President Muizzu said today that India will never be sidelined in the foreign policy of his government and will always remain a close friend of the Maldives.
President Dr Mohamed Muizzu affirmed today that India will never be sidelined in the foreign policy of his government and will always remain a close friend of the Maldives.
Following a meeting with the Malé City Council, President Muizzu emphasized that his administration’s manifesto, announced prior to taking office, prioritizes maintaining relations with any country that respects the Maldives' autonomy.
He noted that India was not excluded from this manifesto, and the policy is being implemented today.
"Under this government's policy, India has never been sidelined and will not be sidelined in the future. The same close relationship with India will continue in matters that benefit both countries," President Muizzu stated.
He also addressed public concerns about the presence of Indian troops in the Maldives, saying that the issue has been resolved through consultations between the two nations. He highlighted that the Maldives is already reaping benefits from India through these discussions.
"Essential commodities quota granted to the Maldives is unmatched, and India will continue to provide this support. India has also rolled over our debts and taken several other supportive measures," he added.
President Muizzu stressed that the government’s foreign policy has the people’s approval and ensures the stability and development of the Maldives. He asserted that there will be no opportunity to create unrest against this policy.
"The people of the Maldives will not allow the peace of this country to be disrupted, the development halted, or the security and autonomy compromised," he said.
He further stated that, in addition to India, he would maintain close relations with other countries.
President Muizzu's remarks come during an official visit by Indian Minister of External Affairs Dr Subrahmanyam Jaishankar to the Maldives. Jaishankar met with President Muizzu yesterday to discuss strengthening bilateral relations between the two countries.
President Muizzu recently visited India to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his third term. This marked Muizzu’s first official visit to India, during which he held important discussions on enhancing the historical bilateral ties between the two nations.
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