Maldives President Muizzu in India on first state visit to repair ties

Mohamed Muizzu arrives in India on first state visit since he came to power last year as he aims to improve strained ties.

Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu has embarked on his first visit to India since coming to power last year, as he aims to repair diplomatic ties with Asia’s third-largest economy amid an economic crisis back home.

Muizzu, who arrived in New Delhi on Sunday, will hold meetings with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other senior Indian officials during his five-day trip.

The two sides will focus on “strengthening bilateral cooperation and further enhancing the longstanding relationship between the two nations,” the president’s office said in a statement on Sunday.

Ties were strained after Muizzu asked India to remove its soldiers from the island nation as he called New Delhi’s influence a threat to the country’s sovereignty. Leading up to the 2023 elections, Muizzu’s Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) had promised to expel Indian soldiers deployed in the island nation to help in humanitarian and medical evacuations.

Muizzu travelled to Turkey and China on state visits seen as a snub to New Delhi. This was a break from the past tradition of Maldivian presidents making India their first port of call.

India’s Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar welcomed Muizzu to New Delhi on Sunday. In a statement, he said he was confident the visit and talks with Modi on Monday would give “a new impetus” to the “friendly ties” between the two countries.

Pleased to call on President @MMuizzu today at the start of his State Visit to India.

Appreciate his commitment to enhance