Maldives pushes to mend relations with India, eyeing tourism and aid

NEW DELHI -- After months of strain in its ties with India, the Maldives appears to be making efforts to reset the relationship by wooing tourists from its big neighbor and acknowledging New Delhi's financial support in strengthening the island country's economy.

On Tuesday, Maldivian Tourism Minister Ibrahim Faisal held talks with his Indian counterpart, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, in New Delhi and discussed boosting tourism between the two nations. He also met India's Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu, following which Faisal posted on X that their conversation "focused on strengthening connectivity between the Maldives and India, as well as exploring ways to elevate tourism between our two nations."