Maldives-India to form co-group to strengthen mutual cooperation

The Indian government has revealed President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has agreed to form a co-group between the Maldives and India to strengthen cooperation.

President Muizzu met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the sidelines of the COP28 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE) on December 1, 2023.

India's External Affairs Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said that both President Muizzu and the Indian PM discussed ways to further strengthen the relations between the two countries in sectors pertaining to economic relations, development cooperation and people-to-people ties.

The Indian PM shared a message in Dhivehi via X, stating that both he and President Muizzu discussed ways to improve and expand the mutual relationship between the two countries. In his statement, Prime Minister Modi also expressed hope for prospective cooperation between the nations for the betterment and prosperity of their people.

While the two leaders met on the sidelines of COP28, it was earlier believed that President Muizzu's new government would maintain its distance from India. The deportation of Indian military personnel from the Maldives had been a major campaign pledge of the new President, which he formally requested after his inauguration.

President Muizzu was questioned by several Indian media outlets present in Dubai to cover the COP28 summit regarding the military deportation. President Muizzu, however, deflected the queries while reiterating that Maldives and India share friendly ties.