New Delhi, May 10:
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Thursday said the development of ties between close neighbours India and Maldives “is obviously based on mutual interests and reciprocal sensitivity”, as he held talks with visiting Maldivian Foreign Minister Moosa Zameer here.
The visit by the Maldivian Minister is the first official visit to India by a senior official of President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu’s Government.
The visit comes as the two countries completed the Fourth Meeting of the India-Maldives High-level Core Group in New Delhi on May 3, during which it was agreed that India will replace its military personnel at the last of the three aviation platforms in the Maldives by May 10.
In February, the Maldivian foreign ministry had said that India will replace its military personnel operating the three aviation platforms in the Maldives by May 10.
The Maldivian President’s Office Spokesperson Heena Waleed has said that a total of 51 Indian soldiers have departed from the Maldives so far, in two batches.
According to the Maldivian Government, 88 Indian soldiers had been stationed in the Maldives to operate two helicopters, a Dornier aircraft and at the Senahiya military hospital.
Two batches of Indian soldiers in the Maldives have left the country, including soldiers who operated helicopters in Addu and the Dornier aircraft in Haa Dhaal Hanimaadhoo.
Indian civilian personnel have arrived to replace the Indian military personnel in both areas last month.
Along with the civilians, India also sent a new helicopter to replace one in Addu.
The withdrawal of Indian military personnel manning the aviation platforms was a key campaign promise of President Muizzu, who is seen as pro-China.
EAM Jaishankar, in his remarks today, said the visit of the Maldivian Foreign Minister “provides an opportunity to discuss our relationship and chart out future directions”.
“As close and proximate neighbours, the development of our ties is obviously based on mutual interests and reciprocal sensitivity. As far as India is concerned, these are articulated in terms of our Neighbourhood First policy and SAGAR vision.”
He said that India has been a key provider of development assistance to the Maldives, and Indian projects have benefited the lives of people of the Indian Ocean atoll nation and contributed directly to the quality of life.
These range from infrastructure projects and social initiatives to medical evacuation and health facilities. India has also extended financial support on favourable terms in the past. India has been a First Responder on numerous occasions for Maldives. “Our cooperation has also enhanced the security and well-being of your country through shared activities, equipment provisioning, capacity building and training,” the EAM said, enumerating the Indian help rendered.
“The world is today passing through a volatile and uncertain period. In such times, as we saw during Covid, during natural disasters and economic difficulties, close partnerships with neighbours are of great value.
“So, today, we will be reviewing the various dimensions of our ties. It is in our common interest that we reach an understanding on how best we take our relationship forward,” he added.
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, asked about the visit, said in his briefing that both nations “have been engaged for quite some time to see how best they can continue the operation of the aviation platforms, and in that regard you’ve seen developments that the first and second batch of our people who were providing support there have come back; and now what I can confirm to you is that the deputation of the competent Indian technical person has taken place. And the platforms they provide medvac services and humanitarian services to the people .”
India and Maldives had decided to set up the core group following a meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Muizzu on the sidelines of the COP28 summit in Dubai in December last year.
