New Delhi: Maldivian Foreign Minister, Moosa Zameer, who arrived in an official visit to India, said that he looks forward to productive discussions, and experiencing the vibrant culture of India. Upon his arrival in the national capital on Wednesday, Moosa Zameer, in a post on X, wrote, "Arrived in New Delhi on my first bilateral official visit to India!"
"Looking forward to productive discussions, strengthening ties, and experiencing the vibrant culture of India," he added. Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) also shared details of his arrival on X, saying "Warm welcome to FM @MoosaZameer of Maldives on his official visit to India. Discussions on bilateral & regional issues and seeking ways to provide impetus to our multifaceted relationship lie ahead."
According to the MEA release, the Maldivian Minister will hold a meeting with the External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to discuss the bilateral and regional issues of mutual interest. "Moosa Zameer, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Maldives will be in India on an official visit on 09 May 2024. During his visit to New Delhi, Foreign Minister Zameer will meet the External Affairs Minister Dr. S Jaishankar for discussions on bilateral and regional issues of mutual interest," MEA statement said.
"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," it added. The visit comes as India has said that it will replace its military personnel from Maldives before May 10.
Muizzu chooses Zameer to visit India
Mohamed Muizzu, who is known for his China tilt, has sent his Foreign Minister, Moosa Zameer, on an official trip to India, almost six months after taking oath as the Maldives President.
India is the country with which the Maldives has strained ties with especially after Muizzu's party came to power. Assuming the post on November 17 last year, it was Muizzu, who broke the tradition of Maldivian Presidents making their first overseas trip to India. Rather he made his first official visit to Turkey and his first diplomatic visit to China.
Now, instead of visiting India himself, Muizzu has sent his Foreign Minister Zameer, who arrived in New Delhi on Wednesday evening. On May 3, India and Maldives held the fourth meeting of the bilateral High-Level Core Group and reviewed the replacement of Indian military personnel from the Island nation by May 10 and noted that the government will replace military personnel before the noted time. Earlier, the Mohamed Muizzu-led Maldives government formally requested that India withdraw its troops from Male.
Maldives foreign ministry said in a press release that both sides reviewed the existing bilateral cooperation. "Discussions were held on a wide range of issues of mutual interest, including development and defence cooperation." "Both sides noted with satisfaction that the Government of India will replace military personnel at the last of the three aviation platforms by May 10, and all the logistical arrangements are going ahead as per schedule," the press release added.
It was further agreed that the fifth meeting of the High-Level Core Group will be held in Male on a mutually agreeable date during the month of June/July. Last month, the Ministry of External Affairs said that the first batch of Indian personnel in the Maldives had been replaced by technical personnel.
The external affairs ministry earlier informed that both India and the Maldives have agreed on a set of mutually workable solutions to enable the continued operation of Indian aviation platforms that provide humanitarian and medical evacuation services to the people of the Maldives.
Last month, the MEA said that the first batch of Indian technical personnel reached the Maldives to replace the defence personnel. India and the Maldives have held two high-level core group meetings, and the third one is expected to take place soon. The removal of Indian troops from the country was the main election campaign of Muizzu's party. Currently, there are around 70 Indian troops, along with Dornier 228 maritime patrol aircraft and two HAL Dhruv helicopters, stationed in the Maldives.
Here's why the Foreign Minister’s visit is hogging the limelight
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said during Zameer’s visit to New Delhi, Zameer will meet External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar for discussions on bilateral and regional issues of mutual interest.
In a statement, the ministry said Zameer’s visit is “expected to lend further momentum to the bilateral cooperation between the two countries.”
- Zameer is on a three-day India visit. With diplomatic relations between New Delhi and Malé remaining sour for the past half a year.
- Zameer's visit comes at a time when Muizzu’s government in Maldives is under pressure to improve ties with India despite its close ties with China.
- The Maldives Foreign Minister becomes the first government representative to visit India after three deputy ministers of the island nation rubbed Indian authorities the wrong way by making adverse comments on India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
- It remains to be seen how Zameer helps build confidence among the Indian leadership in making an impression that Maldives still can be a reliable and trustworthy partner under the leadership of Muizzu.
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