In a diplomatic move, India has announced that Union Minister Kiren Rijiju will represent the country at the oath-taking ceremony of Maldivian President-elect Mohamed Muizzu on Friday. This comes in response to an invitation extended to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who attended the swearing-in ceremony of the incumbent President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih in September 2018.
Despite the invitation, Muizzu, who defeated Solih in the presidential runoff in September, has stirred diplomatic discussions by expressing his intention to evict Indian military personnel from the Maldives, a move reflecting a shift in the political landscape.
“At the invitation of the President-elect of Maldives Mohamed Muizzu, Kiren Rijiju, Minister of Earth Sciences will visit Maldives from 16-18 November to represent India at the inaugural ceremony of the presidency,” stated the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in an official announcement.
The MEA emphasized that Rijiju’s high-level representation underscores India’s commitment to deepening substantive cooperation and fostering robust people-to-people ties between the two nations. The statement also highlighted the strategic importance of the Maldives in India’s maritime vision, encapsulated in Prime Minister Modi’s ‘SAGAR’ (Security and Growth for All in the Region) and ‘Neighbourhood First Policy.’
The Maldives has emerged as a key maritime neighbor for India in the Indian Ocean Region, with bilateral ties experiencing an upward trajectory, particularly in areas of defense and security. Former President Solih had consistently emphasized strengthening ties with India, adopting an “India First” policy.
In May, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s visit saw the handover of a fast patrol vessel and a landing craft to the Maldives, reinforcing defense cooperation. Additionally, in August of the previous year, Prime Minister Modi and Solih launched the India-funded Greater Male Connectivity Project (GMCP), marking a significant infrastructure initiative. The GMCP involves the construction of a 6.74-km-long bridge and causeway link connecting the capital city Male with the islands of Villingli, Gulhifalhu, and Thilafushi.
The Maldives continues to be a significant beneficiary of India’s ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy, and India’s representation at Muizzu’s oath-taking ceremony signifies its commitment to sustaining and strengthening the bilateral relationship.
Sources By Agencies