.
Relations between the two nations have deteriorated significantly since the new Maldivian president assumed office in November last year.
Muizzu rose to power on the “India Out” campaign, advocating for stronger ties with China over India.
One of Muizzu’s first actions was to request the withdrawal of Indian military personnel from the Maldives, reflecting a shift in the country’s foreign policy, which had previously been closely aligned with New Delhi.
The Maldives’ development strategies and maritime security alliances have oscillated between Chinese and Indian influence for years, with different leaders aligning more closely with one or the other of the rival powers competing for dominance in the Indo-Pacific region.
Despite the tensions, Muizzu attended the inauguration ceremony of Modi in June, following his third consecutive electoral victory. It was Muizzu’s first visit to India. However, he had chosen China as the destination for his first official trip after assuming office.
In May, Maldivian Foreign Minister Moosa Zameer visited New Delhi in an effort to repair bilateral ties between the two nations. EFE
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