 "'Stoking anti-India sentiments hurt Maldives' standing, welcome Muizzu's sudden recalibration'")
The Maldivian Democratic Party has welcomed President Mohammad Muizzu-led government’s “sudden recalibration” of its India policy and said Male has always been confident that India will always be the first responder any time the Maldives “dials an international 911".
Abdulla Shahid, the president of the main opposition, the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), made remarks after he met External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Saturday.
Pleased to meet @abdulla_shahid, President of Maldivian Democratic Party and colleagues.
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) August 10, 2024
Value their support for strengthening of 🇮🇳 🇲🇻 relations. pic.twitter.com/u2CcPeAfMa
The MDP president said that his party “calls on the Muizzu government to issue a public apology for the actions, lies and irresponsible comments from its officials which have resulted in significant damage to the Maldives’ foreign and economic outlook.”
“Great pleasure to warmly welcome and meet Indian External Affairs Minister @DrSJaishankar to the Maldives with my colleagues from @MDPSecretariat,” Shahid, the former foreign minister, said in a statement posted on ‘X’ late Saturday night.
“The Maldives has always been confident that India will always be the first responder any time the Maldives “dials an international 911”,” he said.
He said the “current government’s initial stoking of anti-India sentiments through aggressive slogans, mockery and the branding of a time-tested friend and development partner as a regional bully, has caused a decline in the Maldives international standing, economic loss, and many other unnecessary difficulties, and challenges." “With this in mind, the MDP welcomes the sudden recalibration of the Maldives-India policy of President Muizzu’s government, from its previous India Out policy,” Shahid said.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsIndia’s relationship with the Maldives has come under severe strain since Muizzu took charge as the President late last year.
Within hours of his oath, he had demanded the withdrawal of Indian military personnel manning three aviation platforms gifted by India to the Maldives. After talks between the two countries, the Indian military personnel were replaced by civilians.
On Saturday, President Muizzu described India as “one of the closest allies” and reaffirmed his administration’s full commitment to strengthening the historic and close connections between the two countries.
“The MDP hopes that this shift will not be temporary or superficial, but consistent and meaningful in the best interests of the people of the Maldives,” Shahid said.
In a separate statement, the MDP welcomed Jaishankar’s visit to the Maldives.
“The Maldives-India relationship has always been based on the principles of mutual respect, respect for international law, territorial integrity, a common desire for regional security, and an open and peaceful Indian Ocean, it said.
The MDP thanked India for its steadfast support of the people of the Maldives.
“The MDP welcomes the exchange of notes during this visit, to train a further 1000 civil service officers - a key human resource programme initiated during (former) president (Ibrahim Mohamed) Solih’s government.
“MDP also welcomes the signing of the MoU between the Ministry of Economic Development and the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), on enhancing and expanding digital and integrated payment systems - another MoU that was discussed and finalised during President Solih’s administration,” it said.
“The MDP welcomes with gratitude to India, the inauguration and handover of six High Impact Community Development Projects, implemented with grant assistance from the Government of India, and signed and implemented during President Solih’s administration,” the statement said.
It said the High Impact Community Development Project scheme is a highly successful and beneficial grant assistance scheme initialised in 2019.
“The Party further welcomes the handover of water and sewerage projects in 28 islands financed through the EXIM Bank of India,” the statement said.
It said these projects were undertaken through the USD 800 million Line of Credit extended by the Government of India, during the first State Visit of former president Solih to India, in December 2018, and inaugurated during his administration.
The Maldives is one of India’s key maritime neighbours in the Indian Ocean region and the overall bilateral ties, including in the areas of defence and security, witnessed an upward trajectory under the previous government led by President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih.
Meanwhile, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Sunday that the Maldives is a key partner for India in the Indian Ocean region and the two nations aspire to turn their cooperation into a modern partnership.
Jaishankar’s remarks came as he along with his Maldivian counterpart Moosa Zameer attended the handing over ceremony of Addu Reclamation and Shore Protection Project and inauguration of the 4-lane Detour Link road project facilitated by the Government of India under the Line of Credit of EXIM Bank.
”The Maldives for us is a key partner in the Indian Ocean region. It is very much at the heart of our Neighbourhood First policy. And it is therefore very natural that the cooperation between our two countries has moved beyond the traditional role. And today really aspires to be a modern partnership,” Jaishankar said.
”Our development cooperation is aimed at touching all facets of people’s lives and finding ways of bringing tangible benefits to their lives,” he said.
In the last few years, India has invested around USD 220 million which provides a fair idea of the importance that India attaches to regional development in the Maldives, he said.
”We are today among the largest trading partners among others. We’re also witnessing greater investment flows from India to the Maldives, particularly in the tourism sector,” he said.
India has partnered with the government of Maldives on the Addu Reclamation and Shore Protection project to find a sustainable way to develop it as a regional hub, he said.
The reclamation of 184 hectares of land was concluded earlier this year. This ambitious USD 80 million programme involves reclamation for tourism development purposes, as well as for the overall economic development of Addu.
The project will help in the overall growth of the region, bringing in better opportunities for employment, entrepreneurship and trade.
”Another important project being carried out with Indian assistance is the redevelopment of the Addu Roads and Drainage development with an outlay of USD 70 million. This project is in the last phase and once completed, will provide a solution to problems of water logging of roads in Addu,” he said.
”The Addu detour link road that has been inaugurated today which is the cause for us gathering here is an important component of this project and will significantly ease connectivity within the atoll,” he said.
”Under the Indian Line of Credit, we have focused not only on developing Addu’s facilities as a region but also connecting it to the outside world,” he said.
The Government of Maldives under the Indian LOC is also undertaking the redevelopment of the Gan International Airport, a connectivity project with an outlay of USD 29 million that will bridge the gap between Addu Atoll and the Maldives and the rest of the world.
”It will improve investor confidence and increase local tourism in Gan and southern atolls, with broader economic gains expected to materialise for many local communities,” Jaishankar said.
India places an equal emphasis on impactful community development projects in the Maldives.
”We are already partnering on 65 projects of which 12 or five of these projects have already been delivered. We are happy to see the success of this high-impact Community Development Project model, expand its footprint and increase its presence on an exponential scale,” he said.
Jaishankar also highlighted other projects being undertaken with India’s assistance in the Maldives.
India remains open to the evolving needs and priorities of its Maldivian friends and the two governments endeavour to provide customised solutions to their requirements.
He also congratulated the government and people of Maldives in particular, the people in southern Maldives on these two projects.
”They stand as a testament to the defining key of our partnership, which is imagined by the Maldives and delivered by India. I’m confident that these projects will have a transformative impact on the economy of the region and help spur development for many generations to come,” he said.
”India Maldives Friendship is people-centric,” Jaishankar said in a post on X giving details of the India-assisted projects in the Maldives.
”India shares its developmental experiences with its neighbours,” he added.
 "Russian drones over Poland: Trump’s tepid reaction a wake-up call for Nato?")
 "As Russia pushes east, Ukraine faces mounting pressure to defend its heartland")
 "Why Mossad was not on board with Israel’s strike on Hamas in Qatar")
 "Turkey: Erdogan's police arrest opposition mayor Hasan Mutlu, dozens officials in corruption probe")
 "Russian drones over Poland: Trump’s tepid reaction a wake-up call for Nato?")
 "As Russia pushes east, Ukraine faces mounting pressure to defend its heartland")
 "Why Mossad was not on board with Israel’s strike on Hamas in Qatar")
 "Turkey: Erdogan's police arrest opposition mayor Hasan Mutlu, dozens officials in corruption probe")
