Internation Desk
Muizzu, who is close to China, has gradually started understanding the importance of India after assuming power. Maldivian President Mohammed Muizzu is going to visit India. The visit is being seen as an effort to re-establish bilateral ties after the sourness in relations. People familiar with the matter gave this information on Friday. Muizzu had last come to New Delhi on June 9 to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister Narendra Modi along with leaders of six other regional countries. This time he is going to be in India for a bilateral visit during October 7-9. The people cited above, speaking on condition of anonymity, said his meetings with the Indian leadership, including Modi, are scheduled for October 8.
Last December, Muizzu's government terminated a 2019 agreement with India for joint hydrographic surveys. After this, several steps were taken to promote defense cooperation with China and Türkiye. Maldivian Foreign Minister Musa Zameer had recently admitted that India-Maldives relations went through a difficult phase in the initial days of the government led by President Mohammed Muizzu, but insisted that both the countries have resolved misunderstandings. Jamir made this comment during his visit to Sri Lanka.
This will be Muizzu's first bilateral visit to India after becoming President in November 2023, aimed at launching the 'India Out' campaign. His government's efforts to reduce Maldives' dependence on India and its demand to withdraw about 85 Indian military personnel deployed to the Indian Ocean archipelago to operate three aircraft have plunged bilateral relations to a new low. Recently India provided emergency financial assistance to Maldives by rolling over government treasury bills worth $50 million for one year. The Government of Maldives has thanked the Government of India for increasing budgetary support with the rollover. Maldivian Foreign Minister Mooza Zameer thanked External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and said the Indian government's announcement shows the 'enduring bond of friendship between Maldives and India'.
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