New Delhi: Union Minister S Jaishankar held significant meetings on Monday with Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe and Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu, demonstrating India's commitment to fostering strong bilateral relations and enhancing regional cooperation.
Jaishankar, who is poised to resume his role in the External Affairs Ministry, engaged with the leaders a day after they participated in the ceremony where Prime Minister Narendra Modi was sworn in for a third term. Additionally, leaders from Bhutan, Mauritius, Nepal and Seychelles were invited to the swearing-in ceremony emphasising the wide-ranging representation of regional allies at the event.
The visit of the Maldivian President Muizzu to attend the oath-taking ceremony assumes significance as it reflects the need for the Maldivian to engage with India as the ties between both nations have recently hit a new low. Muizzu, who was elected last year had demanded the withdrawal of the Indian military personnel deployed in Maldives soon after assuming office.
"Met President Dr Mohamed Muizzu of Maldives in New Delhi. India and Maldives to work closely together," Jaishankar posted after the meeting. Images from the banquet at Rashtrapati Bhavan showed Muizzu seated next to Modi. Following his meeting with Hasina, Jaishankar said the “India-Bangladesh Maitri [friendship] continues to advance".
