Maldives Foreign Minister Abdulla Khaleel arrived in India on Thursday for a three-day visit aimed at strengthening bilateral relations in key areas such as maritime security, trade, and investment.
This visit follows nearly three months after Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu’s trip to India. On Friday, Khaleel is scheduled to hold extensive discussions with Indian External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar, addressing various facets of the India-Maldives partnership.
External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal welcomed the Maldivian Foreign Minister on the social media platform ‘X’, saying, “Working towards India-Maldives joint vision of a ‘Comprehensive Economic & Maritime Security Partnership’. Warm welcome to FM @abkhaleel of Maldives on his first official visit to India.”
India considers the Maldives a crucial maritime neighbor in the Indian Ocean Region, with bilateral ties, particularly in defense and security, significantly improving under the previous Maldivian administration.
Relations between the two nations faced challenges after President Muizzu, known for his pro-China stance, assumed office in November 2023. Shortly after taking his oath, he called for the withdrawal of Indian military personnel from the Maldives, leading to their replacement with civilian staff.
However, during his visit to Delhi in October, President Muizzu pledged to strengthen ties with India, signaling a renewed commitment to bilateral cooperation.
