President-Elect Ibrahim Mohamed Solih on Monday officially met Akhilesh Mishra, the Ambassador of India to the Maldives.
Mishra is the first foreign ambassador to have met the president-elect following his electoral win, although Solih has already held meetings with several head officials of the government including the acting Commissioner of Police Abdulla Nawaf and Chief of Defence Force, Major General Ahmed Shiyam
Neither Solih nor the Indian embassy has yet to issue any official statements regarding this meeting.
The Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, had earlier called Solih to congratulate him on the electoral victory of September 23 and extended an invitation for an official trip to India at his convenience. Solih has also invited the Indian Prime Minister to attend his swearing-in ceremony to be held on November 17.
Diplomatic ties between Maldives and India deteriorated during the five-year term of President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom, whereas relations between Maldives and China strengthened with the Asian superpower making substantial investments in the archipelago.
India has repeatedly expressed concerns over Maldives' internal political issues, including the government’s decision to declare a state of emergency following the Supreme Court ruling of last February to release nine high-profile political prisoners.
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