NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu held talks on Friday to mend bilateral ties, which had been strained following the 2023 “India Out” campaign and a diplomatic dispute triggered by derogatory remarks made against PM Modi by Maldivian officials the following year.The two leaders also discussed cooperation in trade, defence and infrastructure. India also announced handing-over of 72 vehicles and other equipment to the Maldivian defence ministry.In his address, PM Modi said, “This year, India and Maldives are also celebrating 60 years of their diplomatic relations. But the roots of our relations are older than history and as deep as the sea. The commemorative stamps released today display traditional boats of both nations. This reflects that we are not just neighbours but also co-passenegrs.” Muizzu, widely seen as pro-China, rose to power in the island nation in November 2023 after leading an “India Out” campaign. However, he had later denied any such agenda, asserting that the island nation had a “serious problem” with the presence of foreign military on its soil.In the initial months of his presidency, Muizzu’s policies led to a sharp deterioration in bilateral ties. Just hours after taking oath, he called for the withdrawal of Indian military personnel from the Maldives. In response, India replaced them with civilian staff. The Indian personnel had been stationed there to operate and maintain two helicopters and an aircraft used primarily for humanitarian assistance and rescue missions.It is widely believed that New Delhi’s consistent diplomatic outreach and economic support to the Maldives played a crucial role in restoring ties. “We’ve continued to work at it, and I think the result is there for you to see,” Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said on Tuesday, commenting on the improvement in relations. As one of India’s key maritime neighbours in the Indian Ocean Region, the Maldives has seen steadily growing cooperation with India—particularly in defence and security—under previous administrations in Male.
